Anyone ever sponsor or "adopt" a family for Christmas?

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justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Nov 1, 2013 11:10 AM
If so, what are some good organizations to go through? I found some good info from our local Salvation Army but wanted to check out multiple organizations if possible.
Nov 1, 2013 11:10am
TedSheckler's avatar

TedSheckler

Emporium Entrepreneur

3,974 posts
Nov 1, 2013 11:21 AM
Getting sponsored is for poor people.

You can donate to my PayPal account. I will make sure the money gets to where it should.
Nov 1, 2013 11:21am
Mohican00's avatar

Mohican00

Dirty White Boy

3,394 posts
Nov 1, 2013 11:24 AM
no because poor people are poor due to bad decisions they made in life and only deserve our derision, not our charity

Nov 1, 2013 11:24am
Ytowngirlinfla's avatar

Ytowngirlinfla

I wear real chevrons!

2,295 posts
Nov 1, 2013 11:42 AM
justincredible;1527471 wrote:If so, what are some good organizations to go through? I found some good info from our local Salvation Army but wanted to check out multiple organizations if possible.
If you go to church, I know they always get info on families that are down on their luck for the holidays to adopt.
Nov 1, 2013 11:42am
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Nov 1, 2013 11:45 AM
Mohican00;1527481 wrote:no because poor people are poor due to bad decisions they made in life and only deserve our derision, not our charity

I was about to post the exact same thing. I do donate some of my money to charity though, mostly Planned Parenthood because the more women we put on birth control the better.
Nov 1, 2013 11:45am
J

jmog

Senior Member

6,567 posts
Nov 1, 2013 11:48 AM
I have done this through a church once and also through a car dealership once (I know, odd choice).

I would say most churches would have no problem helping you information on a family in need, the Salvation Army is probably a decent choice as well.
Nov 1, 2013 11:48am
vdubb96's avatar

vdubb96

Urbans Meyers Stache

2,210 posts
Nov 1, 2013 11:52 AM
A few years ago a couple of us at work bought a guy who works here a bunch of presents for his kids because they had a small house fire (a couple rooms). Everyone felt great about the gesture and he got all sappy with us, come to find out about a month later he's talking about how he bought a big screen tv for his newly remodeled living room. Never again will I do something like that. F them!
Nov 1, 2013 11:52am
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Nov 1, 2013 12:22 PM
I've adopted a kid at school.
Nov 1, 2013 12:22pm
Enforcer's avatar

Enforcer

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2,140 posts
Nov 1, 2013 12:51 PM
We do it every year, We go through the Athens County Children services
Nov 1, 2013 12:51pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Nov 1, 2013 12:58 PM
justincredible;1527471 wrote:If so, what are some good organizations to go through? I found some good info from our local Salvation Army but wanted to check out multiple organizations if possible.
Maybe talk to someone who runs the foreign exchange student program at a local college? A lot of those people end up not having anyone to spend holidays with.
Nov 1, 2013 12:58pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Nov 1, 2013 1:08 PM
I Wear Pants;1527532 wrote:Maybe talk to someone who runs the foreign exchange student program at a local college? A lot of those people end up not having anyone to spend holidays with.
I guess I don't mean have people come stay at our house. We want to buy gifts and a meal for a family that may not have the opportunity to do it for themselves. Ideally I'm hoping to find a family with a single mother (I was raised by a single mother) with one boy and one girl. That way my wife and I each have a kid to pick stuff out for.
Nov 1, 2013 1:08pm
Rotinaj's avatar

Rotinaj

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7,699 posts
Nov 1, 2013 1:09 PM
I Wear Pants;1527532 wrote:Maybe talk to someone who runs the foreign exchange student program at a local college? A lot of those people end up not having anyone to spend holidays with.
Foreign people don't believe in Christmas. 'MERICA!!!!
Nov 1, 2013 1:09pm
Raw Dawgin' it's avatar

Raw Dawgin' it

Just Ain't Care

11,466 posts
Nov 1, 2013 1:10 PM
ernest_t_bass;1527512 wrote:I've adopted a kid at school.
SO did Jerry Sandusky...
Nov 1, 2013 1:10pm
Heretic's avatar

Heretic

Son of the Sun

18,820 posts
Nov 1, 2013 1:12 PM
Raw Dawgin' it;1527540 wrote:SO did Jerry Sandusky...
Sandusky's kid was better off...
Nov 1, 2013 1:12pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Nov 1, 2013 1:18 PM
Ytowngirlinfla;1527486 wrote:If you go to church, I know they always get info on families that are down on their luck for the holidays to adopt.
jmog;1527493 wrote:I have done this through a church once and also through a car dealership once (I know, odd choice).

