Christmas Angel tree gift entitlement is out of control

That Lady in PA said:
I have not seen that with any Angel Tree I have participated in.
Depending on the tree, the max amount is between $25 and $50.

But hey, if ONE guy says so....
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perhaps it's just one guy raising the flag ... and there could very well be more on youtube, I haven't looked.... ..however if you've never witnessed it, then it can't be true.can it ?:oops:
 

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hollydolly said:
perhaps it's just one guy rasing the flag ... and there could very well be more on youtube, I haven't looked.... ..however if you've never witnessed it, then it can't be true.can it ?:oops:
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Sure.
Participants are vetted for residency and income.
Depending on the organization the maximum cost of the request is $25 to $50.
Requesting high price items cannot happen. The Salvation Army monitors Angel Tree, and has since the early 80s. I think this guy is talking about some other Angel Tree ripoff program....
 
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hollydolly said:
I've never even heard of them
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The biggest Angel Tree program is through the Salvation Army, but there are others. There's a Prison Fellowship Angel Tree program that provides gifts for children whose parents are incarcerated. Stores have them, churches have them. You pick a name of a needy child from the tree and the card you chose will tell you gender, age, what type of things they enjoy, etc. (At least that's the kind I've done.) And then you go shopping for the child.

I'm sure that like with everything else, there are ways that people try to take advantage. But "out of control in the US".... nope, haven't heard even a whisper about it being a problem.
 
CallMeKate said:
The biggest Angel Tree program is through the Salvation Army, but there are others. There's a Prison Fellowship Angel Tree program that provides gifts for children whose parents are incarcerated. Stores have them, churches have them. You pick a name of a needy child from the tree and the card you chose will tell you gender, age, what type of things they enjoy, etc. (At least that's the kind I've done.) And then you go shopping for the child.

I'm sure that like with everything else, there are ways that people try to take advantage. But "out of control in the US".... nope, haven't heard even a whisper about it being a problem.
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well you have now.. in this video...
 
I participated in them during my working years.

We did them as individuals for a disabled children’s group home and our department participated in a more expensive and elaborate program where we adopted a family for Christmas and provided gifts, grocery gift cards, etc…

As far as I know they were legitimate.

It’s impossible to know what’s in the heart of the recipients and how the gifts will be received.

IMO it’s not worth stressing over, do as little or as much as you are comfortable with.
 
Not a problem in my area, but it probably will be if the unscrupulous see that video.

Where I live, there’s usually a maximum limit of $25 posted on each angel with a child’s name.I don’t know if it’s still $25 because I haven’t bought one in a very long time they could be up to $50 by now.

The woman in the video needs her hindend kicked up between her shoulder blades for about five minutes. And I am being kind when I say hindend because I don’t want banned from the forum for something like that.
 
Imogene said:
Where I live, there’s usually a maximum limit of $25 posted on each angel with a child’s name.I don’t know if it’s still $25 because I haven’t bought one in a very long time they could be up to $50 by now.
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This is straight from the Salvation Army website for the Great Lakes region. Angel Tree FAQ - Great Lakes

What are some toy and gift card recommendations?

Any age-appropriate gift is fine for children 0-12. We recommend spending between $10-$25 per angel. Some suggestions are:

-- 0-2 toddler and infant learning toys, interactive plush stuffed animals, board books, baby walkers, and blocks
-- 3-5 dinosaur/farm animal toys, baby dolls, play food, toddler trucks, and sensory toys
-- 6-8 legos, nerf guns, cars and trucks, lol dolls, unicorn themed items, learning games
-- 9-11 beginner’s makeup or hair chalk, purses, legos, nerf guns, craft kits, journal kits, science kits, robots
-- 12+ (Angel Teens) $25 gift card to local stores like Meijer, Walmart, Target, Sephora, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Celebration Cinema, etc.
 
CallMeKate said:
This is straight from the Salvation Army website for the Great Lakes region. Angel Tree FAQ - Great Lakes

What are some toy and gift card recommendations?

Any age-appropriate gift is fine for children 0-12. We recommend spending between $10-$25 per angel. Some suggestions are:

-- 0-2 toddler and infant learning toys, interactive plush stuffed animals, board books, baby walkers, and blocks
-- 3-5 dinosaur/farm animal toys, baby dolls, play food, toddler trucks, and sensory toys
-- 6-8 legos, nerf guns, cars and trucks, lol dolls, unicorn themed items, learning games
-- 9-11 beginner’s makeup or hair chalk, purses, legos, nerf guns, craft kits, journal kits, science kits, robots
-- 12+ (Angel Teens) $25 gift card to local stores like Meijer, Walmart, Target, Sephora, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Celebration Cinema, etc.
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Yep.
I would not be surprised if that video was created just for the clicks.
The sad thing is... it gives the REAL Angel Trees a bad reputation.
 
For several years back in the 90s, I organized a giving-tree type of Christmas gift drive for children in foster homes. A county social worker provided a list of the children's IDs and gift suggestions. Church members could either contribute toward the gifts or take a name, shop for a gift, and bring it to the church by X date. We targeted at least $25 per child.

About half the gifts were spoken for, but many just gave money toward them. My husband, children (then in their early teens) and I dedicated a Saturday to shopping. We had enough funding to go above and beyond the lists. We taped a few sets of batteries to items that needed batteries, bought extra clothes for dolls, etc. Our kids were especially helpful with the trendier items.

Ours was a small church of only about 75 families who attended regularly so I knew everyone pretty well. During the toy drive, one young man came up to me, handed me a $100, and quietly said, "Please take care of them." I was surprised at the amount because it was obvious that this man was financially scraping by. Then he said, "I spent ten years in foster care. Get them whatever they want."

As I relate this story, my eyes are tearing and there's a lump in my throat. Only someone who walked that path could know how sad, lonely and brutal it could be.

Every year, after delivering the gifts to her office, the social worker would call with her thanks, and expressed gratitude that our church had been so thoughtful and generous.

I'm very sure no one was taking advantage of that program.
 

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