What have you given?

I have done a great deal for The Ronald McDonald Childrens Charities for years. For years I would go on the Weekends to West Hollywood California and run way model for The RMC cause... All contributions were sent to RMC families and siblings to be able to stay while their child received treatment. So while my boyfriend is doing his show, not associated with RMC.. we are staying very near RMC.. so I will be going this Saturday and Sunday to help out in the kitchen as they are having their toy drive. A way different route then what I have done throughout the years. But I figure I am here, I have the time and it should be fun.. Also when I get back on the 23rd I am also helping our community church with the winter donation drive on the 24th.. personally my helping mode occurs all year round as much as I can, especially for the handicapped and sick children.. See they do not get to celebrate as with the joy and glee as other healthy children can.

In this area most people have a shoe box and fill it with either new toys or nearly new toys or anything that would be useful for a child. i.e. toothbrush, paste, crayons and then seal up the box marking on it boy or girl and if you think you have done it for a certain age put that too. it is then collected, or you take it to certain shops and they give it to a charity to give to children or they give it to local people that know where the children are that would love the box of things.

hi anora Eldorath I used to always give canned food to the food bank drive and also tooth paste and tooth brushes and small sizes of cosmetics to a local battered women's shelter as so many poor ladies came in with just the clothes on their backs. some times wash cloths and soaos and towels. too.

Aside from donating to the annual toy drive at work, and some other donations, I volunteer at a no kill cat rescue every weekend. Sometimes I bring the children with me too.

We sponsor a little girl from Uganda and for us that is the greatest thing because we have regular contact with her via mail and receive photographs etc. We can barely afford the monthly cost but I do believe that we are luckier than a lot of people and that we should give something back. We donate toys to the Christmas appeal every year too. We cannot give much but we do what we can as the need arises such as donating for our yearly Telethon for the children’s hospital etc. Giving is a must and the feeling behind that is so worthwhile...

This is the age old dilemma that many of us feel and that sometimes gets lost in a egocentric influenced society. Me, me, me. Whats in it for me? It's the attitude that keeps us divided in society. It is good to see that there are individual's that still continue feeling that helping others is personally satisfying. I know I do. Perhaps its a matter of changing attitudes that can go a long way in contributing to the needy. If we have an attitude of respect and consideration for our fellow human beings, we will be more sensitive to the needs of others and do more to help those in need. Rising out of poverty I have done what i could to help those making the journey besides me. While I have donated time, material, and money, my most effective contributions are in educating others on how to meet their personal needs. "Give a hungry man a fish and you feed him for one day. Teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime" Perhaps we can teach those who subscribe to the "me" philosophy how much better life would be if we replaced the word "me" with "us"

always give to the SA

Every now and then I empty my wardrobe for clothes that no longer fits and give them away to red cross society or to the church for their distribution to the needy. I come from a family of donors. A year ago mom donated a 2 acres land to the catholic mission to build a church. Every year during her birthday she'll make a special trip to the orphanage and give away lots of food stuff to the convent. She believe charity starts from home and try to instill that concept in her children.

I give all year to the Salvation Army and a couple of other charities for veterans and children who truly use the money for what it's supposed to go to, not administration and publicity. I contribute to the food drives, too, and I have such fun picking some names off the tree at Walmart and shopping for children's toys and clothing. My own kids are grown and I have always loved buying toys! And of course, there's the Toys for Tots run by the Marines. Giving is a blessing and I'm at the point in my life where I actually have some extra money to give to others. That's the greatest gift at this or any time of year, being able to help others.

This is a wonderful way to teach your son how good it feels to give. If you want to increase this feeling work at charity, as a Santa's helper or even serving food or just cleaning up. We are never to young to learn to give.

Heyya Anora! The company I work for adopts a certain amount of families every year and assigns them to the different departments. We all pitch in and donate some money for an assigned group to go do the shopping for them. This year we have two very needy families. We gift wrap this Monday and the company provides a food basket on top of our gifts. We'll deliver next week. I give what change I have to the Salvation Army as well. The canned food drives that they do at my children's schools also make my girls feel good about helping people during the holidays.

Hi Anora, The only two things (I think that fall in this discussions reply) are - 1. I sponsor the education of a girl child somewhere on this planet - via a charity 2. I meet and spend some time (try to make that once in 10 days) at an orphanage with the kids there. I do not make other donations or charity as I believe that most of these are corrupt organizations and that feeling kills my spirit to share with them. I have been ill for the last 10 years and am unable to move out or have a regular income. Despite this, and with the support of my loving wife, I have been able to fulfill the 1 above without fail ever since I started it (I started it when I was at college - 1993). Regards, theSids.

Greetings :) In my side of the woods, we let go of our old clothes and toys and give it to orphanages. It is not that much though because, we become older and the actual toys that are still there are those which we value most and in them are the many memories of our childhood which we all know will never come again. A simple teddy bear whose right eye is missing is everything for someone and the missing eye is what made it special when that person played with it along side others. Others who this person may no longer see ever again. Call me sentimental but, Toy Story 3 is truly a story that applies to my family and letting go of these little things are seemingly close to impossible. Have a nice day :)