December 7, 2009

  • Giving

    If for Christmas this year your family decided to give presents/donations
    to a worthwhile cause     instead of one another ...

    1. Would you be disappointed?
    2.What cause would you pick?

    I have enough stuff and would be OK with it,we have done this several times.

    I would "Give Water"

      Around the world, families spend hours each day walking for water, and farmers’ hopes depend on how much water they can get to their fields. In the Sofala province of Mozambique, MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) supports communities’ efforts to drill wells to provide safer, more accessible water to people such as Maria Jose. Residents are trained to maintain and repair the pumps. In Jordan, MCC helps improve water storage capacities that allow families to have clean water to drink, bathe and do laundry. In Bolivia, MCC workers join with rural mountain communities to cap mountain springs and lay pipe to spigots near families’ homes.
    $42 U.S. provides irrigation hose and accessories for a 500-square-meter garden plot for growing fruits and vegetables for one family in Bolivia.
    _______________________________________________________________________

    I think of this often because our spring gets muddy when it rains
    and we have to get water from the neighbors well.
    It is easy enough to do and I am glad that there is safe water to drink
    but it does remind me of others
    who do not have safe drinking water or any water at all .

    What charity/cause  do or would you chose to support?

Comments (64)

  • Probably the Make A Wish Foundation. I think it's the sweetest gesture to give sick children their biggest wish.

  • I wouldn't be disappointed.  kids might be a little disappointed, but if one does it right, and if one has a good relationship with one's kids, they might enjoy Christmas even more by celebrating it in this way.

    I'm not sure what I'd give, but maybe water, or even the special, filtering bottles ... not sure of the name, but they are becoming popular in third-world countries.  they are clear, and after putting your water in them, they somehow purify it just by what the bottle is made of.

    j.

  • I would not be disappointed because like most Christmas's I don't have much to give and am truly thankful to have loved ones that give to me regardless of my giving situation. It makes me feel very sad not being able to give to those I receive from and even those I don't. I'm not sure which Charity I would give to, probably Breast Cancer Awareness or March of Dimes. 

  • We haven't really ever celebrated a full Christmas with our kids.... my parents and my husband's parents like to get the kids gifts, but we just buy them throughout the year.  We make a bigger deal about their birthdays than about Christmas, because I really do feel that Christmas is about giving to others.  

    I know I wouldn't be disappointed and I would choose to support Autism Speaks. :)

  • i'd really have to think on this one as there are many charities and foundations i would like to donate to.............and no i wouldn't be disappointed, i'd be thrilled.

  • I got everything I want really at the moment.

    It hard to pick a cause there are so many which are close to me in one way or another and some important things to the world.

    Like you have posted water,   but also I would love my family instead of a few presents to donate money to a few charities,  one is the disabilty I have)

  • I have everything I need and everything I want is something I can buy for myself. I love this idea but I don't know what charity I would give to.

  • My partner and I have done this for the past three years running. We usually give to Oxfam. One year we provided fry (small fish) to stock a lake. Another time, we provided a well, and last year, I think we bought goats for a village.

    It costs us so little and we spend so much on our families, that we felt it only reasonable to allocate some money toward charity.

  • I wouldn't be disappointed at all.

    I'm big into wilderness conservation so I would probably go that route. There are so many important causes, though, that I would probably give to various charities for different people, depending on their personalities.

  • I've wondered this, which charity to support I mean. I have yet to adopt a charity this year for my holiday giving... there are so many good ones to choose from. I prefer charities that improve the quality of life for human beings, but beyond that? :/ Hm.

  • So far, our largest donations have gone to: Toys for Tots, Coats for Kids, Rescue Mission, Salvation Army, VFW, and Adopt a Family. On a somewhat smaller scale, we bake and deliver cookies, as well as give gift cards for the veterans that reside at the VA hospital in Syracuse; it's hard to see them forgotten by even their own families at this time of year. We also tithe every month to Christians United For Israel. We are able to do this every year by saving up all year long. I have encouraged my friends and family members to do likewise. I remember all too well, my experiences growing up poor. I hurt when I see children suffer the same sadness in this day and age. No one should have to experience hunger, fear, loneliness or illness; especially this time of year, when there are so many more fortunate people who could share their love. There but for the grace of God.....

