Myself and some close family and friends for the past 3 years have not bought presents, last year I just got cards which is fine because I dont really need anything (Im no millionaire lol just very content with what i get for myself). Instead we all pick something to donate money to usually a smaller under the radar organization. Most of us are agnostic or just not religious so we dont do church backed programs because they already have support and drug/alcohol based charities we dont support. Last year we did a Woman's shelter for single mothers where the husbands were abusive douchebags, we got together $4500 between 12 of us and all personally delivered the bank draft on Christmas Eve. This year is a lil tighter but we are gonna do this for Autism Speaks. It feels amazing and unlike stuff where the feeling of getting a present is fleeting this stays with you over years and everytime you here of the organization you feel like a part of it. I know everyone has has probly had a rough time everywhere but there's people with it really shit and some of those people are being supported by places that may not be like United Way or CCF. Find a small under the radar and maybe even a bit of an odd one and help them out. Woman's shelters always need toys and baby stuff and I shouldn't have to tell anyone that women and children are always the most neglected and generally abused people in our countries. You dont need to be an $80.00 Devastator, just go to Wal Mart and they have red box cheaper toys and playsets, for 80 bucks you can grab enough playsets that a bout 20kids can have alot of fun, that's like 2 tanks of gas. 95% of everyone on here must be doing ok so take a lil and give alot and do it locally. A great guideline is if you're not within driving distance of the people that are actually gonna benefit from this look for another.
