Here's a suggestion that you may like to try.
Go to whoever does the food hampers in your city and see if they have something like an adopt a family for Christmas program.
They'll give you the basic list of things that go in the hamper, and you can usually choose the size of the family you want. When we've done it, we've chosen the typical nuclear family with a son and a daughter. They should also give you a list of a few things the kids have been asking for for Christmas. You buy the kids one thing off their list, and the stuff for the hamper and then drop it off. It's very humbling.
The ONLY thing I don't like is I always feel bad afterwards. The list for the kids we've gotten, have always had 3 things on them and they tell you to buy just one...but if you get more they don't discourage it. I feel bad because we always buy all 3 things on the list and a little something for the parents too, and I wonder if NEXT year those kids are going to have as good a Christmas as the one they had this year. Stupid and out of my control, but it still bugs me. I hope it gives the parents some incentive to see their children's faces Christmas morning.
But most importantly, what it does is give you the chance to help someone directly. In our cynical little world today, it also allows you to see that not everyone is scamming the system and that there are truly some people out there that need and APPRECIATE your assistance...without the middleman. As I said, depending on the person you are, it can be very humbling, but very satisfying seeing your money go to help someone less fortunate. You'd be surprised how good you feel spending a little money and a couple of hours of your time, as opposed to just writing a cheque.
In the past it's cost us about $500 or so, but we always consider it money well spent.
If that's not your cup of tea, there's always delivering hampers, helping out at the local soup kitchen (I could do the former, but not the latter) or donating to Sexentertain Mike's annual toy drive found here
http://www.gofuckyourself.com/showth...highlight=toys
Best of luck in your decision, and dare I say Merry Christmas.
