How Much Do We Need?

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

The local newspaper climbed up the Red Cross' ass about Christmas toys. The paper thinks the Red Cross should join the parade of toy providers to poor children. The Red Cross says they do disasters and blood drives NOT toys.

I work with mostly poor families. What I observe is they register with multiple stores/agencies and reap a ton of shit for their kids. I was at a house last night where one national chain bought all 5 kids new bikes, portable CD players, clothes, dolls/action figures, CDs & books. Today mom is shaking down the local hospital who sponsored her 5 kids, and she still has TOYS 4 TOTS, the school, and WAL-MART to collect from.

While I was at the house one of the kids destroyed his CD player because the batteries died. Mom blew it off with "maybe one of the other places will get you another one."

 

[pleaz_me]

I agree with you there. The agencies that do host toy drives ... hats off to them. Through our church, a group of us put together Christmas gift baskets one year. We spent many hours gathering different items (mostly "necessity" type items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, soaps, gloves, hats, etc but also some "pamper you" items) and as a good-will gesture I added a certificate good for a free apple pie for the holidays. We made approximately 30 baskets and passed them to a contact in the community who would make sure they went to families that would need and appreciate them.
One person (out of 30) collected on their free apple pie. They drove up in an almost brand new convertible. Amazing how "needy" people can afford a new car.
Several agencies contact me each year to see if they can put my son's name in their "hat" so to speak. I continually turn them down. In my eyes, I may be a single, struggling parent, but my son is blessed. He gets nothing from his dads side of the family, but my side more than makes up for it. I also believe that if we participate in several "hats" he will have too much and not appreciate any of it. I explain this to the agencies and they end up with a blank stare on their face.

Don't get me wrong ... I know that there are so many people out there that just want to do the "right" thing at the holidays and help children in need. If you look at the welfare system though, who's really that much in need?

I don't see the need for the Red Cross to participate ... instead, people should be donating items to the Red Cross for the real disasters they administer to.

 

[SensualCealy]

Where do I sign up?

 

[jomar]

So maybe the newspaper should start a drive instead of pointing fingers and bitching.

And, clearly, the mom is getting and teaching the wrong message.

 

[SensualCealy]

There is one family my kids have gone to school with since kindergarden that uses assistance and not affraid to flaunt it.

Back a couple years ago, the one son had the nerve to broadcast that they NEVER have to pay any money towards school trips, they just tell the school they cant afford it and they get to go.

This being said, they sign up for Christmas hampers every year, their three kid names are put on the giving tree every year. They use their churches assistance program constantly, and the coats for kids program. Her husband does seasonal work, grass cutting etc, snow plowing etc- but had his license taken way for a DUI. She quit her job because it was too hard on her with getting her youngest to school which is only 4 blocks from her home and her job!

Now dont get me wrong with this next statment, money is yours to do with what you want, but doesnt the necessities of life come before cigarettes and cases of beer and lets not forget Dairy Queen and other Take out food constantly being bought?

Just a little fed up that Im busting my ass to make ends meet for about an hour a week, until the bills all come off and well you know how it is.
C

 

[emap]

Yeah you get those people all over. Here actually it is more the homeless that just leach and get pretty darn good lives out of it. I'm not kidding, those guys who sit on the sidewalk with a work for food sign, they tend to be not that scruffy, I swear to you a few of them actually have a house because they always are bathed and brushed.

We are in a 'poor' neighborhood, it's actually not that bad, granted the cars tend toward older and beat up, though the houses are always in good order and two houses down the street have at least 5000 lights each right now. We are a 'poor' neighborhood because mostly mexicans live here that don't make a whole lot of money, but they are always having parties, their kids have good clothes, well not holey clothes anyway. As far as I know, they don't sign up for those gift giving tree's, they don't get gifts coming out their butts from churches and whatnot. They are alot more like Pleaz than the ones who just take.

 

[Le Jacquelope]

The local newspaper climbed up the Red Cross' ass about Christmas toys. The paper thinks the Red Cross should join the parade of toy providers to poor children. The Red Cross says they do disasters and blood drives NOT toys.

I work with mostly poor families. What I observe is they register with multiple stores/agencies and reap a ton of shit for their kids. I was at a house last night where one national chain bought all 5 kids new bikes, portable CD players, clothes, dolls/action figures, CDs & books. Today mom is shaking down the local hospital who sponsored her 5 kids, and she still has TOYS 4 TOTS, the school, and WAL-MART to collect from.

While I was at the house one of the kids destroyed his CD player because the batteries died. Mom blew it off with "maybe one of the other places will get you another one."

Damn, I have to agree with you on this. The Red Cross needs to be fighting one battle on one front: disaster aid.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

LOVING TONGUE

I agree with the RED CROSS, TOYS 4 TOTS doesnt do disasters.

I mean, every major retailer and organization here does Christmas for the kiddies. One of my daughters sponsors 4 poor kids.