quote:

ORIGINAL: barelynangel

While i think your idea is a good one, be careful your "gift" isn't some agenda you will be forcing on people.  I have donated things in names of people in the past but i have done so to THEIR projects, charities etc, not my own.  If you are planning on gifting these to people in their name, as i said, it would be more of a gift if it was to their projects and not your own ideas because of what you like or don't like or do such as being a veg.  If someone is a veg, this would probabably be a great gift, but to someone who is not, you may actually insult them or make them feel bad when they sit down to Christmas dinner with meat etc.

This should be thought of in the same way you by gifts --- its for others -- so you buy gifts in what they would like, enjoy etc, not what you want for Christmas etc.

It would probably please the heck out of people if you donate to things THEY like donating to or believe in or help out or if you don't know, perhaps something in the local community where they live like schools where their kids go or a community center in their area or library etc.  I would also think that if you feel your family doesn't need things but others do, i am confused why you would donate to an organization who doesn't help people since you admit people need things more than your family does. This gift seems more for you than it does for others who you are buying for in their names.

For example, my favorite charity is St. Jude's Hospital, if someone was making a donation in my name to something it would mean the world to me if it was to this organization in ANY way, be it money, time volunteering, sending all the kids christmas cards or presents etc. 

Also Toys for Tots is a huge one for me at Christmas time -- going in and choosing toys you think kids would love would mean a lot to me if you were doing this in my name.

Also, i am big at adopting families at Christmas and the Angel Trees.  Doing this also would mean the world to me.

Choosing to buy an animal for me so no one eats it or rescue an animal -- eh, its a nice thought but i don't believe as you do so the idea while nice would be more for you than it would for me as i am not really an animal person but more of a people person.

Also, for those who have kids, a GREAT gift for many families would be to start a college fund or open a good interest bearing account for for their kids especially lil ones and that way you can put money in it every year.  College costs as much as a good car every year, so this would also be something to consider for people.  My parents started this for all the grand kids and i know there are actual college funds where you can only use it for college etc or they get it at a certain age if they don't and they are non-taxable if you use it for school or something like that and depending when you start it, believe me lol from what my neice's mom states it was a blessing to have when she went to school.

If this makes sense,

angel

quote:

ORIGINAL: barelynangel

While i think your idea is a good one, be careful your "gift" isn't some agenda you will be forcing on people.  I have donated things in names of people in the past but i have done so to THEIR projects, charities etc, not my own.  If you are planning on gifting these to people in their name, as i said, it would be more of a gift if it was to their projects and not your own ideas because of what you like or don't like or do such as being a veg.  If someone is a veg, this would probabably be a great gift, but to someone who is not, you may actually insult them or make them feel bad when they sit down to Christmas dinner with meat etc.

This should be thought of in the same way you by gifts --- its for others -- so you buy gifts in what they would like, enjoy etc, not what you want for Christmas etc.

It would probably please the heck out of people if you donate to things THEY like donating to or believe in or help out or if you don't know, perhaps something in the local community where they live like schools where their kids go or a community center in their area or library etc.  I would also think that if you feel your family doesn't need things but others do, i am confused why you would donate to an organization who doesn't help people since you admit people need things more than your family does. This gift seems more for you than it does for others who you are buying for in their names.

quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961

Considering the times we live in, and my own cynical view on the human race in general, people either give to charities in order to claim a tax write off, b) to score brownie points for someone they feel they need to impress or, c) buy their way into heaven.

The very small majority who contribute and give without thought to personal gain, either spiritually or financially are the true believers in the season.

It is only the thought that counts, not the quantity.

If I may present an historic example, which is contrary to the given perception of the combatants at the time.....

One Christmas in the middle of fierce fighting along a wide front, one company ceased fire and offered a besieged and outnumbered enemy medical supplies, food, blankets, and even warm clothing to offset the subzero temperatures.

During this cease fire, the generous unit provided hot meals, medical attention by a doctor, not a field medic, and even arranged to transport the entire besieged unit to a better position that was out of the elements, as well as providing the medical needs some of the wounded would require if the battle continued for much longer.

Three days later, the besieged troops were relieved by friendly forces, all the wounded that had been treated survived, and within 15 days, the survivors of the unit that rendered aid to their enemies were captured and imprisoned as POW's.

The dates of this cease fire were 24 December 1945 through 28 December 1945, the besieged unit were the cut off survivors of an American Infantry company, and the German unit was a company of Panzer grenadiers belonging to the 1st SS Panzer division which was the unit responsible for the Massacre of American POW's at Malmedy.

Please remember that the SS unit symbol was the death's head.  Each one of the officers of this particular division were charged with the massacre, whether present or not, just because they were SS.

If anybody wants to know what happened to the officers, cmail me.

quote:

ORIGINAL: moonvine

I run a 501(c)(3) cat rescue.  We have plans to someday expand to be able to rescue other species, and to purchase land on which to construct a no-kill sanctuary.  Since if we can't meet expenses it comes out of my pocket, one could say I donate to it often.  However, since I haven't had a job since April we have had to *severely* cut back on the amount of cats we can rescue so that I can make sure we are all taken care of.

If anyone wants to see our webpage and our beautiful rescued kitties, it is at http://www.rescuties.org

quote:

ORIGINAL: tweedydaddy

Thankfully water buffalo is delicious, as is llama, and sheep, well, is sort of eaten all over the world. Why waste a perfectly good animal? Don't forget to donate gravy.
How excrutiatingly earnest, I must rewatch absolutely fabulous at once.

quote:

ORIGINAL: BbwCanaDomme

does anyone have any other similar charities they donate to?

quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961

Actually, some of these officers had gigs in their jackets for failure to carry out orders, as in taking too long to execute prisoners before the allies could get into Paris. 

One of the NCO's had been an officer on the Russian front before the tide turned and had 'forgotten' to shoot some civilian prisoners before advancing toward Stalingrad....


The SS combat troops were for the most part, the elite shock troops of the German army.  Not all of them were sadistic genocidal bastards....


While the German army routinely executed regular officers for failures, the SS had a tendency not to, primarily because many of these officers were the best they had, (not to mention that convincing Hitler that one of his chosen elite of the master race could make a mistake and not kill a lower species of human was impossible)

quote:

ORIGINAL: barelynangel

While i think your idea is a good one, be careful your "gift" isn't some agenda you will be forcing on people.This should be thought of in the same way you by gifts --- its for others -- so you buy gifts in what they would like, enjoy etc, not what you want for Christmas etc.


angel