We adopt two families. One military, and one that has been the victim of violent crime where the spouse has been taken (RIP) and the single parent can’t afford gifts. We have all we need in life. Family, work, home, health (now that the wife is finished with her chemo), good kids. It actually makes my day to go shopping for folks that were dealt a bad hand over the holidays. And I HATE shopping.
hardscrabble farmer
December 14, 2015 8:26 am
I check out people’s woodpiles and knowing who my neighbors are deliver seasoned firewood to those who could use it. If they are young enough I drop it in the yard and let them stack it so I don’t embarrass them, if they’re older I stack nice and tight as close to the door as practicable.
We just don’t have the money to do anything else these days, but time and wood is coin of the realm up here.
My wife makes up baskets of fresh baked bread, cookies and jams and drops them off on Christmas Eve.
Tim
December 14, 2015 9:09 am
Over the years, we’ve been blessed enough to be able to consistently give to the Angel Tree type programs. Some years, we’ve done it up really big, and helped a lot of kids have a REALLY nice Christmas. Other years, we just make sure to participate. We have three kids of our own, and we make sure that we pick up five angels to help, so they learn to recognize the value of helping others. This year, our church had an “Angel Forest.” We live in an affluent zip code, so I saw some pretty nice gifts stacked up under the trees. Lots and lots of really nice bikes.
No matter what kind of douchebags the parents are, every kid deserves a decent Christmas.
Not much different. We try to help the truly needy all year round. Maybe throw a few bucks in the Salvation Army bucket.
Francis Marion
December 14, 2015 10:08 am
We do a food bank drive which I organize and give money to Children’s Hospital.
JIMSKI
December 14, 2015 10:26 am
I refrain from cursing when telemarketers call.
Billy
December 14, 2015 10:39 am
We don’t wait to use Christmas as an excuse to do nice things for other people… we do nice things year round.
Yes, I do nice things. Well, my wife and I do. As snarly and abrasive as I can be, I actually DO do nice things for people… just because it’s the right thing to do.
I just don’t talk about it much. You shouldn’t do nice things for people and then turn around and crow it from the rooftops just to get recognition… that’s the wrong reason to do nice things. I do nice things and then walk away – if I can get away without them knowing it was me, then all the better…
Yeah, I know… I’m a marshmellow inside… don’t spread it around… I’ll have to kill ya.
Dutchman
December 14, 2015 10:41 am
I pay a boat load of taxes – city / state / federal. Also have to pay tax on my SS earnings, also have to pay for my own health insurance.
The government has decided to confiscate a large portion of my income, I already gave – all year.
KaD
December 14, 2015 12:24 pm
I usually like to give to a charity like Tankafund.org or Heifer.org but this year I don’t have anything left to give.
Llpoh
December 14, 2015 3:25 pm
We give all the tax office, as usual. My better half delivers food to shut ins.
We seek out and sponsor animal shelters that do not euthanise. Humans control their destiny by and large, but animals cannot. So we try to look after them as we can.
IndenturedServant
December 14, 2015 4:36 pm
We pretty much do the same as goofyfoot. We adopt one or more families and provide enough raw, basic food ingredients for two BIG holiday meals. We prepay several hundred dollars on their utility bills and provide half a dozen family friendly dvd’s and enough movie tickets for an evening out. Like Billy we help out others in smaller ways throughout the year.
We met a woman who works as a life coach a few years back and since then it has been pretty easy finding deserving people to help out.
Rise Up
December 14, 2015 5:38 pm
When I recycle my canned prep foods as they near expiration, I take them to a local church who distributes them to the needy.
Other than that, I’ll mail Admin another USPS money order this week as I do a couple of times a year.
Westcoaster
December 14, 2015 10:41 pm
Thanks for that flashback, Admin. You are your own “greatest hits”. Pretty cool.
We give to a local rescue mission, partly for all the good they do for those down & out and because the wife’s ex hubby works there in the kitchen. I used to do volunteer work for the local Women’s club but they turned out to be cliqishly political. Their loss since I was providing them with talent and equipment they’ll need to pay someone for most likely.
EL Cibernetico
December 14, 2015 10:48 pm
Billy says: Yes, I do nice things. Well, my wife and I do. As snarly and abrasive as I can be, I actually DO do nice things for people…I just don’t talk about it much. You shouldn’t do nice things for people and then turn around and crow it from the rooftops just to get recognition…
Oh the humility. Heh.
