I'm wrapping up the food collection drive I've headed up at work and I was just thinking about all of the wonderful projects we do at work (I work for a non-profit hospital system) through which I get the opportunity to help people...not only at the holiday time, but all year round. Around the holidays it really picks up, though, and we do much more. Every year each corporate department adopts at least one family and buys them food, clothing and gifts...last year I was able to do the shopping...it was really fun.

Do you have any suggestions on how people can get involved in some charity or giving for the holiday season?

What you do sounds wonderful

I help the local small churches fill sacks with fresh fruit to give out

Also working in a soup kitchen one ( or 10 ) days during the "season"

The Pagan groups in our area do all sorts of toy gathering ... fund / food raising to donate to all who are in need

I always have a big ole dinner at my house for thanksgiving and Christmas. I go all out. I love it. This year I'm gonna cook and donate the food to like a soup kitchen or something.

I'd also like to look into if theres any programs where you can have homeless spend Christmas or Thanksgiving at your house.

Since mine'll be empty this year and I LOVE to have a house full for the holidays.

Mach said:

Thanks, Mach...you too! I wish I could do more, but it's hard with school and I feel lucky to be involved in a lot of the things we do at work that help the under and non-insured in our service areas. We recently opened a healthcare center that is specially for those who are uninsured. Several of our docs spend time there and it's just a wonderful and very needed place.

I only donate canned goods.....I guess I shouldn't say only because every little bit helps.

AnckSuNamun said:

It absolutely does!

i am sending an orger in need something she needs.

luv4all7 said:

That's a good thing, but you have to be extremely trusting to let people in your house like that, homeless or not.

AnckSuNamun said:

It might be safer, Dani hon, if you go down to your local homeless shelter and help serve food.

AnckSuNamun said:

OMG! Wanna hear a fucked up story?

When I was goin to school for massage, I had to go rite to work from school. Well, I was living at my parents at the time, and their house was in between my school and my job.

So, me and my frien are on our way from school, and we see these people on the side of the interstare holding up a sigh saying they needed food and a ride.

So we stop, but I only had a $50 in my wallet, and was not ABOUT to give them that shit.

So we drive them to the highway by wghere my mom and dad live, and show them the house, and I say I gotta go to work, but heres my house key, go get some food and leave the key under the mat when your done.

Well, like a half hour later I get a call at work from my dad! Hwe was PISSED, yo.

True story!!!

luv4all7 said:

whoaa.....that's where people are just gonna have to be shit out of luck. It's good that you're good hearted, but you can't help everybody.

AnckSuNamun said:

OMG, it was soooo funny when my dad called.. My boss was LOSIN' it! She's like, What is WRONG with YOU?????

Apples, I'm less fortunate, and you know what I need. hehe.

2freaky4church1 said:

applekisses said:

Im buying them all bus tickets, one way to detroit. the over abundance of squirrels will feed them for months

She runs away screaming..lol

purplerein said:

EWWWWW...you are not feeding my squirrles to the less fortunate! What do you think this is, "The Beverly Hillbillies"?

Give to the Food Bank. Don't forget to include baby foods, they get forgotten.

purplerein said:

Beautiful!

uPtoWnNY said:

applekisses said:

purplerein said:

Stop hating on the squirrels!

The past few days Bill & Hillary Clinton, Jeanine Pirro and other politicians have appeared at my train stop in the Bronx. That's the only time you see these MFers. For once in my life I'd to see these jive politicians work on real issues and come up with creative ways to rescue those who've fallen through the cracks.

Seeing homeless women & their kids in a subway station asking for handouts is heart-breaking.

My kids and I adopt a family and a senior from Lighthouse Services, where we purchase gifts for them that are on their wish list for the holiday season, as well as packing dry goods to help out with their holiday dinner. It feels really good to know that you're helping a family enjoy the holiday a bit more than they probably would have and the knowing that they are feeling less stressed because of everyones generosity in adopting the families.

If anyone is in the Detroit area Lighthouse is in need of adoptions for teens especially. I'm not sure when the cut-off date is to adopt a family, but I know that drop off is December 7 and 8.

My kids also give 1/2 of their Christmas money to a local homeless man, Thomas, for the holidays. Last year they bought him new socks, gloves, hat, winter coat and gave him $50 cash in a card. We know his story and know he will put the money to good use, so I'm not worried about where he'll spend it.

I work at a Teen Runaway/Homeless shelter about an hour south of Detroit. Last year, we were fortunate and had enough money and donations to "adopt" three families who were in desperate need. We won't have as many funds to work with
this year but we always come through somehow and help as many as possible.
If you can donate money or new clothes, art and school supplies and food that teens like (Campbell's Soup, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, snacks) to your local homeless or teen shelters, it will be very much appreciated. BTW ~ next week is Homeless Awareness Week ~ many shelters are raising money with soup bowl suppers, cardboard box cities and other creative means to bring homelessness to the attention of the public.

thats when I clean out my pantry and give all my old food stuffs away

luv4all7 said:

OMG!!

SpisaRibb said:

That's tacky

luv4u said:

hey, its quality organic food! Its not cheap!

SpisaRibb said:

But it's old