I would say most churches would have no problem helping you information on a family in need, the Salvation Army is probably a decent choice as well.
We don't attend church but I might reach out to one of them in the area. Thanks for the suggestion.
Nov 1, 2013 1:18pm
Fab4Runner's avatar

Fab4Runner

Tits McGee

6,196 posts
Nov 1, 2013 1:39 PM
My mom used to do this every Christmas. She also anonymously gave her friend/coworker $500.00 each year.

I actually planned to adopt a family last year but ran out of time, so I am definitely doing it this year.
Nov 1, 2013 1:39pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Nov 1, 2013 2:58 PM
justincredible;1527538 wrote:I guess I don't mean have people come stay at our house. We want to buy gifts and a meal for a family that may not have the opportunity to do it for themselves. Ideally I'm hoping to find a family with a single mother (I was raised by a single mother) with one boy and one girl. That way my wife and I each have a kid to pick stuff out for.
Ah gotcha, churches, Salvation Army type places, etc might be good places to try. Or see if a school/PTO might know of a family or be able to help you finding one.
Nov 1, 2013 2:58pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

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Nov 1, 2013 3:53 PM
vdubb96;1527495 wrote:A few years ago a couple of us at work bought a guy who works here a bunch of presents for his kids because they had a small house fire (a couple rooms). Everyone felt great about the gesture and he got all sappy with us
That's awesome that you guys did that. Christmas morning in '95 we had a house fire as well. My parents were absolutely devastated obviously. Later that night a couple people came to my uncles bearing gifts. Turned out a bunch of people from in town had donated some money so we could still have a Christmas.
Nov 1, 2013 3:53pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Nov 1, 2013 4:36 PM
I Wear Pants;1527605 wrote:Ah gotcha, churches, Salvation Army type places, etc might be good places to try. Or see if a school/PTO might know of a family or be able to help you finding one.
Since you mentioned it, though, it would be kinda cool to host someone from another country for the holidays.
Nov 1, 2013 4:36pm
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Nov 1, 2013 4:43 PM
My buddy is the President of the local Kiwanis club, so I am able to sponsor a child through their organization every year.
Nov 1, 2013 4:43pm
Pick6's avatar

Pick6

A USA American

14,946 posts
Nov 1, 2013 4:45 PM
justincredible;1527654 wrote:Since you mentioned it, though, it would be kinda cool to host someone from another country for the holidays.
Indeed it would. I have two foreign roommates and always invite them to come home with me during the holidays if they do not have plans.

Holidays (to me) aren't about gifts, they are about enjoying the company of loved ones.

edit: hopefully this doesn't give off the vibe that I'm not against helping needy families with kids, I am definitely all for that as well.
Nov 1, 2013 4:45pm
S

sportchampps

Senior Member

7,361 posts
Nov 1, 2013 4:47 PM
My department at work always adopts 2 or 3 families for Christmas. Last year I went and dropped off the food and presents and it's pretty emotional. I'm sure we will be doing it again this year. I also do the big brother program thru my office and it's been a great experience. The kid I was given is great. We meet once a week for lunch during school. He has a great mom that I have met. She's doing everything she can as a single mom to raise her kid ( works and goes to night school). He is only 8 but I can tell it really affects him being poor. This year for his birthday he asked me if I could rent him snow dogs. I asked him why snowdogs and he said his friends got to see it in the theaters but he didn't get to go because it cost to much. I bought him the movie and also gave his mom a $100 give card to the theater so he could go with hai friends for now on. When he gets older I plan on taking him to some bluejackets and ohio state games. For Christmas I'm getting his mom a Meijers gift card and him a cheap laptop to use at home for his schoolwork. His mom already has internet but only had a old desktop she uses for school that can't do much.
Nov 1, 2013 4:47pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Nov 1, 2013 5:16 PM
sportchampps;1527660 wrote:My department at work always adopts 2 or 3 families for Christmas. Last year I went and dropped off the food and presents and it's pretty emotional.
I want no part of actually giving them the gifts. I just want to be able to drop off the gifts to the organization and have them take care of the rest.
Nov 1, 2013 5:16pm
S

sportchampps

Senior Member

7,361 posts
Nov 1, 2013 7:16 PM
Yeah we just dropped them off to the moms not the kids or anything it was pretty straight forward
Nov 1, 2013 7:16pm
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

Administrator

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Nov 1, 2013 10:13 PM
My school really got into it big for several years but it got to the point the same families expected us to do it and many of the families didn't even appreciate.

I always take a family on my own and I always try to find a family that doesn't have a lot...but they have good kids and maybe the Dad is now laid off or lost his job completely....those families light up with enjoyment when they see the gifts and are so appreciative for the help that year.

A good story from our school......about 6 or 7 years ago a very good family but borderline poor (dad worked but they could've lived better on welfare)......well Dad was injured and couldn't work and Mom came with tears in her eyes for help that Christmas. We jumped on board because they were good parents and they had great kids. We loaded them up pretty good......EVERY year since that same family has insisted they we accept their $100 donation every year to our Christmas fund to help those families.
Nov 1, 2013 10:13pm