Anyone else doing "alternative" holiday gifts this year?

#1
ksushalovesthevols

ksushalovesthevols

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#1
I started doing this last year and it was a hit with my friends and family.

There are few young children in my extended family right now so all the adults decided to forgo traditional gift giving during Christmas and do something for people in need. We all pretty much decided that while a new iPhone would be nice, we didn't need that, a new car, a new big screen or a new fruit cake from Aunt Val, so we got gifts from here:

World Gifts | Buy Fair trade Charity Gifts Online | CAFOD

and I got my friends Peace Oil (http://www.peaceoil.net/index.htm), which I also think is a fabulous cause!

Has anyone else done this? Share your charities and experiences!
 
#3
#3
While this is a much better idea than buying family members gifts just to say that you did, why not get involved with a local charity through out the year and make an impact in your community. What if we spent half of our Christmas day serving the homeless or poor a Christmas dinner, or invited a family who is struggling to our celebration? I kind of feel like buying stuff is still consumerism, and is an easy way for Americans to buy their way out of real charity. Just my .02, ymmv.
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#4
#4
It doesn't have to be a choice between your local community and children starving abroad. You can do both. I volunteer my time as a lawyer to low-income individuals needing immigration help in Florida and use alternative gifts and donations to help people abroad. Spreading the impact of your good deeds is key. :)
 
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#5
#5
why don't you just name a star after someone?

Or enroll them in the jelly of the month club?

You know that's the gift that keeps on giving all year 'round.
 
#7
#7
And how is this not a real charity? Did you even read the link? You don't actually get anything in exchange for your money, except the satisfaction of knowing that it will be used to help someone plant crops, milk a goat or go to school. This is a legitimate charity, which has a very high independent rating (based on an assessment of how charitable funds are used, how much employees in the chairty are paid, etc.). How is this consumerism?
 
#9
#9
Honestly if the gifts in your family used to be cars, IPhones and big screen TVs, I would be pissed off with some freakin' peace oil!
 
#10
#10
JZVOL said:
Honestly if the gifts in your family used to be cars, IPhones and big screen TVs, I would be pissed off with some freakin' peace oil!
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I'll be pissed if I get something donated in my name to a charity/nonprofit org.
 
#11
#11
crazyguy said:
You can't see how buying your way into a good feeling while not doing any of the work that goes along with it is consumerism?
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Again, I donate my time locally, because my work schedule doesn't allow me to travel to Africa and hand deliver a goat to a needy farmer. You do realize how silly that would be, right? If people stopped giving to charities with overseas projects money because the donors themselves couldn't travel to do the good work there in person, half the world population would die of starvation, probably.

It doesn't have to be a choice. You do your work when you can and where you can, and good work does include giving money in cases when you cannot give your time.
 
#13
#13
ksushalovesthevols said:
Again, I donate my time locally, because my schedule doesn't allow me to travel to Africa and hand deliver a goat to a needy farmer. You do realize how silly that would be, right? If people stopped giving to charities with overseas project money because the donors themselves couldn't travel to do the good work there in person, half the world population would die of starvation, probably.

It doesn't have to be a choice. You do your work when you can and where you can, and good work does include giving money in cases when you cannot give your time.
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Survival of the fittest, babe.
 
#15
#15
Go to Africa, look in the eyes of a mother holding her dying child and say that again. I know I wouldn't be able to, so I do what I can to help.
 
#16
#16
JZVOL said:
Should I try to get my money back from the international star registry? I named a star after you... Merry Christmas
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Well a star is cool. That's not a charity or a non-profit.

If I want to give to a charity I will do it myself. I don't need someone to do it for me.
 
#20
#20
I have actually done this a few times. I went and picked a name off the local Angel Tree (one for each family member) and gave my family cards outlining what I had done for the kids. I spent the same amount of money and no one in my family seemed disappointed (they would tell me). I still do it for a few people each year. We were discussing doing it again this year.
 
#21
#21
I do a toy drive each year and the family and friends are a big part of it. We stay up late wrapping and repairing and it is indeed a great feeling when the moms show up to pick up their kids Christmas gifts. They are very grateful and more than a few who have gotten back on their feet now show up to help us out.
 
#22
#22
ksushalovesthevols said:
Again, I donate my time locally, because my work schedule doesn't allow me to travel to Africa and hand deliver a goat to a needy farmer. You do realize how silly that would be, right? If people stopped giving to charities with overseas projects money because the donors themselves couldn't travel to do the good work there in person, half the world population would die of starvation, probably.

It doesn't have to be a choice. You do your work when you can and where you can, and good work does include giving money in cases when you cannot give your time.
Click to expand...
Heck, if people started working locally we wouldn't have the same homelessness rates that we now. You do realize that I offered an alternative to what you were saying. You mentioned nothing about doing something locally in your post, I think that giving to feel good (which is what you said) to something overseas is just consumerism when not combined with doing something active locally.
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#24
#24
dickens821 said:
Well a star is cool. That's not a charity or a non-profit.

If I want to give to a charity I will do it myself. I don't need someone to do it for me.
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bingo. how amazingly condesending is it to donate in someone elses name. what if I don't believe in the beliefs of said charity? i'd rather you not get me anything.
 
#25
#25
from the peace oil website:

4984 bottles arrived from China on March 14. We are pleased that only seven bottles were broken in shipment, a very low percentage. By ordering direct from the manufacturer, costs were kept to last year’s level despite the falling dollar. We are impressed by the diligence and efficiency of this small manufacturer in Zibo, China that worked so hard to produce and ship the bottles in a timely manner.

Ya think they are paying a "living wage."
 
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