Just curious-Children of Angel Tree or Similar Programs?

My old roomates sisters' children used to get gifts from blue santa through the police department. She was a young single mom who worked full time and went to school with two beautiful little girls so they were very appreciative.

We have been choosing a child or seniors name from the Giving Tree at my husbands work for years. We just always knew we dont get to meet them or see them receive the gifts. We assume they are happy to have anything we gave. One year my bowling league decided to adopt a family. One of my team mates came up with the idea and went to the Mission to find a family. She talked to the director of the mission and was given the name of a family who deserved help and woud be receptive to the attention it might bring them. We had so much fun planning and shopping for things. My team mate met with the family and had a wonderful tme helping them make lists and decide what was important to them. We ended up with a married couple with 4 kids. 2 teens, a 6 yr old and 3 yr old. The dad had been hit by a drunk driver and they had lost their insurance eventally. He was trying to get back to work but from a wheelchair he wasnt able to do some things. She was working 2 jobs, and 1 teen was working at a fast food place after school but bills were stacking up and they just knew there wouldnt be anything special to eat and no gifts under the tree. We collected enough food for several meals, and they each had gifts and clothes. We all got to see the gifts and wrapped them at one of our mornings while bowling.It was great! Then when it was time for the things to be delivered the bowling lanes donated $150 cash for them too! 2 weeks later when we went back to bowling after the new year, the family came in to meet us! It was so fun, they were great, and grateful, and had hugs and great things to say about how this had changed them and really gave them the boost in attitude they needed and we just couldnt get over how wonderful they really were. I know my team mate who had met them first kept in touch with them for several months.

Yes.

Last year I picked a toddler and her mom and actually met them when we brought our stuff to a central location on behalf of the church. The mom was so appreciative. It really made my Christmas to have been able to provide her one. Her daughter was adorable. I don't know if she was just hoping for one or two things, but we filled all the wishes we could and bought her dinner and some groceries (her and her parents, with whom they were staying). The father had walked out and left her with very little. Her wishes were practical - warm clothes for her baby. A high chair. Diapers. A toy. Things many of us take for granted.

My daughter and I felt convicted one year. We attended a ministry party for kids who attend a Bible study. Many of the kids are truly poor. They get to request 1 gift and the shopping bag is filled with other gifts and clothes. Those kids liked every single gift. It didn't matter if it was dollar store, damaged package, out of style, or whatever. They showed off every gift and thanked the volunteers and donors over and over. My daughter gave her toys to a friend who was removed from her home. We delivered her bag to her new house and my d snuck all of her presents in and never told anyone. She wanted her friend to feel happy like the other kids.

our little country church adopted a family in the next town. we took them food, gifts, and clothes based on what they asked for. they literally had one chair and one twin mattress for M., dad, and 5 kids. they heated using the gas oven. they insisted we eat and we did because it was rude not to. later we went back and took them cash because they needed to pay their heating bill. we also collected furniture. the family acted as if we gave them a million dollars and they took care of that used furniture better than anyone i know. it was humbling.

a family gets most of our toys when we outgrow them. they keep them all and pass them around the extended family. they are being played with for years and loved by many kids. i met them when i hired one relative to move us, one to assemble the playground, and one to fix my car.

I had a foster child. All foster children get gifts that have been provided by the community. She always liked what she got. It's wonderful that you're donating gifts.

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I had a foster child. All foster children get gifts that have been provided by the community. She always liked what she got. It's wonderful that you're donating gifts.

our church took on the city of peoria and found a local elementry school that has low resources. So it is not that they can not " buy " something, but the need is there. They had years where we could deliver home to home and it was very fun to see my child give gifts out along with a big bus of family and kids. Now it is more private.... they choose to put a wish list as a need or want for their child and it gives the opportunity for our church to provide but the gift is from the parents. I too feel this is such a blessing to be able to give them what they need for their kids. We also get the opportunity to bless the teacher with a wish list for the classroom in the same school. We also give a breakfast for the teachers on a given morning. I believe it has been a great thing our Church has taken on.
For our school, we took on a sister school. They choose one in downtown phx and the children are so under resourced. As a school, we have provided 300 turkey dinners for each family and each child gets a toy for Christmas. That is really the only thing they kids from this school will get under the tree. It is so sad that we can't do more...but it is fun to really be apart of this organization as well. The kids at our school will get the opportunity to deliver to each child and we video tape it so we can see the reaction. It is awesome

I have participated in the angel tree and never doubted their appreciation, I did know a family growing up that "delivered" Christmas to a family in need every year. Christmas Eve day they would just bring in a Tree (fake so they could keep it), decorations, hot coca, Christmas Dinner was catered and brought the next day and a Christmas Eve meal was home cooked by the family and enjoyed by all. They brought toys and games, gifts clothes etc every year they did this for a different family. I would enjoy being in a postition to do that one year.

I have never met the Angel Tree recipients we have given to over the last 18 years. The first year we did this a little girl (7) asked for a sewing machine, I had several and gave her one - put all the things needed to sew, pins, tape measurer, scissors, finger guard and a Christmas card. Another child boy, we picked wanted a bike, hubby had an extra mountain bike and we gave that to the boy.

Throughout the years we have given many items to kids in need and said a prayer that they would enjoy what we got them. Many times I made the clothes for them.

People still talk about what we gave and are happy to see us bring in things.

Now that I work at the university they have a Hanging of the Silver and Green (school colors) and they pick kids from two children's homes. I now get something for these kids as well. The university puts a money limit on things but this year I went a bit overboard for the kid. I felt he needed the things and WalMart just doesn't stand up in quality - all the things were on sale with an extra 20% off.

Our local radio station does Secret Santa where the community writes a letter about a family. The radio station collects money and then they get them Christmas - gifts, tree, food. They sometimes go overboard and buy used appliances, car or a home and give to those in real need. When they give the gifts, the record the sounds of the family and play them back on the air the next day or so. They have collected over $20,000 in past years for like 10 families. Another thing the come up with some gimmicks to raise the money like 6 feet under, incased in ice, a night on the lake on a float, on a bill board on a wooden painted cow. This year I haven't heard what they are doing but they are zany and they have brought the community closer together.

It's just a good feeling to give and to know that you have made someone's day.

Have a good season.

The other S.

We have received gifts every year from the people that picked our kids tags. This year hubby didn't go in during the week because he couldn't find his SSDI letter showing our income. I was very very very very mad at him and was worried sick about how we were going to give Christmas gifts this year. I work 3 part time jobs that I only get a small amount of cash for. I clean my FIL's house once a week, it takes about 3 hours, and he gives us a Conoco Gasoline card and we do not have to worry about running out of gas. I work in the clothing store at the kids gymnastics/dance studio and that pays for most of their classes. Then I take in ironing too. I make some cash with that but it is still not enough to handle Christmas.

I miss having the security of knowing the gifts the kids want are coming. Of knowing they will have so many blessings.

I can tell you that the gifts you supply are so appreciated by these families, they can not tell you but when that child wakes up on Christmas morning and there sits a brand new bike the kids just stand there and cry. When the toy they have been wanting for so long is finally there they hug it and love it and are just thankful.

We have to make sacrifices this month to buy for the kids, I am not talking about lots of useless stuff either. I would not sacrifice for that. The kids both want DSI lites. I told them we can't afford those and that Santa probably won't be bringing them either. Our girl started crying and said "But Santa makes them so he can afford them". How innocent she still is. They are not getting DS's but they are getting a different hand held game item. Plus some other things they will like.

I appreciate every "angel" who ever selected our kids names and then made their Christmas perfect. Thank you everyone.