Friday, December 19, 2014

Countdown to Christmas: 7 Days Beers, Cigarettes, or Toys! How Generous are YOU Feeling This Christmas?

I was so completely unsettled by this article based on a Facebook post I read that I had to share it with you.

Ok...As I was leaving Wal-Mart at 6:30am this morning, I asked the returns clerk did someone purchase these? She responded, those were yesterday's return. I then asked the question; were these gifts? She responded that most likely all of them are gifts from organizations or toy runs. 

I was sick to my stomach with her next response, "folk return them, get a gift card and then buy beer and cigarettes." 

Be aware of your blessing to others in need. Make sure that the organization or individual is truly getting and keeping the gift, especially children. 

These pics are from one day of returns and the clerk said; most of time there's more. Be blessed friends... 
Read more at http://snopes.com/politics/business/walmarttoys.asp#gzfUmoy2oReDt6po.99


The author of this snopes.com article states that this is "Probably False" but for some reason, I don't believe it.

Not to put a damper on anyone's charitable giving this holiday season, but I think it is important you know what you are actually "giving" and you might want to make a few adjustments.
However...

When Katrina swept through New Orleans, many of its refugees came to my town.  I volunteered at the Civic Center. Copious amounts of disposable diapers so generously donated lined the walls of the room where we collected the donations, but we had no babies.  I contacted other shelters, but they did not need them either. Since families, especially those with small children, were at the top of the housing list, there were no diaper wearers in any of the shelters.

My solution?

I sent around index cards asking refugees to let me know of any specific item(s) they needed that we did not have and I loaded my SUV with diapers. Our local Walmart was very helpful and accepted all the diapers and I was able to buy bras, pants, shoes for school children (many only had flip-flops), and other specific items that individual people needed.  If I could not find the item (as in the case of a pair of welder's gloves) I kept the cards by the phone, and when people called in or came by, we asked them to look through the cards and see what they could do to help. Our community really stepped up and most of the much needed items (including the welding gloves) were donated.

I am all unconditional giving all year long. I am only suggesting that you do a bit of research and that you do not participate in or permit the corruption of charitable organizations.

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