Do you ever donate to Toys For Tots, Salvation Army Christmas Drive, or do some other type of Angel Tree donation? I do one every Christmas. Sometimes I do more than one.

I am NOT rich by any means. In fact I'm pretty damn poor. But I do one every year, because someone did it for me when I was little. I remember receiving gifts from these types of drives when I was younger. I can't thank those people enough for what they did for me: giving a child joy on Christmas morning. All children deserve that.

I did mine earlier today! It happened to be a Salvation Army Christmas Drive tree. I noticed it after checking out at Walmart.

I spend at least 10 minutes looking at all the tags on the tree, but I went with a 5-year old boy whose name wasn't listed. He likes Spiderman, Batman, Lego, and action figures. I know he's gonna love his presents! I also got him a hat with gloves (it's got Batman on it!) because I always try to get some sort of winter clothing item, as well.

I usually try to do these when I've got my daughter with me, because she has a lot of fun picking out the toys and I think it teaches her a really valuable lesson. She's definitely learned from the experience. Just this past summer they had a "bike" day at preschool during Spirit Week. On the way to school, she says to me, "Mom, what if one of the kids doesn't have a bike?" I told her she could share hers and she was really excited about the idea. Unfortunately I didn't have her with me (she's at her father's on the weekends), but I was just so wanting to do it when I saw the tree...

Do you/have you ever donated to one of these charities? Have you received from one of these charities? Or do you donate in some other fashion throughout the year? Donating is awesome, and it feels awesome, and I wanna hear what you do!

This time of the year I look for loose change on the ground. I store it up until I get to any shop that has a salvation army donation box/ ringer at the doors and drop it off in there. I figure it's not even missed if it's on the ground but can add up to help out in those things they might need an extra 20 cents to pull a gift or meal together here and there. So in the end idk how much it comes to but I do know even if I can only find a few coins that it has helped something out.

I didn't think much of donating but your story is quite inspiring to hear. I will look into this Angel Tree business. I am from a poorer family and can recall too that during the holidays in my childhood I would go to an event at the community center where kids would pick out presents.

>u< There's this neat-o one where you fill up a shoebox for african children. This can include school supplies or toys or knick-knacks.

Nice! My found change either goes towards laundry money, or into my daughter's piggy bank. Once she is old enough to earn an allowance though, I am going to use that system where 50% she has to put away, 40% she can keep, and 10% she can give to a charity of her choosing. :)

Those shoebox drives are great! A lady at our work puts one together every Fall. It might be through her church but I'm not sure. My mom and I (we both work for the same company) just went halfsies on filling a box just a few months ago. We got everything at the dollar store. We chose to put together a box for a teenager, because the lady said she mostly gets them for little kids. We bought things like combs, hair ties, playing cards, etc. It was a lot of fun finding things. My only issue with the shoebox drives is that they are usually done by religious organizations, who then go to to undeveloped nations with these boxes and give them out while spreading the word of their religion. I am agnostic so I would REALLY prefer they just hand them out with no religious strings attached, but, oh well.

Its good to have a budget for the shoeboxes... I've known of some who get carried away and end up spending more than they intended. The idea of sending over small things of utility along with some personal items is the best. Its not extravagant and you know that it will be put to good use and create some amusement. Oh it is good to think of the teenagers! I've read that they do get left out of the picture when it comes to gift donations.

I first heard of the shoeboxes through my high school which was public, so I don't believe there was a religious agenda... but yes, what preaching that is done is unsolicited. I do not believe it is for me to speak on the people who get the donations and whether it is right or wrong that they are preached to. I'm just glad that there is a system where there are people out there who donate and that there are people who get these donations.

I'm in a situation where I can't afford to celebrate Christmas. It started when I was young, we couldn't afford anything on Christmas day. We sometimes had special food, sometimes not. Sometimes we had gifts if my mom borrowed money, otherwise we didn't.