  • I would not be disappointed if our family chose to forego gift giving and instead give to charity. I feel like one of the main reasons for Christmas is to rememeber the greatest gift of all that was ever given to mankind, that of our precious Savior.  I am not sure what charity I would choose if we were to do something like this. I know it would have something to do with children. I am already involved with Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse.  Thank you for making me think!!!!
    Ruth Ann

  • I would choose ICDI.......Integrated Community Development International.  They drill wells for water in the Central African Republic.  That's the country we lived in for 6 years.  They also do orphan care, micro-enterprise, AIDs prevention, agriculture, and they work with existing churches and present the Gospel.  Clean water is so important, and we take it for granted.

  • My kids go to public school.  I like to discreetly choose a classmate of theirs that has it tough and make a difference in their Christmas!  There are people in every community that struggle financially.  I like to make a difference at home.

  • I've done this in several cases, not just with family. I have usually thought about what the person I'm giving "in honor of" feels passionate about and tried to use it as a theme.

  • It wouldn't disappoint me at all, in fact I would rather do this. And I would be with you on giving water. It is the single most important resource that you can give in this world.

  • My family has mainly switched to giving to someone else at Christmas rather than each other. 

    Two years ago, my Great-Aunt gave "me" a goat for Christmas.  In previous years, she had sent a check.  That year, she sent me a little flyer that explained about the program and had donated the money instead.  So last year, I sent her a check so that she could get an extra goat.  She was beyond thrilled that I approved of what she did with what would have previously been a gift and that I was supporting it also.  (More information about the program from the ELCA can be found here.)

    Last year, we gathered up the money we would have spent exchanging gifts at my Dad's house and sent it to a cousin.  (We dont actually know him well because he is more distantly related, but for simplicity I will call him a cousin.)  Max had gotten married several years ago to a woman who already had a son.  After the marriage, Max adopted her son.  They also had a daughter of their own.  Eventually, they got divorced - she has many different issues.  Max was supporting himself and the two children completely on his own.  He was having a difficult time paying for all of the bills.  He had taken on a part time job as well as his full time job, but it was really difficult because he didnt get to spend much time with the kids (who are about 11 and 14).  So for Christmas, we gave him money that would allow him to pay for heat for the winter.  (His Mom had paid off the bill from the previous winter as his Christmas gift.)  It was simply amazing to see him several weeks later.  He was so shocked and grateful that he didnt know how to respond.

    This year, we were able to help a friend I met on Xanga.

    The satisfaction I get from helping others is so much more than a few gifts on Christmas day.  I remember well helping others.  Within weeks, we usually forget the gifts we receive.

    Something else that I dont necessarily associate with Christmas.  Earlier this year, someone first introduced me to Kiva.  It gives you the ability to give loans to entrepeneurs in developing countries.  One of the things that I loved about this was the ability to lend the money over and over again.  The first loan I contributed to is completely repaid.  I have lent that same money out again!  And it doesnt take much - the loan contributions are in $25 increments.

  • This is something we have done (wife and I) the past few Christmases. We enjoy sitting down together and picking out different charities to give to. We always give something to Salvation Army. One charity we discovered last year (and gave to) is Soles for Souls. They provide new and gently used shoes to people in the USA, as well as other countries. A $5 donation provides 1 pair of shoes--$25 = 5 pair, etc. Shoe Carnival is a participating "sponsor." http://www.soles4souls.org/

  • When my kids were little I told them that before Santa could bring toys, we needed to make room for them. They would pick a few things from their toys that they outgrew and we donated them to a women's shelter. I told them that sometimes women and their kids had to leave their home and things behind, so it was a good thing for the kids to have toys to play with until they could get a new home. They learned the joys of giving as well as receiving. 

  • We purchase Christmas cards that buy shoes for children.  Inside the Christmas card the note says that a pair of shoes was purchased in your honor.  I love giving them to people :)    

  • our family has everything we need ... we are going to make sure some less fortunate family has a bountiful Christmas ...

    the closer to home you give, the greater the rewards ...

  • We have never done this, but have spoke of it. I would give water also. Water sustains life.

