I read recently that local donations to Toys for Tots are down on the Olympic Peninsula this year, and requests for toys are up at least 25% over last year. And yesterday I heard that they are down nationwide. This friendly bear that I donated didn’t have much company in that big, hopeful box. I hope you’ll donate if you can.
Do you have causes or charities that you donate to? Have you had to cut back on giving?
Toys for Tots in the Twin Cities also had a tough time this year, esp. for gifts for teen-agers. We haven’t donated to them but my big allocation of charitable giving goes to UNICEF since I believe that helping children of the world is a top priority, esp for medical treatments and preventative measures. My husband donates to Amigos de Animales in Mazatlan, Mexico where we used to winter and where he volunteered each time we were there. We don’t return anymore but haven’t forgotten the neglected stray animals.
Unfortunately a sign of the times Kay, donations to almost everything are down. I don’t do much in the way of gift-giving or the cards thing, but the BC Children’s Hospital gets some instead. They need it, and everyone I know, doesn’t.
Napa was having the same problem. Rick went out and bought six toys to drop off. We just read in the paper this morning the Napa Toys for Tots reached it goal!! Love the bear – just think how much that will mean to a child.