Family cant afford Christmas

Person_one

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I hope that everybody treats everybody else kindly - but that doesn't necessarily run to buying their children presents!

Have you donated to a food bank or a toy appeal this Christmas? That's pretty basic kindness, impersonal but valuable, and loads of people do it.

Lots of school staff, social workers, neighbours, parents of friends and others who have contact with deprived children will be doing a little something for them at Christmas, its not unusual at all.

£500 is not usual, of course, but that was just part of the OP reeling us in not any sort of benchmark or serious suggestion.

Person_one

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Rather than learning that there are some kind adults who care, kids may just pick up that there's always some mug who'll turn up and give you stuff if you don't provide for yourself and your family.

If I ever start to see the world this way, just shoot me.

missbiggles1

Person_one wrote: »

Have you donated to a food bank or a toy appeal this Christmas? That's pretty basic kindness, impersonal but valuable, and loads of people do it.

Lots of school staff, social workers, neighbours, parents of friends and others who have contact with deprived children will be doing a little something for them at Christmas, its not unusual at all.

£500 is not usual, of course, but that was just part of the OP reeling us in not any sort of benchmark or serious suggestion.

Having been a foster carer for more than a 12 years, I feel that I've done my bit for the UK's deprived children.

This year, I've donated to a charity which provides humanitarian and medical aid to those people (including children) in the most affected zones in Syria, where people really do have nothing.

missbiggles1

Person_one wrote: »

If I ever start to see the world this way, just shoot me.

If you'd had a lot of contact with families in this situation (not on a professional basis) your opinion might have more validity.

Idealism is a wonderful thing until it slips into naivety.

Person_one

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Having been a foster carer for more than a 12 years, I feel that I've done my bit for the UK's deprived children.

This year, I've donated to a charity which provides humanitarian and medical aid to those people (including children) in the most affected zones in Syria, where people really do have nothing.

Well there you go, even you do good things for strangers, its not that rare, many many people do!

thorsoak

Naive? Me? No! I'm 73 years of age, have lived and worked in East London (end of the Call the Midwife era) and Essex docklands, working with deprived young people and families as well as in the city -seen the greed as well as the poverty and the insularity of the smug - and I still believe in goodness. The goodness of ordinary people.

System

When i was a little girl i lived close to a family. Mom, Dad, and 8 kids ranging from 18 months to early teens i spose.

Mom and Dad didnt work, smoked and drank themselves silly. Kids did whatever housework that needed doing (plus the eldest kids always had the baby) and they lived on 'red sauce' sandwiches and chips.

The nearest they got to a holiday was when Social Services took the kids away for a few days on the state.

I'm still in touch with most of these kids now. Despite their poverty they have done well for themselves. All hardworking and have a good standard of living.

Their background wasnt an hinderance, more like made them more determined to do well. I hope the children in this family grow up with the determination and self assurance that they am and can have better.

seven-day-weekend

Person_one wrote: »

Have you donated to a food bank or a toy appeal this Christmas? That's pretty basic kindness, impersonal but valuable, and loads of people do it.

Lots of school staff, social workers, neighbours, parents of friends and others who have contact with deprived children will be doing a little something for them at Christmas, its not unusual at all.

£500 is not usual, of course, but that was just part of the OP reeling us in not any sort of benchmark or serious suggestion.

I donate to a food bank all year round. And a 'food bank' for stray cats. :rotfl:

For Christmas specifically I have donated to a homeless charity.

I don't think it is unusual for people to give to charity all year round. Some of these of course will be helping deprived children.

Rosemary7391

Person_one wrote: »

If I ever start to see the world this way, just shoot me.

I get what you're saying, but I do think it's important to be aware that this is a possible outcome. If you never acknowledge the possibility then the truly naive might get discouraged from future acts of kindness by seeing it happen. Also, it's possible to do harm despite having the best of intentions. Considering all the possible outcomes of kind actions is one way to guard against that. None of this is sufficient argument against giving the kids food/presents, just things to be aware of whilst you do. It might mean you adjust what you give them, how you do it or indeed what support you offer on an ongoing basis.

silverwhistle

I haven't read the whole thread.

Did the OP ever come back?