Then it kind of never changed. So I started to participate in different charities. I make food boxes (Christmas food basket) and hand them to the people that need it. I also wrap gifts given from people and some local store and help to give them as well. I usually give away things that I don't use anymore/cannot fit in them and it makes people smile. I don't want people to be in my situation. I've come to hate Christmas and all the merry stuff from it and I don't want anyone else to feel like I felt :)

What an awesome story. That's exactly how I feel. I don't want other kids not to have a Christmas. I was lucky: I don't remember ever NOT having toys on Christmas. But I know there were Christmases that I would not have if it weren't for the kindness of a stranger. I watched my mother struggle through the holiday season. Now that I've got my own child to provide for, I appreciate her effort more and more each yeah and admire her for what she did for me, which was the best she could do. And so many parents out there ARE doing the best they can do, and still can't afford to give their children a Christmas. If every year I can give one child a good Christmas, and take some of the burden off of their parent(s), I will do whatever it takes come the holiday season to scrape up the money to do that for them. It is worth it, 110%, every time. :) Thank you for being an amazing, generous person.

I grew up knowing that my mother borrowed money from her life insurance to afford Christmas gifts. But anyway. I'm glad with what I can do. I never told the place were I go that I could fall in the range of people being "qualified" to get food boxes and christmas gifts from them. Some regulars know, and it makes us more connected in a certain way. I wanted to learn how to make beanie and mitts but school ate too much of my time :c

I love hearing these stories of kindness. I feel like people who have struggled tend to be more generous, despite not being able to afford much.

My mom gave me so many clothes in the past, because she was a shopping addict. I donated most of them already. But, I'm planning to donate more clothes that I never use. So many outfits are just sitting there unused, and it makes me sad that they're being wasted. So, I want someone who will use the clothes to have them.

I can barely afford food, so I can't even consider doing Toys for Tots this year. Next year, I would like to. I don't like kids much, but I would love to make one happy.

I do every year in hopes Santa will bring a Marine for my stocking XD On a serious note though, yes, I donate when I can. My favorite radio station does a camp out for hunger every year the first week of December and I always donate to them as well.

There's also this: Soldiers' Angels They have a bunch of ways to help deployed service members, their families, and disabled service members. I'm going to get a few packs of Christmas cards and mail them to wounded service members when I get the chance

I am not really an active Subetan anymore (except to run my food swap) but I saw this and HAD to stop in!! Because more people need to thank you for what you do!

Helping people kind of became my whole world and I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm a platelets donor for United Blood Services and I am so proud of it! (I know, not /exactly/ what you asked but..) I got a nicked vein twice in a row (not anyones fault, this happens) but that means no donating until January!! :( It really bummed me out! I go in every other week and not being there really dampens my spirits. I really like going in, I like helping people, I love the workers. It's just great all around.

I'm looking for the nearest Salvation Army tree near my home, I think mine is also at Walmart. I, like you, don't have very much money. In fact, I make so little money that I quality for state insurance! Translation: vury poor. But I love to help people, so I do a lot of things that don't need money. I'm currently investigating two services (CASA and AASK if anyone else is interested in looking at these two programs in their state) to work with under privileged kids and be a mentor and/or volunteer. I previously volunteered at a senior living facility but I felt my time there wasn't spent helping people and moved on.

I like to spend money to help people when I can! Sometimes it's as simple as paying for the person behind me in Starbucks and once I paid for an elderly womans ice cream in Baskin Robbins (she almost cried and I almost cried! I get teary eyed so easy!) I try to live the "believe there is good in the world" lifestyle. It always makes me feel good to something for other people.

I want to do one tree and one of those (I think they're called) operation shoebox Christmas send offs. And maybe a military package! :>

In the past I participated in a few gift-giving trees. One year I bought a doll for a girl who was from a family who didn't have much. She was so appreciative, she spent the entire time telling me how wonderful I was, and drew a picture of me in crayon. I still have it, and treasure it greatly, and yes I tear up every time I look at her hand-drawn thank-you. I haven't done that lately, this thread helped remind me of that, thank you :)