Donation to charity instead of holiday gift package?
This year, I am afraid to sign up for the exchange because of last year's failure. I don't want the same thing to happen again, and yet I STILL cannot come up with a Christmas/Hanukkah/Holiday package idea that is suitable. So I was thinking... IF I join the exchange, would it be ok for me to send just a card and then make a donation to a charity in an amount for each person on the list? What if I took that one step further and sent an ecard to each person and added the extra $1.00 or $1.50 for each to go to the charity? What if more of us did either of these? I had thought about this last year in my desperation, but I didn't know how it would be received (like George Costanza's donation to "The Human Fund") but the recent question of sending a card to the hospital ward really got me thinking about this approach this year. Any thoughts, suggestions, issues, questions, comments, rants, gripes, etc??? |
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My personal preferance would be to have you and Joan send a card  I don't need presents or a gift pack ....but I really enjoy the physical presence of the cards. They light up the day and the season, just the simple anticipation each day of maybe getting a card or 5...lol So my vote would be a "real" card over an e-card, but no other extras needed. ~also - I'm in favor of sending them to Joe's mom's hospital too. Seeing Joe shared them last year, I feel they have a "link" to us and would be more appreciative than just some random facility we could pick. We have our local places covered, as part of our therapy dog chapter's annual holiday visits. |
| Sounds wonderful to me. Can I nominate a non-profit for the donation? Colorado OES rescue is still struggling and they can use any and all donations. If I can't choose the donation destination, it's still a good idea. |
| Ron; I don't understand why there is an expectation of your sending a gift along? Its the holidays; I think each person should do exactly what they are comfortable with. ~Allison |
Ron, whatever you decide is okay with me. I consider this forum a 24/7, year-long gift, and the time and energy you devote to it makes it all possible. So you've already sent me my gift.  Do whatever makes you the happiest. Laurie and Oscar |
| Hi Ron, I have to admit, I love when I received the real cards via snail mail but never expect any gifts. I'm sure the year you sent us the OES keychains must have been expensive as there's a lot of people on the list!! That was such a sweet thing for you to do but not expected at all. I think donating that money to a good cause is better served. I didn't participate in last years card exchange and really missed it. As I'm in Canada, not only is our postage more expensive than yours, but the majority of cards I sent were to either to the US or overseas. In total - if I remember correctly it cost aprox 125.00 for postage and another 30 - 40 dollars to have the cards made up. I can only imagine the cost for our overseas friends to participate in the card exchange as the majority of us are in North America. I chose not to participate last year as I used that money for other causes - sending the money instead to that homeless woman who saved One Eyed Mickey, for example. Still saying all that, nothing gaves me more pleasure to see all the cards in the mail and eventually hanging up in my home. I figure the money I spend is a rare gift to myself and will do it every 2-3 years or so. I cheated last year and put up the previous years cards up. So after my long ramble - I think no one faults anyone for either not participating or wanting to use that money elsewhere. I also think it's nice when: as a group we pick a few people to send cards to - to brighten up their day - like overseas serviceman or one of our members who may be in the hospital. Most of us always have a few cards on hand. I also think you should choose what ever cause you see fit as there are so many good ones out there. It gets difficult when lots of people have input as then the decision becomes harder as everyone of us has things that are near and dear to our heart. Thats my take on the subject. |
got sheep wrote: My personal preferance would be to have you and Joan send a card I don't need presents or a gift pack ....but I really enjoy the physical presence of the cards. They light up the day and the season, just the simple anticipation each day of maybe getting a card or 5...lol So my vote would be a "real" card over an e-card, but no other extras needed. ~also - I'm in favor of sending them to Joe's mom's hospital too. Seeing Joe shared them last year, I feel they have a "link" to us and would be more appreciative than just some random facility we could pick. We have our local places covered, as part of our therapy dog chapter's annual holiday visits. I agree with Dawn. I couldn't have said it better myself. Ron if u choose not to send a card, plz have your address added to the list anyway, all the work u put into this website, I want to send u and Joan a card weither I receive one back or not. |
| i'm saving up to buy you a replacement bottle of your sweet booze, figure i have awhile, but you deserve it and more for the hardwork on this wonderful website. |
| Ron, I agree with what everyone said. I don't expect or want a package from you. This website is your year-round present to us. I just love getting cards.... |
I also agree that a gift is not necessary or expected. Just a card brightens my holiday spirit!  As for sending a card to the hospital in London, I'm in total agreement but I need the info from Wynette.  Two and a half weeks to go for the deadline!! |
Drezzie's Mom wrote: Two and a half weeks to go for the deadline!! ACK!!! I still don't have a good idea for my photo!!!! |
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