topic Re: Toy charities in Community Chat

Toy charities

mormel20 — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 16:31:04 GMT

This time of year collection boxes for toys appear for under privileged children. I have wonder about something. I understand parents may not have money. But what about grandparents? Or Aunts and Uncles? Surely they would step up to help the child. Or do people not have close family, or do they not have money either? I guess I over think it. I do donate. But I think it ever year.

Re: Toy charities

lgfan — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 16:34:39 GMT

Many of the children are either in foster care or orphanages. Grandparents might be on a fixed income. Aunts and uncles have their own children to worry about.

Re: Toy charities

haddon9 — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 16:36:36 GMT

I have no idea....some just might not have extended family or they are not in great financial shape either.

So many small businesses have "Toys for Tots" boxes. I have given a few times. Our local post office has an "Angel Tree" in the lobby. You pick an angel off of the tree and it will tell you what to bring back unwrapped with the angel tag attached.

Most of the requests were for sheets which I found unusual.

Re: Toy charities

Kachina624 — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 17:30:55 GMT

@lgfan wrote:
Many of the children are either in foster care or orphanages. Grandparents might be on a fixed income. Aunts and uncles have their own children to worry about.

@lgfan. Do orphanages still exist? I haven't heard that word for years. I think homeless children are all in foster care now days.

Re: Toy charities

Carmie — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 17:33:00 GMT

Sometimes the toys are for children of incarcerated parents so they have something to give to their children. It doesn't matter if they are rich or poor.

Also, Parents can sign up for gifts for their children at local churches, food banks, etc. Many times these children receive gifts from a few charity sources.

Often, these kids get gifts from their family/friends as well. They are the lucky ones.

Unfortunately, there are still many children who get very little or nothing.

I used to work with somone who would sign up her family everywhere she could to get free stuff at Christmas and all year long. She tried talking me into doing the same and I refused. She was quite entitled.

Re: Toy charities

mrshckynut — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 17:43:43 GMT

@mormel20 wrote:
This time of year collection boxes for toys appear for under privileged children. I have wonder about something. I understand parents may not have money. But what about grandparents? Or Aunts and Uncles? Surely they would step up to help the child. Or do people not have close family, or do they not have money either? I guess I over think it. I do donate. But I think it ever year.

@mormel20 i agree "you over think it".

mrshckynut

Re: Toy charities

Snowpuppy — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 17:55:08 GMT

@Kachina624 orphanages do still exist here in Michigan but fortunately they are few. Some kids have medical needs more than foster homes can provide.

As far as Toys for Tots, I volunteered my time sorting and organizing donations. I gave toys when I still lived in the city. Most donations to community bins were shameful. Coloring books that were colored in, filthy stuffed animals, dolls with missing limbs.... I guess if you're in need people think you'll accept trash.

I hope some here will consider the people of Appalachia and the Carolinas who were victims of hurricane Helene this Christmas. Some people are still living in tents and camper trailers as they try to rebuild their lives. It's cold out there.

I hope the OP continues to never experience poverty. It's tough to escape and she'd never survive.

Re: Toy charities

SloopJohnB — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 17:55:14 GMT

@mrshckynut wrote:
@mormel20 wrote:
This time of year collection boxes for toys appear for under privileged children. I have wonder about something. I understand parents may not have money. But what about grandparents? Or Aunts and Uncles? Surely they would step up to help the child. Or do people not have close family, or do they not have money either? I guess I over think it. I do donate. But I think it ever year.

@mormel20 i agree "you over think it".

mrshckynut

She was just asking. No harm no foul. In the end, she admits that she does donate. My workplace helps sponsor the yearly Toys for Tots runs. Some years they help with the motorcycle run, this year they are helping with the Exotic Car Toy Rally. It is a fun & worthy event every year. This year it is coming up in 2 weeks from now. All the participants (drivers) are to bring toys worth a minimum of $100. I guess they figure if you can afford a car like that you can afford to fork over that amount.

Re: Toy charities

Cakers3 — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 19:28:37 GMT

@mrshckynut wrote:
@mormel20 wrote:
This time of year collection boxes for toys appear for under privileged children. I have wonder about something. I understand parents may not have money. But what about grandparents? Or Aunts and Uncles? Surely they would step up to help the child. Or do people not have close family, or do they not have money either? I guess I over think it. I do donate. But I think it ever year.

@mormel20 i agree "you over think it".

mrshckynut

@mrshckynut I agree. I know she said she donates herself and that's great but I do not understand wondering about aunts and uncles etc.

Just donate and be happy you can. It doesn't matter why a child needs a donated gift.

Re: Toy charities

Cakers3 — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 19:33:23 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:

@lgfan wrote:
Many of the children are either in foster care or orphanages. Grandparents might be on a fixed income. Aunts and uncles have their own children to worry about.
@lgfan. Do orphanages still exist? I haven't heard that word for years. I think homeless children are all in foster care now days.

@Kachina624 The word orphanage has been replaced by a variety of other terms such as residential care, shelters, and as you mentioned foster care.

😔 Sad for any child especially the ones who age out of any system.

Re: Toy charities

Icegoddess — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 20:13:10 GMT

We have a local radio personality who does a drive every year to give bikes to kids. It's done through Toys for Tots. He camps out on top of one of those platforms. I think when he first started, it was on a billboard. Since it's done around Thanksgiving, it almost always turns cold then, and this yeaer was no exception although not as cold as it is now.

