Thread: Say "NO" to Toy Drives

I worked with a Christmas drive once in our hometown. That kinda made me loose my giving spirit.

The lists the parents had given the organization was unbelievable. Back then Atari type things were popular, but expensive for the time. The list would ask for an Atari, a TV, a VCR, some expensive type clothing.

I don't blame the children for putting that on their list - I blame the parents for forwarding that list to the organization. It seems to me the parents should have had the decency to explain to those kids, these people were donating this money from their own families and not to be greedy about it.

Originally Posted by americangirl

I was still in San Diego last Christmas, so when the 'Toys for Tots" toy drive box showed up in the reception area of my company, for the first time I decided not to donate. My suspicions were that the majority of the "underpiveledged" kids who would receive the toys would be anchor babies. I wasn't going to play any part in it.

But I'll tell you of an organization that I really respect. I have first-hand experience with this organization, and I wholeheartedly believe that they do the work of angels.

That organization is called the "Make- a-Wish Foundation". If you haven't heard of them, their sole purpose is to grant dying wishes to children with terminal illnesses.

My first encounter with this organization was when I was 22 years old. I was a tour guide at the San Diego Zoo. I drove the tour busses and gave narrated tours. One day I was told there would be a family on my tour that would be up in the front of the bus with me. The parents and one of the sons would sit in the seat behind me, and the other son would be next to me in the area usually reserved for wheel chairs. I figured this son must have been wheel-chair bound.

Not hardly. This beautiful 10-year-old boy was lying on a gurny. His face and body whiter than the sheets he was lying on. He was completely bald. He was dying of leukemia.

His dying wish was to visit the world famous San Diego Zoo. He loved tigers and wanted to see a tiger up close. Oh my God...I could barely get through the tour. I looked at that face, so pale and so tired. He was too weak to sit up, so they had the gurney propped up so he could see. His face lit up as much as it could when he saw the animals, and I FORCED myself not to cry. I wanted so badly for him to enjoy his tour.

As soon as the tour was over and they were out of earshot, I broke down. After that, I looked into the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and I learned of all the good they do. So many families, even if they are not actually poor, cannot afford to grant their child's last wish. Especially with mounting medical bills. This lovely foundation helps to fund the dreams of dying children.

Most children's wishes are to meet a celebrity, and you would be surprised at the number of celebrities who will do this, WITHOUT PUBLICITY. Did you know that Nicole Kidman tries to fulfill every Make-a-Wish Foundation's request to meet a dying child who wants to meet her? And she refuses to allow their to be any publicity about it.

But there are other wishes too. Disneyland is very common, and so is the Zoo and Sea World.

I won't go on and on about this, but if you have anything spare to give after supporting ALIPAC, you might think about donating to the MAW Foundation.

I've donated twice to MAWF. So far they can be trusted. What I like is that the contributions are for the areas that they're in.
They can found in every state and it's International, you can donate more than money. You can volunteer any time.
Because of the celebrities,Ca.& Fl. are well known for MAWF, Arnold, the Ca. Governator contributes alot of his time to these things.
http://www.wish.org/help/donate/?s_k...-S-19456553511

Originally Posted by nntrixie

I worked with a Christmas drive once in our hometown. That kinda made me loose my giving spirit.

The lists the parents had given the organization was unbelievable. Back then Atari type things were popular, but expensive for the time. The list would ask for an Atari, a TV, a VCR, some expensive type clothing.

I don't blame the children for putting that on their list - I blame the parents for forwarding that list to the organization. It seems to me the parents should have had the decency to explain to those kids, these people were donating this money from their own families and not to be greedy about it.

We had the same thing happen at our church. We had a similar list. I tried to find a child to buy for but everyone wanted a bike! I could not afford that. Neither could anybody else. The pastor finally said just buy age appropriate gifts that are within your budget. I agree- what are the parents thinking when they let their kids hand in these lists with totally unrealistic requests?

Originally Posted by Cribster

I give to the Vietnam vets who seem to be largely forgotten these days.

This year I did something a little different for Christmas. Like you, I had decided that I would like to offer our vets something.

I approached our local 4-H groups and rustled up a bunch of chickens. Some of the guys and I built a coop and I brought over 12 hens and 2 roosters, discussed feeding and care, and showed 4 or 5 of the residents how to gather their eggs.

That was about a month ago. They invited me over for a pancake breakfast this morning. They have added more chickens and added lights for heating the coop! One of the guys has really studied up and talked to a vet about raising the chicks! Over breakfast, he and his "EX-O" showed me a spreadsheet they had worked out for chicken growth/feed/expenses and cost of processing chickens for other, off-site, homeless Vets. But what they really wanted to talk to me about was GOATS!! Their plan was to provide eggs and meals with the chickens and milk, soap and other products from the goats. Go guys!!

From the time my daughter was old enough to understand Christmas shopping, she has picked out a name on a tree (she always picks a child her age and alternates girls on even years, boys on odd) and shopped for a child "less fortunate" than she. She is raised by a single mom who works two jobs to make ends meet. She has learned to shop very carefully, while still getting whatever the child she chose has asked for. She does extra chores to raise money for her purchases. So imagine her thoughts, when last year, she went to help distribute gifts with another group and saw very much the same scene as above - parents dropping their kids off out of expensive cars, kids who didn't speak English, didn't even thank the Santa for their gifts, just grabbed and ran, then complained about their gifts. This year, the first tree she saw, she told me she wasn't going to pick a child. It was she who came up with the idea of doing something for the Vets.

Welcome to Alipac 1Ramsey!

You can always do something with a church or for someone you know personally. I've purchased gifts because of a family that fell through the cracks that was a church member. You can also ask someone at the police department. They encounter people daily that may need help.

Once it was a woman from the church that lost her job, right before Christmas and it was too late to apply for any charity. They all turned her away.

I went shopping for her kids and I caught the flu. But I don't regret it.

Go find someone too proud to ask for help(or not just out to work the system) and help them.

Dixie

Hi,1Ramsey.

Give your daughter a big hug for me. I know you must be very proud of her as you should be.

Welcome!

1 Ramsey Welcome!

I like the story about the chickens - that's giving that lasts, and has so many benefits.

Good story.

IRamsey, WELCOME TO ALIPAC!!!
I found that those who will not accept "gift cards", is no "Non-Profit Oganization". (with some slight exceptions)

Thanks for sharing this disgusting story. I've also come to the conclusion that donations should go directly to people I know. I've also read on-line a first-hand account from a toy donation volunteer, that the volunteers picked out the best toys for their own children. Disgusting.

This is a great site. I found it through a Ron Paul blog. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only who who cares about the future of the US and how our leaders are destroying our country.

I personally witnessed a "Make a Wish" foundation wish come true in Bermuda. The child wanted to meet this evangalist or preacher of some fame whom I do not know, and he was going to be in Bermuda when we were there. A delightful young boy, staff at the Princess Hotel gave him the royal treatment (thanks staff you were wonderful), and it all seemed as honest and inspiring as I can relate second hand.

The young man was dressed in a suit to go to church most every time I saw him.

I would recommend this organization without hesitation. I won't buy toys because of where they are made - I refuse to support China and do not want to participate in poisoning our young anyway.