giving trees

**Missy** · 12-12-2004, 06:46 PM

Do you do them? One was set up at church and we chose a name off of it. It is for a six year old girl (right about our kids' ages). All she wanted was a baby doll and a "simple doll house" ( we took that to mean not one they'd have to spend hours of time and effort putting together, something she could play with right away.) So we got them for her. We have no idea who the child is, all we know is girl 6 yo. We are super excited to take these to church for distribution. (LOL< we are kinda bummed we have to wait till next sunday to bring them) This is the first time we have ever been able to do something like this, and it is lots of fun. Has anyone else done this?

**kimmee** · 12-12-2004, 06:50 PM

We pick one child for each kid and they are responsible for picking out what that child gets (we get close to their ages) - they need to pay for a little bit of it and I make up the difference - they actually really enjoy picking a kid and paying for it!!

**Missy** · 12-12-2004, 06:53 PM

We've never done t before, it was so exciting, lol. Am I a dork? I was all giddy wrapping it up and i can't wait to take it in!

**kimmee** · 12-12-2004, 07:04 PM

you're not a dork - you dork!!! LOL - Its wonderful that you all did this - you are teaching your babies a wonderful thing too!!!

**pita1213** · 12-12-2004, 07:39 PM

we haven't done this yet, but my mom used to do it every year witht he women's group at church. she was the youngest in the morning women's group ( the other ladies were in their 60's) so once they got the money and the lists together she went and bought the gifts. sometimes we would go with her to help her decide on some gifts. sometimes teh lists were short and kinda general like yours with just a doll and dollhouse. other times they were very specific.
we do let the kids purchase toys for teh toys for tots program. they like doing that. dh took them this year so i'm not sure what they picked out.

**guest2** · 12-12-2004, 08:23 PM

Our church does collects new toys and donates them to the Toys for Tots program.

**slowtypinwoman** · 12-12-2004, 08:39 PM

When we lived in Omaha, my mom used to adopt a child every Christmas. They would have 5 or 6 items to pick from to get the child and they only asked that you get them one gift. My mom would always get everything on the list and then some! One year all a little girl wanted was a new coat. One that fit her and was all hers. Mom got her that and some dolls, barbie, sweaters, matching mittens hat and scarf, and a ton of other things. I would have loved to have been a fly on her wall when she opened all that!lol

**dz_blonde_girl** · 12-12-2004, 09:32 PM

I've done it every year, except this year. All the kids have been picked. The only cards left were for middle aged women.

**i.m.cheap** · 12-12-2004, 09:38 PM

I have done this in the past. I guess part of the reason I haven't done it in the last several years is that the "Angel Trees" are always is the malls and I never go to the mall anymore. We do put money in the Salvation Army red buckets.

**Julia Kimber** · 12-13-2004, 02:43 AM

K-Mart over here has a 'Wishing Tree' every year with gift tags on. They used to have ages written on them but now they just leave them blank. This year we bought a cute little doll that plays 'Brahms Lullaby' when you press a button! So cute! You just fill in the sex and age that the gift is suitable for and attach the tag to the gift.

Julia

**Early Bird** · 12-13-2004, 10:41 AM

Last year, our tree at church was all plucked (gift tags all taken home) well before Christmas. So they did a 2nd round.

This year, RED gift tags were put out. When those got scarce, the church put out GREEN tags for the same 'angels.' They requested 'one gift ONLY' for each tag.

It's nice that so many are generous.

**AmyMCGS** · 12-13-2004, 11:02 AM

We do it every year, and I have fun picking out the gifts. Some years we've chosen from a tree at the mall, other years I've adopted extra ChemoAngel patients, and this year we picked two tags off the tree at church. One of mine was a nursing home resident, the other a 12 year old girl. I wanted two nursing home residents (since those are who I know best) but could only find one left on the tree.

**sunshine** · 12-13-2004, 11:05 AM

My kids pick a child close to their age (although my oldest who is now 20 picks a little boy now, says it's more fun to pick a little kid) and they purchase gifts from their allowance.

Dh and I choose a family to give food, clothes and gifts to each year.