You can buy a bike and bring it to the promotion or you can just donate. I assume that if you donate, the money will go for a bike. i've donated in the past, but it's way on the other end of town and I'm not often on that end of town, although I am now since I started skating again. It only lasts over a weekend and since I skate on Saturdays, I stopped by and donated.

The new Church I'm attending does an Angel Tree. They get the Angels (not named) from the local school system that determines that these children are considered homeless. Not sure how they make that determination. When we moved into that school district, we had to allow someone to come to our house to verify that my daughter actually lived there.

The previous Church I attended always do backpacks filled with things for kids in Appalachia. Even without Helene, it's a very poverty stricken area.

ETA: I meant to ask, are bikes still as big a thing with kids these days? Seems like most don't go outside to play like we used to.

Re: Toy charities

Still Raining — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 19:58:37 GMT

There are a lot of struggling families and also children without able families. It is up to us to evaluate the sponsors for the drive.

Also some schools have school supply drives that teachers can give to kids. It is a sad thing to know some kids can't afford backpacks 🥲

Re: Toy charities

Icegoddess — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 20:14:52 GMT

@Still Raining wrote:
There are a lot of struggling families and also children without able families. It is up to us to evaluate the sponsors for the drive.

Also some schools have school supply drives that teachers can give to kids. It is a sad thing to know some kids can't afford backpacks 🥲

@Still RainingI edited my post, but it's not just backpacks. They fill them with things but they always suggest some basics, not just toys.

Re: Toy charities

shoesnbags — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 20:47:08 GMT

ETA: I meant to ask, are bikes still as big a thing with kids these days? Seems like most don't go outside to play like we used to.

@Icegoddess

I think that bikes are still popular with kids today, just based on the number of posts on Nextdoor dot com that are from families who have had bikes stolen!

Re: Toy charities

FancyPhillyshopper — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 20:47:13 GMT

The percentage of children living in poverty in the USA overall is estimated to be at 16%.

However, in some states children's poverty rates could be up to 25% of the state population (Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia, etc.). Overall Native American children are at the highest rates, then, in order, Hispanic, then Black, White, and Asian.

Please be aware that over 70% of children in the USA live with both parents, so this is a family poverty issue. Research shows that the higher the education level, the higher will be household income and wealth. Currently in the US, only approximately 35% of citizens now have a college degree (or higher).

The federal poverty level is $31,200.00 per year for a family of four. That money has to cover home expenses, food, transportation, clothing, and so forth. The USA is one of the world's wealthiest nations, but our wealth distribution varies greatly, compared to other countries like Switzerland.

With inflation challenges these past years, many families are struggling with the basics. Some fancier toys can be an unaffordable luxury.

If there was not a need, there would not be so many initiatives. I think charities hope that people will feel more generous during the holiday season.

I am always reminded of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, when Ebenezer Scrooge says the poor should go to workhouses or just die and "decrease the surplus population."

I spend a good amount on family during the holiday season, but I always make sure to donate to worthy causes. The poor have been part of humanity since civilization began; perhaps someday in the far future there will be more opportunity.

Re: Toy charities

jlkz — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 21:29:03 GMT

@mormel20

In addition to all possibilities that others have posted, I would suggest you contact those responsible for the collection project....since each year you state that that thought revisits you.

You may be wonderfully surprised and if so, may want to become involved beyond " donating. " If you discover the opposite, you may want to notify authorities or TV news channels to investigate.

There are clothing and shoe collections boxes that serve the needy and others that take advantage of items for resale. One such operation was run by someone in Norway or Sweden who became quite wealthy....memory lost now.

Re: Toy charities

Puzzle Piece — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 22:34:23 GMT

I won't give to the toy charities. No way. I learned that the adults just feign pverty and economic hardship, et. but they just help themselves to as many chaiities as they can visit. The itmes end up on ebay, swap meets, yard sales, etc. Theivery is theivery.

Re: Toy charities

Still Raining — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 14:47:29 GMT

@Icegoddess wrote:
@Still Raining wrote:
There are a lot of struggling families and also children without able families. It is up to us to evaluate the sponsors for the drive.

Also some schools have school supply drives that teachers can give to kids. It is a sad thing to know some kids can't afford backpacks 🥲
@Still RainingI edited my post, but it's not just backpacks. They fill them with things but they always suggest some basics, not just toys.

Indeed! Many items are needed.

But, just for me, backpacks tug on my heart.

Another thing to look into is kid's sports. The coach in a GS's youth basketball bought shoes for two kids. When we found out, we checked for rides for missing players too. Could be sox, rides, water bottles.....

Re: Toy charities

Carmie — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 15:02:17 GMT

@Puzzle Piece wrote:
I won't give to the toy charities. No way. I learned that the adults just feign pverty and economic hardship, et. but they just help themselves to as many chaiities as they can visit. The itmes end up on ebay, swap meets, yard sales, etc. Theivery is theivery.

There will always be fraud in any program where people donate to help people.

This is not the norm. I would never not donate because I think somone might profit from my efforts. Doing so, would punish an innocent child.

Re: Toy charities

chrystaltree — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 21:52:03 GMT

You sound incredibly naive. None of that has ever crossed my mind ever. We just buy two very nice presents ever year. One for a girl, one for a boy. Something all the kids want. We only think about giving a couple of kids a nice Christmas.