You might want to try what my sister and her husband are doing this year. They also decided not to buy for each other. They are each filling a laundry basket with nonperishible special foods and some gifts. She then plans to take them to her parish priest and ask him to donate them to a family in need in the parish.
Perhaps you could take such a basket to your pastor/minister.
How about donating money to a Senior Citizens organization. We did that last Christmas. They not only provide meals, but at Christmas, they provide baskets with needy items and often don’t have the money for everyone to get the small gifts. Rarely to giving families think of the older folks living alone.
Wounded Warrior Project is my suggestion. You will be helping young military families.
I am the secretary and a case worker with Operation First Response. We help support our wounded Heroes returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. If you would like to help a wounded Hero who is struggling financially (and his family) this year - that would be so very helpful. If you want to find out more about us - we are www.operationfirstresponse.org - you can contact us if you need further info - all contact information is on our site. You are so grateful and generous to think of doing something like this no matter who you choose to donate too!
We usually give through the Salvation Army. If you want to have fun and actually buy presents instead of just a cash gift, call up a Salvation Army shelter and ask how many children are being housed there, ages, and gender...then go buy presents for those kids. We usually do that, or they also appreciate food at this time of year for their Holiday dinners.
The USO!!
The Human Fund: Money for People
Contact your local American Legion Auxiliary. Merry Christmas to you!
This is wonderful that you are doing this. My birthday is this week. For my birthday and my Christmas gift, my husband makes donations in the amount he would spend on gifts for me to Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation. Their donations are down so much right now.
Ask a local church or senior citizens center for recomendations. I'm sure they will have more than you can handle, and it will be people in your own neighborhood.
I don’t know if you would be interested in helping Indian orphans, but our church supports the mission work, the Children’s Fellowship of India. A number of our members have visited the work in India and one of the directors regularly worships at our congregation. All money donated goes to the work and not administration. These are young boys who have lost both parents or one parent has died and the other is unable to raise them.
I greatly appreciate all these suggestions and am writing them all down. It is heartwarming to see your kindness and the willingness to help others. I don’t know why, but the last couple of years I have just felt that the real meaning of Christmas was disappearing. When I’d go into the mall or a store, people just seemed tired, grumpy and stressed out rather than joyful about the season. We had some situations with family with “gift drama” and “keeping up with the Joneses” type deal that was unpleasant.
I’m glad to keep it simple this year and reflect on the true meaning of the season.
All of these are great ideas. If you need another one, I’d suggest Toys for Tots.
Semper Fi
Contact your local Dept of Family and Children services and adopt a family. We have done this for years (except this year, we are barely getting our kids anything this year) and it’s so rewarding! Most families are really nice and will share pictures with you of the kids opening up Santa on Christmas morning. One year I discovered my family was my daughter’s daycare teacher who was working full time with her daughter and going to school to become a teacher herself. I was proud to help this fine young woman and someone who took such good care of my little one too.
Salvation Army
Check out www.worldventure.com....donate some livestock.