    I so wished to do this, but I married into a family who is so FORMAL about things-gotta have those gifts under the tree. I actually dread the holidays because of their formality. Sad.

  • We must be on the same wave length (I just posted about the charities I  support)!

  • I am big on helping the pets. Those ASPCA commercials make me want to cry. I also love St. Jude. Yes, I will be donating this year!

  • I was just telling a couple of my friends this morning that they could make a donation in my name to the Cancer society or the SPCA.

  • I would also probably support charity:water.

  • 1. No. 2. Something to help dying animals in shelters. Any animal rights cause.

    The "give water" one is nice. :)

  • I would pick Greenpeace or the World Wildlife Fund. I get the Greenpeace calendar every year as a reminder that whether or not environmentalism is a popular cause, we still have to do what we can to protect our planet from ourselves.

  • I wouldn't mind at all . . . and I would support The Joshua House; a local food pantry.  Food pantries are in extra need of help these days, sadly.  So, my payroll deduction goes to TJH.  I also support Hospice, where angels (pretending to be nurses)  comfort us and watch over our loved ones during their final days with us.

  • I would rather my family take care of someone else and would not be the least bit disappointed. I'm getting ready to actually write a post about an experience I had today while out shopping. check it out if you have time!

  • We have supported Franklin Graham's shoeboxes for years. I love his ministry. We sometimes get names from the Angel trees. This year our Riders group will be having Christmas with Falcon Children's Home. We did this last year. We have come to love all the kids and staff there and help throughout the year. We recently had a cookout for them and the guys rode the kids on the motorcycles. We have also purchased through Samaritan's Purse bikes, goats, chickens, etc. for families in other countries instead of buying gifts for each other. David's work also collect toys for tots and I just bought for that today!  Tis the season for giving!!

  • I mostly ask for books, and I probably have ten year's worth already and the library has even more, so I'm covered. 

    I think this year I'd pick the Christian Appalachian Project.

  • I would not be disappointed in the least if my family did this, actually I would be thrilled to no end. As far as a charity I would donate too, I really don't know. I would find the one that has true volunteers and the donations go 100% to who the charity is for. So much money is eaten up by some charities to pay for help and other things, to me, that isn't true charity, but thats just me.

  • I would give 'Mother Nature' water, sun, air, moon, plants & crops and my Fairies
    poeticgarden.com

  • I have often wished I were wealthy enough to dig wells where needed in other countries. It would not bother me at all to forgo the gift giving and instead, bless someone with a better life.

  • I would not be disappointed, in fact, I would be ecstatic that my materialistic children would be willing to give up MORE STUFF to give to someone else...  I'd choose to donate to COTA, the Children's Organ Transplant Association in honor of a local 6 y.o. in need of a heart transplant.  She goes to my kids' school and is the daughter of a friend of mine. :(

  • I wouldn't mind giving to heifer international...after raising chickens of our own I have no doubt just a few animals can sustain a family.

  • No, I wouldn't b disappointed, actually releaved to know I wouldn't have piles of things 2 put away. I have more than enough things or symbols of love from family & friends that I don't need more.

    I have a soft heart for the orphans & little children in other countries. I wish other countries could have adoption or foster care programs to help orphans. I would choose to donate to WorldVision that works around the world and BeAHero.org that makes orphanages/helps children.

  • We had a Christmas gift one year given to a needy family in our name. I appreciated that more than any silly tie or other gift that would never be used. I think it was a stove.

  • thank you for this.

  • We support a missionary in Buffalo NY who works primarily with Somali Bantu refugees, teaching them English, helping them find homes and jobs and guiding them through the citizenship process. She has developed reading clubs, homework groups and soccer teams for the kids. The Bantu are a slave tribe with no country to call their own. The U.S. finally granted them refugee status and began bringing them into the country about five years ago.

  • @saintvi - The colonoscopy one? LOL!

  • @seedsower - You have such a good memory! LOL

  • God bless me with an opportunity yesterday. We were going to throw a way a bed and box spring but we came up with the idea to donate it to the Salvation Army. They gratefully took the bed.

