To think it wasn't enough and I shouldn't do it again?

[Redbushteaforme]

For years (maybe c20), I've taken part in a local Christmas 'giving tree' where a local charity arranges Christmas presents for children who otherwise won't be getting much. You pick a card with (fictional) child"s name and age, buy a gift/gifts and take it to an office where everything is presumably checked, wrapped and distributed.

I always put a fair bit of effort into choosing things I think a child of the age and that they could enjoy for themselves without needing other things (eg colouring sets) or requiring an adult to help them. This year I bought a couple of small-ish age-appropriare Lego sets, a nice winter picture storybook, a winter sticker book and a winter magic painting book (both nice Usborne books which I would but for my own children at Christmas). Total cost was about £35-40.

Normally you just hand your bag of gifts in at the door but this year I was asked to take the bag through to a room where all the other donations were, so for the first time I saw what other people were giving. What I saw made me think that other people are probably spending more than me, and that maybe the children I've been buying for are losing out. It also made me realise the difference between what I spend on my own kids and what I donate for this. However, £35-40 is probably my limit for a donation for the time being at least.

Is anyone on here involved with running this kind of scheme? Are contributions like mine useful? Is it really one card (set of donated gifts) per child or do the organisers sort through all donations and decide how to distribute ie amalgamate donations?

I would be really interested to know because I feel maybe that my donation might be better spent on something else charitable at Christmas, maybe just putting the cash to some sort of appeal?

AIBU - still worth doing
AINBU - better just to donate the cash to a good cause

I do this every year and have only ever gifted £10. I think you were very generous

It is not the cost but the amount of enjoyment a present generates that matters.

One year my DD asked for a brown felt tip pen!!

I've always wondered who determines which kids deserve these gifts. How are they chosen? Do they get them because they are long-term sick / live in children's homes / are fostered? My son has a friend with a very bad home life; school must be aware. I once asked him what he got for Christmas and he replied "Bath bombs and some clothes that are too small". Yet, I don't think he is on that list of children who receive stuff from the giving tree.

OP, do you know the biblical story of the Widow's Mite? Although the widow contributed the smallest amount to the collection in the temple, it was worth far more than anything the rich people had offered. Why? Because it was all she possessed to her name. She would most likely go without food to make that offering and it was given with genuine heartfelt love. Not to be flashy or to make herself feel good as the rich often did with their huge and ostentatious donations.

What were the extravagant gifts you saw OP?