Giving Back for Christmas?

[Lightweight BigDog]

Curious what my fellow BD brothers and sisters are giving or donating to over the holidays? I am not in a position to donate cash so my daughter and I are being bell ringers for the Salvation Army! I like to wear a Santa hat and put candy canes on it and give them to the kids that donate! Wish I could do more! Happy Holidays to all! :2thumbs:

 

[Raywood]

I'm cash stapped also. My wife is in Rhode Island at the Senior Enlisted Academy so taking care of my little 7 yr old (8 tomorrow!!!) who goes to a private Catholic Church that requires 50 hrs of my time or an extra $2500 in fees in addition to the normal school fees. So I put my time into helping out with lots of support type projects such as filling bags of food for the needy at Thanksgiving and Christmas and supporting the chapter of Cub Scouts that my son attends. Wife ships off to the Persian Gulf to the USS Nimitz (aircraft Carrier) in early January so just playing Mr. Mom through the next spring.

Happy Holidays to all and Merry Christmas. Hope Santa brings a cheer to all families this year.

:2thumbs:

 

[PA Chopper]

Lightweight, what you are doing is very commendable. IMO, Christmas has become way too commericalized. The true meaning of Christmas has been lost for some time now. It's not about presents. It's about family, friends and the spirit of Christmas. And Big Dogs of course.

 

[RCAdd1ct]

I give money to the local food bank and the company that I work for matches it dollar for dollar.

I have taken the money I would have used for my deceased Fathers Christmas presents and donate it.

I stopped sending Christmas card and started sending emails to add that money, too.

I know an email loses some of its meaning, but I would rather be a goober and feed more people.

I know they are getting food, not cigarettes via food stamps.

 

[superfly]

I let them bring in a tree in the front of my business for the orange/seminole county foster association. They give us the tags with the children's names, age and what they really want for Christmas. I bought a little boy a bike he really wanted and have encouraged all my staff and members to pick a child and give them a Christmas. So far we have rounded up over 20 gifts for some of the children.

 

[river dog]

I bought 4 bicycles and took them to a local Ford dealership that do a toys for kids deal . I have done this for the last 4 years . I hope my job stays so I can keep up my deal.

 

[THUNDER]

I help with a toy run, it will be Dec 19th, we get with the schools in Hardin, Texas and find out which kids is not going to have a christmas, and we make it happen, 4 years ago we started with 2 kids last year we did 50+, I am not sure what the count is this year but will probably be higher......

 

[Lightweight BigDog]

This is cool to hear! I can say so far to date I have not meet a nicer bunch of people here at the site and on BD group rides! I knew most hear were the type to give if they could and great to hear the stories!

 

[coach]

You guys warm my heart and restore my faith. The spirit of Christmas got lost over the years. What can the kids of today (from families that are fortunate to have jobs) possibly want or need that they don't already have? I grew-up in an up-scale neighborhood, but had no problem playing with a rock and a stick, listening to mystery programs on radio or reading a book.

I'm not sure what we are doing this year thou you have giving me some ideas. Bless you all for what you're doing and thanks for reminding us what Christmas is all about. :2thumbs:

 

[FIREKILLER!!!]

It sounds like alot of you REALLY know the true spirit of Christmas. I grew up without anything as well and I personally know what its like waking up with no presents. But recently my wife and I have been blessed (financially) and we fed 250 people through the local homeless shelter for Thanksgiving and we are also donating to a local shelter for abused and homeless women and children. And to top it all off we are buying my Mother (who has never owned anything in her life) an new house.

And again the in the spirit of Christmas it is about the joy of helping others and cherishing the friends and family we all love so much and remembering JESUS for making the ultimate sacrifice for us so we may be here to enjoy it with our families.

 

[THUNDER]

yea, it"s a blast to watch thoes kids when they figure out what is going on, I don"t need nothin else for christmas......

 

[Big Ron]

Toys for Tots and Food Bank.

 

[BBChopper]

Curious what my fellow BD brothers and sisters are giving or donating to over the holidays? I am not in a position to donate cash so my daughter and I are being bell ringers for the Salvation Army! I like to wear a Santa hat and put candy canes on it and give them to the kids that donate! Wish I could do more! Happy Holidays to all! :2thumbs:

Good job kid!!!!!:2thumbs:

Not sure what we will be doing, pretty strapped from the med bill's. I useually do something kinda spur of the moment that no one ever see's.

 

[NascarNutCase]

I would like to be able to give to the lesser fortunate this year, but I'm practically eating crackers and milk myself this holiday. Trying hard to get my youngest through college and working two jobs to do it.

 

[toomanybikes]

Donations to the local Red Cross chapter, the local Habitat for Humanity group and Capital Area Food bank. And any time I pass the Salvation Army kettles they get all of the change that I have at the time.

 

[Biker Babe]

I useually do something kinda spur of the moment that no one ever see's.

That's the true spirit of giving!
No pats on the back needed...just do it!

And the need doesn't go away after Christmas.
The economy has been tight for us all but there is always someone in worse shape than yourself and it doesn't always take money to help those in need.

 

[RRRUFF]

Christmas is the season for giving and remember Jesus gave it all for us. My wife and I do shoe boxes for an organization called Smaratans Purse, that goes to children all over the world and I give alot through my church. God bless you all for giving hearts.

 

[Lightweight BigDog]

Funny Story!

Was ringing this weekend and a little boy comes up and drops off some change and I hand him a candy cane. He looks at his mother and asks .... "why did I give them money"? Her reply was .... "it's to help the poor people". The little boy looks at me and my daughter, then looks at his Mother and says .... " Are they the poor people"? Heard some wonderful stories and can say for sure the vets are the most giving of all it seems! Made sure I thanked them for there service! :flag:

 

[scubaman15]

Good job kid!!!!!:2thumbs:

Not sure what we will be doing, pretty strapped from the med bill's. I useually do something kinda spur of the moment that no one ever see's.

That is the true spirit !!! :up::up:

 

[Throttle]

I give to the United Way every month, never pass a Salvation Army can, local food bank every Christmas and St. Joesph school for the deaf both financially and time. We have a lot people really hurting in the St. Louis area. Where I work for the first time in 8 months, our sales increased from one month to another. Jan is actual up 15% over Jan 2009. Maybe, this thing is finally starting to turn.