Charitable donations as holiday gifts

[entirelysonja]

More and more in the last few years, I've been seeing efforts to encourage people to give charitable donations on behalf of other people, in lieu of giving that person a gift. The idea seems to be that Christmas, in particular, has become excessively commercialized, and that thinking of those in need is more in keeping with the true spirit of the

Comments

[eeyorerin]

It would also seem like involving a child in acts of charity (such as choosing a name from a Giving Tree and helping to pick out gifts for a family in need, or being involved in volunteer activities that demonstrate charity and giving) would give them a better idea of thinking of the less fortunate than just saying "No toys this year; we're giving the money away."

[phoenix_glow]

I agree most highly. I like your idea of the child donating some of their money rather then just forcing some charitable action on them. You might as well tell someone "I ate a big box of chocolates in your honor instead of giving them to you!" for Christmas. ;)

[entirelysonja]

I ate a big box of chocolates in your honor instead of giving them to you!

I am most amused. :-)

[kimberlogic]

I agree - the how/who/when/where/how much factors are very person. In terms of children, I think it is very helpful to get them involved in volunteering and in donations to charity that have an impact other than giving money - using some of their own money to pick out a toy for Toys for Tots, or picking a name from the Angel tree that some malls have and helping to provide for that child, etc.

[entirelysonja]

I agree, I think the concreteness of doing something like that would be important for children. Plus it's fun to think about what some other child would like!

[moonlitdream]

I agree wholeheartedly. I've never felt it's appropriate to give a contribution to a charity in someone else's name unless they have specifically requested that.

It really is a very personal decision to give to a charity and I know I would feel very uncomfortable choosing a charity for someone else.

[lillibet]

Amen! I was a bit put out at a couple of people who let us know that they were giving a charitable donation in our names in lieu of wedding presents to us. Not that I cared in the least if we got another present, or not--several of our guests didn't give gifts and that was fine. If those people would rather give their money to charity than to adding to our ridiculous amount of belongings, that seems like a perfectly reasonable set of priorities. But the "giving in our name" sort of irked me.