Giving
For those of you that aren’t hunters, if it makes you feel any better this deer (with the exception of his antlers, of course) was donated to Hunters for the Hungry. This means that all of the meat was used to provide food for families in Kentucky who struggle to be able to feed themselves and their children. Kentucky is not a wealthy state, and we have many needy families. This program and others like it mean that some people who may have otherwise gone to bed with empty bellies now will get a healthy meal.
And, while I’m on the subject of donations…
What, if anything, are ya’ll planning on doing this holiday season? As well as being a season of cheer, it’s also the time of year when I begin to realize just how lucky I am and I want to do more to help those that need assistance. If you are short on ideas for charitable giving, here are some ideas for you:
- Andy participates each year in the Shop With A Cop program. This is something many police departments do. Needy children from the community are paired with an officer, who then takes them to the store. Around here they go to Wal*Mart. The child gets to ride to the store in the cruiser and then gets to shop for themselves in the store. Whatever they like, within the budget set for the year. I’m sure your local police department has a similar program, and if they do I can guarantee you they’d appreciate a donation.
- I donate all of the boys outgrown winter coats to Coats for Kids. And last year I also purchased a coat to donate to the program. A very worthy cause. You can also donate adult-sized winter coats–odds are if the family can’t afford a coat for their child that parents don’t have one, either.
- Each year, at the beginning of December, I change $50 into one dollar bills. I keep the $$ in my purse, and I give a dollar to the bell ringers each and every time I go into the store. This year, I’m also changing $25 each for the boys. So each time we go into the store, the Salvation Army bell ringers will get $3 from us.
- The Angel Tree. I think every town has this. You choose an angel from the tree, purchase the items listed on the angel (or purchase items that are gender/age appropriate) and then drop your gifts off at a predetermined location. Last year I had each of the boys choose and shop for an angel, and I think I’ll make that a yearly tradition. The one gripe I have with this particular charity and others like it is that I’ve personally known of several instances where greedy parents added their children’s names to many, many trees. Parents who probably could have afforded Christmas had they wanted to. And then those kids got more Christmas than mine did! But, in the spirit of the season, I’m doing my best not to be cynical and I’m hoping our donations make some little boy or girl very happy.
- Send a Christmas card to : A Recovering American Soldier, c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington DC 20307-5001.
- Year-round you can take your excess of stuffed animals (If you have kids, surely you have this!) to your local police department or womens shelter. The police officers keep stuffed toys in the cruisers to comfort children who have been in accidents or who have been witness to or involved in violent situations. The women’s shelters can always use donations of toys, clothing, and personal care products–often these women ran with nothing but their children and the clothes on their backs.
OK, there are some options for you. Our family certainly isn’t rich, but we do what we can and I hope you do, too.
Do you have a cause that’s close to your heart? List it in the comments section so we can all be aware.
First of all, you don’t need to apologize for someone shooting a deer. I’ve eaten venison before, and it isn’t something that should just be given to poor people, though it’s always good to give to the poor.
Anyway…I love the suggestions. I never have money to give the Salvation Army people because I generally don’t carry cash. Getting cash specifically to give to them is a great idea.
My philosophy is to give from what I have been blessed. We are not a financially wealthy family, but we give of our time and we also donate the possessions we no longer use or need throughout the year. I don’t always do something special at Christmas, though I always say I’m going to. Perhaps this year I’ll do the Salvation Army thing you talked about – that is such a great idea!
That’s a nice buck. My friend Shell’s husband Andy just got back from deer hunting. We’ll be making venison tourtière again this year for Christmas, yum!
I give to the United Way and to the Arthritis Society of Canada through payroll deduction throughout the year. We pass along our outgrown winter wear to Coats for Kids and donate to the Snowsuit Fund, which raises money for warm snow gear for underprivileged kids — a must in Ottawa in the winter.
We also put loonies in the SA bell-ringers’ balls in the stores.
Alissa, I have to say I think you are one of the most unselfish people i’ve ever met. You are constantly doing something for other people. That’s awesome. Your always giving. I try through out the year to donate things but sometimes its hard. I work my butt off to have a good decent life and sometimes it just rubs me the wrong way when people can’t seem to make it in life. Life is hard-but you need to at least try.
I love the deer meat donation- that is really neat. I wonder if more people know about it. It’s something they should shout about.
Doug and I try to give during the holiday season- i usually buy a couple of cans of food each time i grocery shop and donate those. and that adds up. for two poeple we eat alot i’m always going to the store. We donate where we can. sometimes i feel guilty that i don’t do enough-then the bills come in and I realize sometimes you can’t do what you really want to.
Now I feel like the most selfish heel ever because I just put up a post about what I want for Christmas.
I like your idea of changing over money to give to the bell ringers.
I sort the kids’ clothes fairly regularly throughout the year and when I receive phone calls from diabetes, cerebral palsy, etc. I get them to come pick up whatever doesn’t fit anymore.
I couldn’t see the photo! But I think your gift ideas were great. We always have a gift tree at work for the mentally disabled that I buy for.
BTW I need help! I want to buy Neil a game camera for Christmas. Do you like yours and if so what type is it? Thanks!
That’s a big buck for such a little guy. I’m guessing he DIDN’T dress him? ~ jb///
Great giving ideas! Love the dollar bills idea. I never have cash, just debit. I felt awful last week when I couldn’t even make a donation for a poppy!
Those sound like really worthy causes. I especially like the dollar bill one and think I will do that one too! Drew looks awfully proud of himself. My hus has been going out to his tree stand the last few evenings but hasn’t seen a thing. I think he might fall be falling asleep.
When Drew gets older and actually does the hunting himself, you’ll have to get a similar photo with his own deer. I bet he’ll have the same proud expression on his face.
That is a great charity where you can donate the meat! I think I have heard of that around here, too.
You sound like you guys are going above and beyond. That is just wonderful! I had these grand plans this year and I don’t think I will get it done. We do give $$ all year long, do the Christmas gift tree for a needy child, give clothes etc. away to charities during the year, so we try to be charitable. During the year I look to give away things I can make, too. It never seems enough, though…
What’s odd is that I’m a vegetarian who, while I have vast experience with guns, is kinda anti-gun. But I think this is cool. Why? Because you actually do something with what you hunt. That’s awesome.
Those are all awesome ideas. Here we have Nine Shares, Colorado Cares, which is a program through the local news station, to feed and clothe homeless people though the holiday. Well really the winter. I volunereed with them last weekend. I also give coats and toys to the local firemen who collect them.
I’ve never done the angel tree thing though, so I may do that this year.
Drew looks very proud! That’s a good-sized buck, too. All good ideas for charity work, and you are definitely generous with you resources. Another thing people could do would be to check with the Family Resource Center at their children’s school and see what donations may be needed and for whom. Remind me to give you some money for Andy’s shopping spree on Sat. when you are here…
I had no idea Kentucky had that sort of a program for hunters. How cool!
When December rolls around we do a few things. Normally, Seth gets to choose gifts for Toys for Tots. His school just had a children’s book drive as well as a food drive. So we loaded his backpack up with stuff that he picked out for both events. Also, Boy Scouts does their thing and we load up several bags to leave on our porch for that. We usually also pack up old toys and clothes (womens and kids) to send to a women’s shelter as well. And I’ll often give Seth money to put into the Salvation Army kettles.
My sil works at a school where there are a few very poor families so I’ll be talking to her about donating some stuff. (Small things like food or treats or small toys you can slip into a students’ backpack. Just breaks my heart to hear her talk about how so many kids come to school hungry, dirty and only have one change of clothes.
Thanks for the ideas. We could always do more.