    Sometimes an opportunity comes up unexpectantly. I was at Del taco and I saw a mother counting out her change to buy some food for her son. I stepped in and gave them five dollars. She was surprised at the unexpectant charity.

    I hope more people open their hearts and give unexpectantly. Who knows how the world would change with the help that we give it?

    I love you Seedsower. This post was unexpected.

  • I would be very happy not to receive any gifts and instead visit elderly patients in nursing homes, and bring them a special treat that they do not get there.  Patients with dementia, especially, are not listened to in those places, and they still want people to hear them, even if we might not understand what they are attempting to say.

    Kathi

  • I would be very happy doing that.   I would choose our local animal no kill shelter.

  • I have supported SAVE THE CHILDREN for many years now. This year we have started giving to a local community service where people can get food free. Children have always been the main focus of my donations and giving through the years. After all they are our future and need to be nurtured. Peace!

  • I like presents, this year I am getting myself one. Family Tree. For $150, I will adopt an olive tree from Italy, specificallythe Nudo olive estate in the Italian Apennines. I am giving to support family farms and getting 4 tins of cold press extra virgin olive oil in the spring and 3 tins of infused olive oil in the fall. nudo-italia.com.

  • We give through World Vision this time of year -- well, we sponsor a child all throughout the year and have, as a couple, been supporting a child through W.V. for coming up on 30 years.  But this is the time of year that we sit down and go through the World Vision catalog and send specific gifts.  Throughout the year, we support a number of other missions.

  • Compassion International and Blood Water Mission

  • For the last five years my wife, Sharon, and I have used our Christmas money (and then some) to go on Global Village Habitat for Humanity builds in far away places. We have everything we could possibly need, and that goes for our children and grand children as well. We have been on builds to Poland, Portugal, Siberia, Madagascar and this year we helped with a build in Romania. It is very rewarding to help families get into a house that they own and can be proud of. We have made many friends along the way and learned alot about ourselves. We are very lucky in this country, to say the least.

    As long as we are able this is how we will use our Christmas money, after that we'll find another way to donate it.

  • I wouldn't be disappointed. I already have lots of stuff and it feels great to give to others. I'd give to Cancer research as a whole, not a specific kind. We do Adopt a Family & this year Toys for Tots. I'm also giving to the VFW this year.

  • Breast Cancer Awareness, All cancer awareness, march of dimes...

    And a Christmas food help.

  • I wouldn't be disappointed either... All I've asked for is my basic needs for Christmas.  

  • @ItsWhatEyeKnow - That is a very good idea.

  • @TiRocKiinPiinK - what is VFW? If I know about it, it's just not coming to me...

  • While I might be disappointed I'd still do it. When I was a dancer I used to perform to raise money for charities all the time- and our favorite by far was our annual Christmas Spectacular to raise funds for Operation Smile. Currently, we're not in a good financial situation, otherwise I'd consider charity as part of our Christmas giving, but I'm still open to serving with me hands and feet and prayers. I hope to develop my knitting to where I can produce scarves and hats and mittens for the homeless I see around here. I'm leary of giving them money (who knows what they'd use it for these days) but if I can help keep them warm and perhaps direct them to a safe shelter, I'll gladly do it. Once again, Beth, you humble me...

  • I'd probably be a little disappointed but since it'd be for a good cause, I'd ultimately be okay with it. I'd probably do something for cancer research.

  • I posted a link of this donation site on my blog. Hope it helps get the word out even more at:
    pggardens.blogspot.com is where you will find my picture and comment in relation to this.  Also I updated my website and added my life's journey through Mother Nature under 'Poetry'  Blessed Be, Katie

  • @babygirl_peace - Veterans of Foreign Wars

  • @TiRocKiinPiinK - okay, thank you.

  • Well I already got my laptop ... but the rest could go to charity. It would be nice to have the different organizations donations wrapped...there's just something about unwrapping for me...

  • In this e - How you'll learn how to feature a hit counter to Craigslist.

  • You're so cool! I don't suppose I've discovered anything like this before.
    So good to find anyone with some authentic ideas on this subject.
    really thank you for opening this up. this website is a thing that is desired
    on the internet, someone with a little bit originality.
    helpful job for bringing something totally new to the web!

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