The best gift idea I think you can give this year:



Donate your time, some money, or a toy to those in need.

Whatever it's for-animal shelter, Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, the list goes on.

There will always be folks out there that need some help-whatever your financial situation, even the simplest thing can brighten up someone else's holiday.

A few ideas:

www.aspca.org
http://www1.salvationarmy...www_sa.nsf
www.toysfortots.org/


Anything local you can do, someone else will appreciate.


Happy Holidays to all of you guys too!

This is an awesome idea!

I've already given to The Salvation Army and Toys for Tots this year. Things are a little tight since I'm on unemployment, but I do know that there are people out there who are worse off than I am.

CanvasBeauty said:

Already donated my old music instrument to a youth house.

May I also suggest considering giving blood as a "gift" for the holidays as well.. I donated blood last year, and also became a bone marrow donor...can't think of a more valuable gift to give.

Heavenly said:

Great idea!

Byron said:

That's an excellent idea and a very important issues especially for minorities.

Minorities are the hardest group to match up for bone marrow transplants.

There have been several years when I've made donations to organizations in lieu of giving useless crap to my extended family. They have generally appreciated it.

Byron said:

Did that!

I am now in the database!

CherryMoon said:

Exactly... That's one reason I became a marrow donor (as well as for more personal reasons)...I half expected to be called up by now, minority donors being so scarce.

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

subhuman09 said:

Great idea!

DiminutiveRocker said:

Anything that helps get the message out.



(Also-great ideas guys, always knew Org folks are great folks.)

Byron said:

You know my friend, Although my blood is typical, as sure as I am siting here I expect to be called in time. Draw back is I pierced my nose so my blood goes on hold for a few months. Here comes the truly sad part. I did this for a friend at church that I love. The nurse stated that often they find a match for someone else in the blood and when they call the parties they decline as there intention was to aid the person they know. In one instance, 5 people matched. The one in need was told yet all 5 declined!

I encourage all to consider the big picture and never decline where you can be of help.

By the grace of God therefore go I In other words, from where and when in life your own help comes on the wing of angels.....

You hear me?

Please help where you can!

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

...The quality of mercy is not strained; it falleth as a gentle rain from heaven.

Or something like that...lol

And pierced nose, huh??

Every year I organise a "Xmas Toy Drive" with all the local businesses here. I get the local paper to advertise it and the public just drop off any unwanted or new toys in the bins provided. Every year we usually collect around 500 toys and The Salvation Army wraps them up and the kids get them on Xmas day. It helps all the local families that have trouble this time of the year.

althom said:

That's awesome althom!

althom said:

My respect!

althom said:

You guys are beutiful people, Althom, Apples..Wow! This sounds like such a worthwhile cause, no money for the administrators to cream off. Anyone know of similar causes in the UK, Senik is it only SPARs?

PREDOMINANT said:

don't boots normally do a toys for tots? i thought it ran every year where you just buy one extra toy and leave it unwrapped at boots and they go to bernardos or something i did it last year wonder if its running this year

If you can't afford to buy anything, give blood. A lot of people get into car accidents during the festive season because of the icy weather* and a tendency for people to indulge in alcohol more than they normally would.



*Yeah, I know it's not winter enerywhere!

Loving the ideas.

Would love it more if this was a sticky again like it was.

Byron said:

It looks totally cute on her.


I haven't registered for bone marrow yet. What's the deal with that? Just check a box when you donate blood? I've been selling plasma, so it's been a while since I donated, I don't remember. . .

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

Perhaps your local blood bank has more restrictive guidelines, but I'm pretty sure that the federal guidelines impose no waiting period after a piercing, as long as it was done in a professional manner with sterile tools.

OTOH, a tattoo is an automatic one-year deferment, so I'm ineligible to donate until next March. But I've been able to participate in an HIV vaccine clinical trial that involves drawing plenty of blood from me for laboratory analysis.