Given to any holiday charities?

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2003
Given to any holiday charities?
9
Fri, 12-18-2009 - 10:04am

Has your debt prevented you from giving to holiday charities this year?


Or have you managed to give anyway? And in what form?


Toys for the needy? Cash to the Salvation Army? Canned goods to the food bank?


How were you able to contribute?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2008
Fri, 12-18-2009 - 10:48am

I think I answered this to a similar post last week, but we did adopt a family from the giving tree at work.




iVillage Member
Registered: 01-27-2009
Fri, 12-18-2009 - 1:05pm

I wouldn't say directly debt, but my financial troubles have stopped my giving this year. In addition, I use to volunteer a fair bit through various social groups that I use to be a part of but now wasn't asked (and didn't know how to get involved - couldn't remember the contact). So, without Girl Scouts, I'm not gift-wrapping for charities anymore. I use to play an administrative role (on top of donations) for a Christmas Hamper but since I don't have that job anymore...

So, there is definitely a connection. I somewhat justify it in ways of "when I have plenty I give, and at other times I've relied on these systems. Right now, keeping to myself is helping prevent my relying on these systems, which is good for both them and me too. When I'm back on my feet, I'll give again." Somewhat weak, but true.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-1998
Fri, 12-18-2009 - 3:18pm
I donate to the food bank at various places that collect - my nieces Christmas Concert - office parties - etc, but if I am donating money I try not to drop in $1-2 at a time and actually write a cheque to whatever charity for $10-20 so that I can get a tax receipt. Not that you get much of a tax deduction here in Canada but it all helps and I figure I would donate that much over the year.
Sharon




iVillage Member
Registered: 08-08-2005
Fri, 12-18-2009 - 5:29pm
I donate to the March of Dimes

Angel

Wife to Wayne, Mommy to Tyler (15), Nickolas (3) and Noah (1)

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2009
Fri, 12-18-2009 - 6:20pm

I donate to a european orphanage but thats year round...


Small donations throughout the holiday season when I am asked...


Duke

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-24-2007
Sat, 12-19-2009 - 6:10am

I donate througout the year to "Farley Foundation", which is an organization which assists the elderly and disabled with veterinary care for their pets.

Kate


empty purse

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-10-2003
Mon, 12-21-2009 - 11:02am
This year I made donations to our local humane society. I am a Cub Scout den leader and our den had to do a service project so my son and I came up with the idea to donate to the humane society as everyone is doing food pantry and toy drives but no one was doing anything for the animal shelters that are really hurting for donations. I ended up buying a bunch of items thinking that we wouldn't get many donations as it is a very small group of boys but we ended up with tons of stuff to take. It was worth seeing the expressions on the faces of the people that work at the shelter when we dropped everything off. I've also donated to several food drives that my kids' schools were doing even though we barely have enough food as it is. I haven't really given any money to any charities this year though I guess you could kind of classify one of my Christmas gifts to my 10 year old DS as a donation - I paid for a brown bat adoption at a bat conservation organization and the money will be directly used to care for the bats they save. DS is very big into bats and has always expressed an interest in giving money to help save them so it is the perfect gift for him. Wish I could give more but that will come one day.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-09-1999
Mon, 12-21-2009 - 3:22pm

We gave $25 to local fire dept for food baskets to be given to the needy.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-01-2009
Tue, 12-22-2009 - 9:37am
We give to the Salvation Army kettle each year. They have one outside our Wal-mart so we let our kids put a dollar in each time we go.