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.
That is a great idea, thank you. Something I will definitely consider.
Our church has an annonymous -adopt a family(children), or- adopt a child. You choose. And when you choose, say adopt a child, they give you a list of size of clothing, coat/jacket, jeans, shoes, socks underwear, blouses, and one toy, etc for a boy or a girl (you choose). If you can’t do a whole adoption, but want to help, you can simply donate one item. Say a pair of jeans etc or one toy etc.
By doing this, we are assured the money stays in our community and helps those in need, in our community. We never find out, and don’t ask, the identity.
You could also donate cases of veggies/soup etc to a local soup kitchen, church etc.
And of course the troops are always needing calling cards!
I also liked Glenn Becks’ guest the other day, the Christmas jar. A jar (your choice of size) filled with lose money you have gathered all year. Then anonymously leave it on someone’s doorstep, that you know is struggling. I will also do that next year!
Doesn’t the red cross accept monetary donations for blankets etc for disasters?