giving at the office

[Diesel4me]

I'm sure many of you are in the same boat; your company has decided to sponsor some underpriveledged family for the holiday. Our company is sponsoring 4 large families, and each employee is to buy for one member of each family from their wish list.

My family consists of a 24 year old woman with 4 children and a live-in boyfriend. The woman is seperated from her husband and the father of her first three children. The 29 year old man that lives with her now is the father of her lastest child, 9 months old. The mother works, the boyfriend does not, at least not from the info i've been given.

Now i have always considered myself socially liberal and fiscally conservative. This situation just irks me no end. I figured we would be buying stuff for families down on their luck through no fault of their own, not for babymaking machines that either don't believe in birth control for religous reasons or just like to have sex alot and are too lazy to use protection. It's not the child's fault and i will get everything on his wish list but what kind of message does this send to the kids? Granted the 6 year old i will be buying for has no clue and it's not his fault.

Next year, i think i will see what happens if I 'just say no'. I know I'm beng a scrooge and i am sounding like an old codger but what happened to taking personal responsibility for your life's mistakes? This woman continues to open her legs and pump out babies, and every year I'm sure she registers for her free Christmas.

[TheDon]

just get them a 25$ target gift card... and write it off

[Diesel4me]

Originally Posted by TheDon

just get them a 25$ target gift card... and write it off

Can't do that, i'm already commited to purchasing the things from the wish list. i'll do it and give with a smile by the time the deadline comes. I'll be over it by then.

[Botnst]

Thank goodness all fundraising of any sort is forbidden where I work. Not even band-candy for little Freddie. Not for a wedding gift for Myrtle. Nada. Zilch.

One time a colleague asked if I wanted to buy some sort of fundraising crap and I told him if he ever approached me again I'd report him. Word got around.

It's official. I am Scrooge.

B

[420SEL]

Sounds lame. I have my causes and I know there are many other good ones that won't get my money this year. It really bugs me when someone tries to make someone else give to their cause (I'm not talking about people who help raise money for charities here - rather people who are in a position to coerce you, like an employer, to fund their own pet projects). Where's the charity if you're being forced? Personally, if I'd found out all that stuff, I'd tell them to take a hike.

[Larry Delor]

Wrap the presents with paper from the "Help wanted" section of the newspaper.

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by Larry Delor

Wrap the presents with paper from the "Help wanted" section of the newspaper.

thats soo low.. but thanks for the tip.. ive got a friend that im tired of that sits around doing nothing

[Diesel4me]

Originally Posted by Larry Delor

Wrap the presents with paper from the "Help wanted" section of the newspaper.

From reading the caseworker's sheet on this family i believe the children are the only 'legal' people. Maybe undocumented workers can just look in the paper for a job, i don't know.

[Larry Delor]

Originally Posted by Diesel4me

From reading the caseworker's sheet on this family i believe the children are the only 'legal' people. Maybe undocumented workers can just look in the paper for a job, i don't know.

In that case, he might find a translation dictionary more helpful.
So....he may have a job after all....just not "documented"?

[Diesel4me]

Originally Posted by TheDon

thats soo low.. but thanks for the tip.. ive got a friend that im tired of that sits around doing nothing

I don't think it's "soo low" at all, it's fantastic! Unfortunately we have to provide the gifts unwrapped.

[Diesel4me]

Originally Posted by Larry Delor

In that case, he might find a translation dictionary more helpful.
So....he may have a job after all....just not "documented"?

Quite possibly. One of my co-workers that is buying for the same family commented that the boyfriend gets paid cash; one of his wish list items (yes we have to buy 'special things' for the adults as well) is an electric drill.

[John Doe]

What are you guys doing wasting your time on this thread when you can go over to the diesel forum and rent the used spring compressor you bought on ebay three years ago to fellow Mshoppers @ $5/per???? Tis the season.

[bgkast]

Make a donation in their name to the Human fund- "Money for people".



(Seinfeld joke)

[LaRondo]

... simply impertinent ... maybe Texas employers can get away with this ...

[Kuan]

Sometimes we do things we don't like, but it doesn't make us lesser beings. Your dignity and personhood are still intact. Step back, smile, and don't say another word.

A lesson I have yet to accept.