What would you do??? Need suggestions please!!!

[Irishgrrrl]

The law firm that I work for did something really different and cool this year. In addition to our usual Christmas bonuses, they gave us each $50 to use in a way that is "in keeping with the spirit of Christmas." They said we could donate the money to our favorite charity if we want to, but they would rather we do something more personal . . . like find a person or family who really needs the money and give it to them. Also, we don't have to give the whole $50 to the same person/family/charity . . . the firm gave us a $20 bill, two $10 bills and two $5 bills, so we can split it up.

I send a monthly donation to the horse rescue that I adopted my horse from, so I could just send the money to them. Or, I had the idea of sending it to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in memory of my grandfather, who died of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. But, as I mentioned above, the idea is to do something more "personal" than that. I'm really kind of excited about this idea, and I think it's great that our firm did this, but I'm at a loss for what to do! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

(And no, Dancing Fire, I'm not sending the money to you! LOL!

)

 

[fieryred33143]

What a great idea!

Do you attend church or have any local public schools in your area? Sometimes churches or schools will have the names of families that need a little more assistance than others. You can always select one of those families and use the $50 to supply them with a Christmas/Holiday dinner.

 

[perry]

There are many charities; but often they overlook a lot of individual situations.

Here are some suggestions on how to find more personal cases:

Do you belong to a church. Even if you do not you might wish to inquire with your local churches. If the church is doing its job properely they will know of cases where a few extra $$ - or a specific gift would make a difference. Also, they will know of people who will really appreaciate it too.

Is there a local "make a wish" foundation (or something similar). You might wish to talk with them about specific situations in your community.

If all else fails and you are still at whits end. A bottle of wine to the winos living on the streat Xmass eve (or morning) will always bring you a lot of personal appreaciation (and I know a person who does that).

There is nothing better though than personally handing some $$ or something needed to a person or a family and seeing there eye''s light up and their appreaciation.

Perry

 

[Ellen]

Hmm, if it were me, I think I'd spend half of it on a toy for a boy and girl (and donate where ever), and buy some food with the rest and donate to Salvation Army, soup kitchen, etc.

How fun!

 

[Circe]

Your company rocks.

A friend of mine volunteers with this organization for kids in NY, New York Cares on the principle that working with kids is a bigger opportunity to make a difference. Possibly check with your local youth organization to see if any kids local to you have written letters to "Santa" that you could anonymously fulfill?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Hi,
I''m not a fan of giving actual cash to charities since much of the funds go to overhead/administrative costs. What about using the $50 and buying food for a food bank? Right now, due to the poor economy, many food banks are falling short of food. There was an article in the paper a few weeks back talking of there being a *waiting list* for those needing food!

 

[EricaR]

Horse rescue!
Horse rescue!
Horse rescue!

Most of the rescues I know are really really hurting right now. A lot of people (vets, farriers, hay delivery, etc) jacked up their prices with "fuel surcharges" a few months back and now that the gas prices are lower they haven''t lowered their prices. My friend works with a rescue on the east coast and their cost to keep each horses has almost doubled in the past year.

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Date: 12/17/2008 1:24:06 PM
Author: fieryred33143
What a great idea!

Do you attend church or have any local public schools in your area? Sometimes churches or schools will have the names of families that need a little more assistance than others. You can always select one of those families and use the $50 to supply them with a Christmas/Holiday dinner.

Fiery, that''s a good idea! DH and I don''t go to church (long story), and we don''t have any kids so we don''t really have a relationship with any of the schools in our area. But, I am still a member of the church that my family attends . . . the only reason I don''t go there anymore is because I no longer live in that town. I could possibly contact my old church to see if they know of any families that could use the $50. But, the only problem would be how to choose just one family if there are several to choose from!

 

[Irishgrrrl]

WOW! You guys are giving me some great ideas!

Another idea I had: There is an agency in our area that works with domestic violence victims, helping them to get out of the situation that they're in and start a new life. This is a cause that's very close to my heart, since both my mother and I are DV survivors. I know the holidays often trigger episodes of DV, and there are probably quite a few women (some with children as well) who are trying to get out of those situations right now. Does that sound like a good way to use the money? If so, I wonder what I could do for them? Like someone mentioned above, it may not be a great idea to just give cash to the charity . . . I'd feel better knowing exactly how the $50 was spent.

 

[fieryred33143]

Date: 12/17/2008 1:41:15 PM
Author: Irishgrrrl
WOW! You guys are giving me some great ideas!

Another idea I had: There is an agency in our area that works with domestic violence victims, helping them to get out of the situation that they''re in and start a new life. This is a cause that''s very close to my heart, since both my mother and I are DV survivors. I know the holidays often trigger episodes of DV, and there are probably quite a few women (some with children as well) who are trying to get out of those situations right now. Does that sound like a good way to use the money?

Absolutely!

 

[Efe]

I love what your firm did. Maybe you can go to your local electic company and speak with the account manager and see if you can help keeps someone''s lights from being turned off.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 12/17/2008 1:41:15 PM
Author: Irishgrrrl
WOW! You guys are giving me some great ideas!

Another idea I had: There is an agency in our area that works with domestic violence victims, helping them to get out of the situation that they''re in and start a new life. This is a cause that''s very close to my heart, since both my mother and I are DV survivors. I know the holidays often trigger episodes of DV, and there are probably quite a few women (some with children as well) who are trying to get out of those situations right now. Does that sound like a good way to use the money? If so, I wonder what I could do for them? Like someone mentioned above, it may not be a great idea to just give cash to the charity . . . I''d feel better knowing exactly how the $50 was spent.

Call them up, tell them what you are doing and have in mind, and ask what you can buy. I''m sure they could give you some good ideas. And I love this!

 

[LAJennifer]

Date: 12/17/2008 1:48:01 PM
Author: BizouMom
I love what your firm did. Maybe you can go to your local electic company and speak with the account manager and see if you can help keeps someone''s lights from being turned off.

That''s a great idea.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Like someone mentioned above, it may not be a great idea to just give cash to the charity . . . I''d feel better knowing exactly how the $50 was spent.

I was the one who mentioned the unknowing of where the money was spent and I feel very strongly about this! I NEVER donate cash. Another thought that came to mind is blankets for the homeless. Do you live in a cold state? It''s about 20 degrees outside where I''m located now. Imagining homeless being outside in this weather is heartbreaking to me.

 

[cbs102]

Date: 12/17/2008 1:36:04 PM
Author: Irishgrrrl

Date: 12/17/2008 1:24:06 PM
Author: fieryred33143
What a great idea!

Do you attend church or have any local public schools in your area? Sometimes churches or schools will have the names of families that need a little more assistance than others. You can always select one of those families and use the $50 to supply them with a Christmas/Holiday dinner.

Fiery, that''s a good idea! DH and I don''t go to church (long story), and we don''t have any kids so we don''t really have a relationship with any of the schools in our area. But, I am still a member of the church that my family attends . . . the only reason I don''t go there anymore is because I no longer live in that town. I could possibly contact my old church to see if they know of any families that could use the $50. But, the only problem would be how to choose just one family if there are several to choose from!

My family would do something like this every year. Every thanksgiving and every xmas my mom would prepare two holiday dinners..two turkeys ect and we would bring it to a really poor family in our town. (my sister was friends of one of the children so it wasn''t awkward for them that we were doing this).

One of the children from that family actually just contacted me via facebook a couple weeks ago and mentioned that his family looked at those dinners as "hope".

your company gives ME hope! i am so happy that they are doing this!