That would be a secret. :)

OK no, but what you are doing sounds like a wonderful idea. I never heard of a Sears Giving Tree. Thanks for posting it. I'm going to Google for more info and spread the word in my community.

In our area, we call them giving trees! I picked 2 ornaments from our churchs Giving Tree. One was a pair of Levis & the other a robe!

It makes me feel good to help someone-

Donna (^_^)

I do it from our church too. I didn't go last Sunday, because it was slick and I was/am sick. Hope to get a couple this week.
Leslie

Each Christmas I take my 2 older grandsons shopping for their little step brothers and for their mom. As much as I can't stand her, she's still their mother and my ex-DIL. I know the little brothers don't get much b/c she is so selfish. It's been a lesson in sharing for my GSs.

Yes, I have, and it's the best feeling, isn't it? :)

Our local grocery store (when we lived in NH) always had a giving tree. I always picked a couple of tree shaped paper ornaments. There was always a practical gift and a toy listed. Several years I helped wrap gifts for distribution to those families that had signed up with our Community Action Council. It was a good way to meet others in our community, have some fun (and a few papercuts) and know there would be lots of smiles on Christmas morning.
I haven't seen any since morning to FL, but I was chairperson of our local motorcycle Toy Run for several years.

Well not until this year!

We are not well off but there is a need in our church.So several of us will donate a little bit of money to help them.

A family is having a hard time- the father is partially paralyzed from the waist down and cannot work-the wife is not able to work but part time because she has to rotate shifts with other family members who watches her DH. So we are doing a food drive for her family.

She has told us that her DS who is 7 is "adopted" every year by her DH's boss wife so Christmas gifts are not needed-However food for Christmas dinner and everyday is.

So, while not a complete secret to the whole family it is very needed!

We did it one year. Last year, the only people left on the tree were the kids who want expensive items that we won't even buy for our kids. This year, I'm organizing a group of kids to Christmas carol at a nursing home. We decorated containers and are donating small everyday items like chapstick or socks that these people can't easily get out and buy. It's sort of an angel tree.

I have bought things for the giving trees program. I like to pick an older child whenever possible.

I agree with Adellabedella that it is getting more difficult now. And now some trees are asking for gift cards. Too much room for fraud in my opinion. And I don't want some crack-head selling his/her kid's gift card for a rock.

I do participate in a toy run each year. Again I try to pick for older kids or at least pick toys that don't need parts or accessories. I brought 3 toys this year. One was the 20 Question handheld game so I added a multi-pack of batteries.

Not exactly a secret santa, but dh and I do shop for the Toys for Tots program conducted by the Marines. DH dropped off a van load on Saturday. It has become hard to buy for kids that really need this kind of help. It seems everything is electronic and needs to be connected to something else to get it's full potential. These kids likely don't have the computer or DVD player, etc that would be needed.

Every year at work our floor picks a family to buy for. This year a single mom killed herself and left four kids. We're buying for those kids.

Unusual for me to have "extra" money. One year I was extremely blessed financially. (It can happen.) LOL!

There was a Lady at work who was raising her Handicapped Grandson and She was really struggling financially. I put a Christmas Card in her top desk draw with cash in it for Her to find when She came into work. I didn't sign the card because I was afraid She may not accept it and I didn't want to embarrass Her.

It felt really good to be on the "giving" end.

Gayle

I have done it in the past, although we are not in a position to do it this year because I am not working yet. I will still donate cases of food to two food banks and sundries to the men's shelter, sundries and dishes and some children's clothes to the women's shelter.

I had to laugh though, when I called to make arrangments to drop off the food the person sounded panicked and said "Not kidney beans, is it???". Apparently they have a surplus of kidney beans ;). I said you are in luck, peas and corn!

Dances.

We have a "Happy Tree" in the mall here, every year I buy two toys to put under it for needy children.

I've never done the giving tree, but I have bought food and sundries from someone who needed it and had it delivered anonymously by a cab.
I did not do the holiday meal theme, but instead got stews, chili, soups, peanut butter - every day types of things. I did add treats and toiletries and a few seasonal items. And warm socks.

For the past 2 years our Gold Wing chapter has given me 2 or 3 hundred dollars to use for the Salvation Army Elder Tree. I don't pull names I contact the lady in charge of it instead. She calls me after everyone has turned in their gifts for the folks that they picked. Then we go out and get things that weren't included and also fillers for all the people. My girlfriend and I can really shop. We end up filling the trunk of my Lincoln to the brim. If we run short of funds from our GW chapter we put in from our own pockets to get other things that we know they would like.

Most of the people on the Elder Tree are from the nursing homes and low income apartments. My friend works for the county going into peoples homes to give baths, cook meals, shop for their groceries and other things that they need. She always gets so tickled when they excitedly show her what Santa brought. We are pleased that they are happy with what we have shopped for.

It is sad when we read what these people put on their wish lists...stamps, stationery, paper towels, toilet paper, snacks. Sometimes they ask for pj's, slippers or sweaters.

I called Carolyn the other day and am just waiting for the call to shop. It sure does put you in the spirit of Christmas.

yes, and it's very rewarding.

We recently adopted a homeless man we heard about on Craigslist (he's living in someone's basement now) and filled every single item on his wish list.

Our bank has an "Angel" tree with children's ages, and toys (reasonable ones, like board games or blocks) on it. I've been practically living at the bank this week, what with sorting out mom's finances, so I grabbed a tag off the tree today, and will pick up the toys tomorrow when I'm shopping. DH took tomorrow off and we'll be heading to one of our state's urban enterprise zones to save on sales tax. The more I buy, the more I save--love that!

Yes, our church does it. Last year the Wal-marts around here did it, but not this year. I love doing it.

When possible, I buy toys when they are on sale throughout the year.

This year, one of the names I picked really tugged at my heartstrings. She asked for socks and underwear.

yes,I have

Yes. The state agency where I work does a "Gifts from the Heart" program each year. Needy children and seniors can be sponsored for Christmas. I sponsored three seniors this year -- I've always sponsored kids before. The agency sponsored a total of 380 seniors and kids -- the entire list that was provided to the agency.

I also donate $100 to the holiday food drive, so they can purchase whatever food is needed. Like Dances said, sometimes they get an overabundance of one type of food, and really need something else. There's a "$1.00 equals 3.6 pounds" conversion, so my $100 is like donating 360 pounds of food.

Yes I have. A DF and her husband had got laid off from there jobs, one summer when the plant they worked for closed down. They were raising their grand-daughter who was about 8 at that time. The little girl said to me one day that Santa wasn't coming to their house this year because they were poor. It just tore my heart out to hear this child say this. So I shopped at dollar stores and discount stores and bought all kinds of gifts for her. I sent her about $80 in gifts, mailed it from out of town so they wouldn't figure out who it was from. I tried to keep it a secret but DF called and was upset because she didn't know who it was from and wanted to know if it was me. Long story who she thought it was from, but I ended up telling her that it was me.
Kittywhiskers

I get a tag from my mil's church
this year I have a little 5 yr old boy he has books on his list and games and clothes
I am going to go and try to get him as much as I can and because he may have siblings I am going to look for a few family type games also.
I would rather cut back on a few things for us to help make his christmas special
I really wish there were seniors on the tree
i am going to check to see if there is a senior center that does this.
The warm and fuzzy feeling you get knowing you are making the holiday special for someone with out is the best gift ever.
Christmas blessing to everyone making a difference

karla

it's been really hard on charity and for those who depend on places like salvation army for toys...so many of the recalled items have made their way into charity bins and they have to be tossed by them! in fact marine drive is also short this year...