Re: Re: Christmas giving programs

I've always found it incomprehensible that people would spend money on
booze, gambling, drugs when they have families going w/out but I know it
happens all the time. Severely screwed up priorites there.


Pam Evans
Kemp, TX
zone 8A
----- Original Message -----
From: james singer
Sent: 11/24/2004 4:28:13 PM
To: gardenchat@hort.net
Subject: Re: [CHAT] 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]
>>>
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Island Jim
Southwest Florida
27.0 N, 82.4 W
Zone 10a
Minimum 30 F [-1 C]

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