Well, I'm back! And with a question about giftgiving!

[SallyNow]

Well, I'm back as regular member. Real life has been really very hectic the last few months and I just couldn't handle any more hecticness! But now things are starting to settle down again *knock on wood* and I'm back.

But with a question!!!! Well, actually a several-parts question...

Is it okay to give to charity and then just give a person a card saying you've given to charity in their name, or should you discuss it with them beforehand? What about when that person is a child?

This is actually a question a friend asked me... she's donating to an Oxfam or World Vision program (I'm not sure which) in her little cousin's name (he's a preschooler). She wants to teach him about charity and so she wants to donate the money and then give him a card and a picture of where and who she is donating to. But she's not sure if it is okay to just give the card or if she should also give a small gift. I said it is a great idea but to talk to her aunt and uncle about it (she's much closer to their age than her cousin) and maybe suggest that she gives him something small, like a paint set or a chocolate bar, along with the card and picture. What do you all think?

 

[Domenico]

If youre donating to charity in the name of a child I would also give a small gift. I know that with some charities here you can donate things like goats, and you are able to write to the family who recieves the gift through the charity. So a nice small gift might be some paints or pens so the child can write or draw a picture to send to the family who recieved the gift.

 

[DeanM]

Welcome back 8)

I think you have a wonderful idea to make the concept of charity available to a young child.

 

[Martin^^]

It's a nice idea but I think it might be hard for a child so young to appreciate the principle of giving enough to enjoy it as a gift. Are you giving this because it will please the child or because it will make you feel good?
I'm in favour of the idea of charity gifts for adults, especially those who have all their major needs met anyway, but I think you should discuss it first. Otherwise it is a bit like saying "I was going to buy you a present, but I think this Ethiopian family deserve it more."
That may be true, but it is only a gift to your friend if they have the choice of letting you send a gift to someone on their behalf. If you make the choice for them, they are out of the loop - again, it might make you feel good but not them.

 

[Catherineanne]

This is actually a question a friend asked me... she's donating to an Oxfam or World Vision program (I'm not sure which) in her little cousin's name (he's a preschooler). She wants to teach him about charity and so she wants to donate the money and then give him a card and a picture of where and who she is donating to. But she's not sure if it is okay to just give the card or if she should also give a small gift. I said it is a great idea but to talk to her aunt and uncle about it (she's much closer to their age than her cousin) and maybe suggest that she gives him something small, like a paint set or a chocolate bar, along with the card and picture. What do you all think?

I think preschoolers are too young to understand what they cannot see. If you give them a card with a picture of a present, that is not a present. If you say someone else has the present, that makes no sense.

I would say, give this child a present, however small, and save the charitable gifts for adults, who understand them. This kind of thinking is fine, but not at such a young age.

 

[JulySheMustFly]

This is a lesson that a small child cannot grasp without experiencing. I am doing somethign similar with my children but my children are giving the gift. I'm not giving in their name as their gift.

 

[D.W.Washburn]

Howzabout a gift of a goat (or cow or ducks or...) and a gift of a stuffed cuddly toy goat (or cow or duck or...) to the child with an explanation?

"We gave some people a real goat because they need the milk, and when you cuddle this toy you can think of them and pray for them?"

Just a thought...

 

[SallyNow]

This is a lesson that a small child cannot grasp without experiencing. I am doing somethign similar with my children but my children are giving the gift. I'm not giving in their name as their gift.

Oh, that's an idea! Perhaps have him help put together a package for the local Toy Drive or look through one of those World Vision catalogues that have the one-time gifts in them (ie, as said by RegularGuy, the goats or milk cows)

Howzabout a gift of a goat (or cow or ducks or...) and a gift of a stuffed cuddly toy goat (or cow or duck or...) to the child with an explanation?

"We gave some people a real goat because they need the milk, and when you cuddle this toy you can think of them and pray for them?"

Just a thought...

I'll be passing these wonderful idea on to her

Thank-you everyone for the great ideas.

 

[Mling]

For a child, definitely include something like a stuffed version of the animal, or something else that connects to the charity...maybe a trip to a place that makes the contribution meaningful.

If you were donating in an adult's name, if you were sure that they would appreciate it (basically, if you know that they contribute to it, or work for the organization), then I think it's fine to tell them about it later. If you don't know, absolutely, that they like the organization, then ask first. I know that I have *major* issues with a "charity" that most people would think I would really like.