Just what are those nice things? Cock-blocking white guys from getting some black poon? That certainly is the right thing to do.
EL Cibernetico
December 14, 2015 10:52 pm
I do nice things. But I won’t publish them here. Oh, OK, I went shopping, saved the whole fucking economy for one day. Your turn to save it next weekend.
We adopt two families. One military, and one that has been the victim of violent crime where the spouse has been taken (RIP) and the single parent can’t afford gifts. We have all we need in life. Family, work, home, health (now that the wife is finished with her chemo), good kids. It actually makes my day to go shopping for folks that were dealt a bad hand over the holidays. And I HATE shopping.
I check out people’s woodpiles and knowing who my neighbors are deliver seasoned firewood to those who could use it. If they are young enough I drop it in the yard and let them stack it so I don’t embarrass them, if they’re older I stack nice and tight as close to the door as practicable.
We just don’t have the money to do anything else these days, but time and wood is coin of the realm up here.
My wife makes up baskets of fresh baked bread, cookies and jams and drops them off on Christmas Eve.
Over the years, we’ve been blessed enough to be able to consistently give to the Angel Tree type programs. Some years, we’ve done it up really big, and helped a lot of kids have a REALLY nice Christmas. Other years, we just make sure to participate. We have three kids of our own, and we make sure that we pick up five angels to help, so they learn to recognize the value of helping others. This year, our church had an “Angel Forest.” We live in an affluent zip code, so I saw some pretty nice gifts stacked up under the trees. Lots and lots of really nice bikes.
No matter what kind of douchebags the parents are, every kid deserves a decent Christmas.
Another 30 Blocks of Squalor Christmas Charity Classic
http://www.theburningplatform.com/2013/12/19/run-through-the-jungle-30-blocks-of-squalor-theme-song/
Not much different. We try to help the truly needy all year round. Maybe throw a few bucks in the Salvation Army bucket.
We do a food bank drive which I organize and give money to Children’s Hospital.
I refrain from cursing when telemarketers call.
We don’t wait to use Christmas as an excuse to do nice things for other people… we do nice things year round.
Yes, I do nice things. Well, my wife and I do. As snarly and abrasive as I can be, I actually DO do nice things for people… just because it’s the right thing to do.
I just don’t talk about it much. You shouldn’t do nice things for people and then turn around and crow it from the rooftops just to get recognition… that’s the wrong reason to do nice things. I do nice things and then walk away – if I can get away without them knowing it was me, then all the better…
Yeah, I know… I’m a marshmellow inside… don’t spread it around… I’ll have to kill ya.
I pay a boat load of taxes – city / state / federal. Also have to pay tax on my SS earnings, also have to pay for my own health insurance.
The government has decided to confiscate a large portion of my income, I already gave – all year.
I usually like to give to a charity like Tankafund.org or Heifer.org but this year I don’t have anything left to give.
We give all the tax office, as usual. My better half delivers food to shut ins.
We seek out and sponsor animal shelters that do not euthanise. Humans control their destiny by and large, but animals cannot. So we try to look after them as we can.
We pretty much do the same as goofyfoot. We adopt one or more families and provide enough raw, basic food ingredients for two BIG holiday meals. We prepay several hundred dollars on their utility bills and provide half a dozen family friendly dvd’s and enough movie tickets for an evening out. Like Billy we help out others in smaller ways throughout the year.
We met a woman who works as a life coach a few years back and since then it has been pretty easy finding deserving people to help out.
When I recycle my canned prep foods as they near expiration, I take them to a local church who distributes them to the needy.
Other than that, I’ll mail Admin another USPS money order this week as I do a couple of times a year.
Thanks for that flashback, Admin. You are your own “greatest hits”. Pretty cool.
We give to a local rescue mission, partly for all the good they do for those down & out and because the wife’s ex hubby works there in the kitchen. I used to do volunteer work for the local Women’s club but they turned out to be cliqishly political. Their loss since I was providing them with talent and equipment they’ll need to pay someone for most likely.
Billy says: Yes, I do nice things. Well, my wife and I do. As snarly and abrasive as I can be, I actually DO do nice things for people…I just don’t talk about it much. You shouldn’t do nice things for people and then turn around and crow it from the rooftops just to get recognition…
Oh the humility. Heh.
Just what are those nice things? Cock-blocking white guys from getting some black poon? That certainly is the right thing to do.
I do nice things. But I won’t publish them here. Oh, OK, I went shopping, saved the whole fucking economy for one day. Your turn to save it next weekend.