Parents Abusing Programs.

[Sick of it]

I know someone that signs her children up for the Angel Tree, Toy for Totes and Shop with a Cop for Christmas and don't need it. Don't get me wrong these are great for people that really need it. But if you can afford a tatoo or two and go drinking on weekends then you shouldn't be using these programs!!!!!!! There is plenty of us working just like her and doing our best to have Christmas for our children. And the worst thing is she brags what all the kids gets and she don't have to pay a dime. It just makes me sick!!!!

[Report her]

Report her ass to these programs so they will look into her situation.

[GSP_trpr]

A lot of folks will milk any charity for what they can get by with. You'd think they'd have a little decency about themselves, or at least a conscience, and not take things intended for folks TRULY in need but they do. Of course, I'm a firm believer in what goes around, comes around, so eventually I'm hopeful they'll get the appropriate "pay back".

[GreeneNative]

Sick of it wrote:

I know someone that signs her children up for the Angel Tree, Toy for Totes and Shop with a Cop for Christmas and don't need it. Don't get me wrong these are great for people that really need it. But if you can afford a tatoo or two and go drinking on weekends then you shouldn't be using these programs!!!!!!! There is plenty of us working just like her and doing our best to have Christmas for our children. And the worst thing is she brags what all the kids gets and she don't have to pay a dime. It just makes me sick!!!!

I too know a man and woman who have done the same with their FIVE kids! This particular man is intelligent and has keen insight into taking advantage of every government or social entitlement available. Long story short - When working he kept FMLAs on himself and all his children. The reason being so he could layout from his factory work enough to stay within the income limit for unearned income credit on taxes. Doing so netted him approx $11,000 every year from the IRS. Then there was $900.00 of food stamps monthly. His family's health insurance was paid by TN Care and whatnot. Finally he reached Financial Independence by his wife being granted SSDI, thus enabling him to quit his job and go to college full time majoring in (insert drum roll here) ACCOUNTING! The government pays for all of his college expenses with plenty left over for spending. Today, learning that all his children were on The Angel Tree, well.. it just made me mad. My daughters, at their own bequest started adopting kids from The Angel Tree while they were still kids themselves! They continue to do so as young adults. I'm talking more than one kid from the tree. Anyhow, as my young friend GSP inferred, there are truly needy kids on that tree and that's what's really important. Heck, I can't rob my own adult children of their altruistic feel-good buzz to tell them this story.

[HunkeyDorey]

I got one better than that...I have a family member that signs her kids up for multiple Angel Trees and church charities. After all the gifts are in, she goes thru what she wants them to have and then wraps the rest up as gifts for other family members/friend's kids. It makes me so mad because she takes away from needy children just so she can save a dollar thru the season. Who isnt broke from Christmas?

[FriendofDog]

Hence my prior post about these programs being a sham..If someone knows a family personally and can help out, I think that is great.. but to support these type of programs, I won't do it.

[Spirit of Giving]

A good alternative is to contact your local school. Ask the principal or any teacher for a family who may be in need. The neediest families often do not know the right connections to go through.

[sw€€t~h€@r t]

To not support these programs only hurts truly innocent children. I work in retail daily and see both good and bad. If you suspect someone abusing these charities then report them immediately. I have seen so much happiness and love come from children that have benefitted from these great organizations. Most of these children would go without gifts ( clothing is their most requested) for Christmas..it breaks my heart to think of the children having nothing. Just because someone is being dishonest doesn't mean all the children should have to suffer :(

[GSP_trpr]

If you give to charity, you also want to make sure the money is going to the needy and not for "Administrative" costs. Check the website link and you'll see some take up as much as 75% for their operating costs which is obviously a sham organization not meant to help anyone but a few committing "legal" fraud. Give where it counts!

http://www.charitynavigator.org

[Sick of it]

[QUOTE who="sw€€t~h€@rt "]To not support these programs only hurts truly innocent children. I work in retail daily and see both good and bad. If you suspect someone abusing these charities then report them immediately. I have seen so much happiness and love come from children that have benefitted from these great organizations. Most of these children would go without gifts ( clothing is their most requested) for Christmas..it breaks my heart to think of the children having nothing. Just because someone is being dishonest doesn't mean all the children should have to suffer :([/QUOTE]

I understand what you are saying. I know they really are children and families that needs these programs. But when people abusing the programs, it is so hard to look past that. I have just started doing as one other poster states asking around our local school and watching around my own area for families. That why I know their situation and now I am truely helping a family in need. I just hate that I even know of this situation because it truely does damage your giving and loving spirit at such a wonderful time of the year. I hope everyone else can find a way to see past this too. It took me and my husband some looking into other ways to give but Thank God we have been able to help and still know it is not being abused. So glad to find a happy medium.

[sw€€t~h€@r t]

Sick of it wrote:

[QUOTE who="sw€â‚t~h₠¬@rt"]To not support these programs only hurts truly innocent children. I work in retail daily and see both good and bad. If you suspect someone abusing these charities then report them immediately. I have seen so much happiness and love come from children that have benefitted from these great organizations. Most of these children would go without gifts ( clothing is their most requested) for Christmas..it breaks my heart to think of the children having nothing. Just because someone is being dishonest doesn't mean all the children should have to suffer :("

I understand what you are saying. I know they really are children and families that needs these programs. But when people abusing the programs, it is so hard to look past that. I have just started doing as one other poster states asking around our local school and watching around my own area for families. That why I know their situation and now I am truely helping a family in need. I just hate that I even know of this situation because it truely does damage your giving and loving spirit at such a wonderful time of the year. I hope everyone else can find a way to see past this too. It took me and my husband some looking into other ways to give but Thank God we have been able to help and still know it is not being abused. So glad to find a happy medium.

that's a great idea...you and your husband are making a difference in someone life...thank you

[knows him]

To Greene Native, I also know this man. He had a very well paying job and left it so he could get all the government assistance he could. Everything you say is true about him and his family. But it truly makes me sick to think that they put their kids on the Angel Tree and probably other thing for low income ppl. If he would have stayed at the job he was at he made very good money and they would not need this assistance. He chose to leave so the govt would pay for all his schooling. What is this teaching kids these days? just go out there and get all the govt assistance you can? It's ok? I was brought up to make my own way and so far in life I have. Raised two beautiful kids who I tought the same thing, and they are not taking handouts.