Re: Christmas giving programs

I would be, too. Groceries are hard to fence.

On Wednesday, November 24, 2004, at 04:03 PM, Kitty wrote:

Fran, I didn't mean to come down too hard, just adding a little optimism.
We all have to choose a method of giving that works for us. As for myself,
I'm broke. I scraped a few $ together to give to the DAV, but that's it
this year. I had to drop my animal charity last January when I lost my job.
I'm selling off some collectibles so I'll be able to by some small gifts for
family.

I can be cynical about it or I can say it's Christmas, a time to share. I
have a friend coming to my house for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow who has
lost virtually everything, even her home. So I know there are those who
have it much worse than I.

If a 5 yr old dumps a teddy bear in a trash can, that attitude is the fault
of his/her parents. S/he learned that somewhere.

As for being careful about giving, I once dated a guy whose twin brother was
always short of money. Jerry had a wife and 4 kids, and Terry & I didn't
want to see them hungry, but Terry had helped before only to find his
brother had spent it on booze or rec drugs. I told him it was a no-brainer.
We worked in a grocery store. We bought them groceries. Jerry was
"grateful", but not particularly happy.

Kitty

----- Original Message -----
From: "F M Ferrari" <fm4re@swbell.net>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2004 3:12 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] Christmas giving programs


Oh Kitty, I don't mean that I don't buy and buy "pretty" - I'm actually
pretty generous compared to many here. But when the $25.00 Target gift
card to a family I don't know is not "enough" or the teddy bear gets
dumped in the trash can by a cynical 5 year old, welllllll..... So I
take care of the barn manager at the barn where I kept my horse and
still ride. I KNOW that any extra $25.00 gift card from Target is
appreciated by her.


I'm just more careful where I make my donations anymore and donate my
time. I want to help but don't want to be taken advantage of or told
that what I give is not enough or not trendy enough, etc. Why does a
homeless person need a brand new coat and not the one I've outgrown but
still in good condition? If I was still thin enough, I would still be
wearing it which is fine for me but not some homeless person? See what I
mean? I'm really a pessimistic Pollyanna, wanting to help and hope
everyone gets along yet know that it's useless sometimes. But, I still
try and help when I want. Fran



Kitty <kmrsy@comcast.net> wrote:
I agree the basics are important, but the "wants" for material things
shouldn't be overlooked at Christmas. It doesn't have to be bling, but
with
the serviceable tube socks, couldn't you include one pair with pink lace
around the edge? It's Cmas and everyone needs a little sparkle.
It is sad that the assumption is that anything a poor child wants but
doesn't get will be stolen. I know some of that will happen, but I don't
think it is true across the board.

Kitty

----- Original Message -----
From: "F M Ferrari"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2004 11:15 AM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] Christmas giving programs


You know, I really don't think that Jim's remark is that off. If these
kids are so poor, then they need some basics. Here at work, we always
adopt families and kids. Often request a list of "wants" for Christmas.
Let me tell you these "poor" kids want more material things than most
kids I know. Lot's of requests for name brand stuff that is tied into
gang affiliation, lot's of "bling bling", etc.


Yeah, like anything related to gangs is going to be bought by
corrections employees! I hate how ungrateful so many of our adoptees
are. I'll only contribute stuff like socks and underwear, let them steal
the other stuff they want - I need a job until I retire. Fran (I'm a
biostatistician for OK corrections medical services)


Jesse Bell wrote:
*snicker*...why does that NOT surprise me Jim. You crack me up. While
you're at it...throw a lump of cole in there too. LOL

Jesse

james singer wrote:
I don't know about the area where you live, but here there are several
organizations that want you to pick a child's name out of some sort of
replica of a hat and then go buy that child something for christmas. I
think this is a great idea. I intend to buy several of these children
the same sort of presents I got when I was their age. Socks and
underwear.



Island Jim
Southwest Florida
27.0 N, 82.4 W
Zone 10a
Minimum 30 F [-1 C]

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Support hort.net -- join the hort.net fund drive!
http://www.hort.net/funds/

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Support hort.net -- join the hort.net fund drive!
http://www.hort.net/funds/

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Support hort.net -- join the hort.net fund drive!
http://www.hort.net/funds/


---------------------------------------------------------------------
Support hort.net -- join the hort.net fund drive!
http://www.hort.net/funds/

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Support hort.net -- join the hort.net fund drive!
http://www.hort.net/funds/


---------------------------------------------------------------------
Support hort.net -- join the hort.net fund drive!
http://www.hort.net/funds/


Island Jim
Southwest Florida
27.0 N, 82.4 W
Zone 10a
Minimum 30 F [-1 C]

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Support hort.net -- join the hort.net fund drive!
http://www.hort.net/funds/

Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index