86 Holiday charity

[that_one_guy]

This is going to start off topic but it loops around to 86 related, I promise. As the holidays near, we start to see invitations to donate to a lot of toy drives. I've searched and found a few threads in some regions where a lot of 86ers really came out in support. These events are usually hosted by great organizations who continue to help kids and the community year round, but it always bothers me to see toy drives.

To me, toy drives are giving short lived, superficial joy and doesn't really help the kid the toy is being donated to. In a way, it is promoting materialism to an economic class of children who can't afford to be materialistic. Whenever I participate, I try to give educational toys but still, I feel the biggest difference I make is the misguided illusion that I've made any difference at all.

Eventually this topic will be brought up in regional forums but I'd like to get everyone's input and advice first. Is anyone involved with, know of, or would like to organize a charity event that aims to do more than just give toys to kids who don't have toys. I don't think college scholarships are realistic, but maybe we can collect money or organize car washes to help pay for school tutors? There are plenty of regional 86 car clubs and other organizations here I know want to do something this holiday season and maybe this new spin on charity is something that will become a regular thing; teaching kids to fish vs. giving kids fish.

Any info on things your 86 club, car club, or regional meets are currently involved in or ideas on what we could do is greatly appreciated!

[sklimo]

We at 86ONE (Owners of New England) will be doing something similiar to this for the homeless






and also I myself give mine and my sons old clothes to people at the local downtown shelter

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by that_one_guy

This is going to start off topic but it loops around to 86 related, I promise. As the holidays near, we start to see invitations to donate to a lot of toy drives. I've searched and found a few threads in some regions where a lot of 86ers really came out in support. These events are usually hosted by great organizations who continue to help kids and the community year round, but it always bothers me to see toy drives.

To me, toy drives are giving short lived, superficial joy and doesn't really help the kid the toy is being donated to. In a way, it is promoting materialism to an economic class of children who can't afford to be materialistic. Whenever I participate, I try to give educational toys but still, I feel the biggest difference I make is the misguided illusion that I've made any difference at all.

Eventually this topic will be brought up in regional forums but I'd like to get everyone's input and advice first. Is anyone involved with, know of, or would like to organize a charity event that aims to do more than just give toys to kids who don't have toys. I don't think college scholarships are realistic, but maybe we can collect money or organize car washes to help pay for school tutors? There are plenty of regional 86 car clubs and other organizations here I know want to do something this holiday season and maybe this new spin on charity is something that will become a regular thing; teaching kids to fish vs. giving kids fish.

Any info on things your 86 club, car club, or regional meets are currently involved in or ideas on what we could do is greatly appreciated!

You have a great idea, logistically it would be difficult to keep recurring dobations for something like a scholorship. Plus the time commitment from others is higher as you need people to handle the money, selection process, etc. What if you dont raise enough to cover the scholorship amount? Who will make up the difference.

I know it feels like you are not doing a lot by giving a toy to a kid, but it may be a big deal to them. I am organizing a local toy drive and am probably selecting a local childrens hospital. The families dont have much extra money due to the high cost of medical treatments and the massive amount of time they have to take off work to help care for a severly sick child. Positive thought is a powerful thing.

The car washes may work in some areas. But I know some cities they do not allow them. Also a lot of tutoring programs unfortunately are not non profit type organizations and cant accept donations. That or they are for profit and dont need the money.

Not trying to kill your idea but just trying to get a discussion going to help something grrat come out of this hopefully.

[Cyau]

Originally Posted by sklimo

We at 86ONE (Owners of New England) will be doing something similiar to this for the homeless

Attachment 55171




and also I myself give mine and my sons old clothes to people at the local downtown shelter

Very nice! I like it.

[that_one_guy]

Originally Posted by finch1750

You have a great idea, logistically it would be difficult to keep recurring dobations for something like a scholorship. Plus the time commitment from others is higher as you need people to handle the money, selection process, etc. What if you dont raise enough to cover the scholorship amount? Who will make up the difference.

I know it feels like you are not doing a lot by giving a toy to a kid, but it may be a big deal to them. I am organizing a local toy drive and am probably selecting a local childrens hospital. The families dont have much extra money due to the high cost of medical treatments and the massive amount of time they have to take off work to help care for a severly sick child. Positive thought is a powerful thing.

The car washes may work in some areas. But I know some cities they do not allow them. Also a lot of tutoring programs unfortunately are not non profit type organizations and cant accept donations. That or they are for profit and dont need the money.

Not trying to kill your idea but just trying to get a discussion going to help something grrat come out of this hopefully.

I agree, a scholarship would be way out of reach for any of us to organize. I also understand the point of toy drives is often just giving the child and family a short mental/emotional break from their usual day to day. When I was a kid I was also in the children's hospital during Christmas and my parents took time off of work alternately to stay with me. Although my situation wasn't as life threatening as some kids, I can appreciate the point a toy drive is supposed to have. My fear is, and maybe I'm over thinking this and being too philosophical, we are teaching our society that problems can be fixed with things and we should value toys and objects instead of resources and opportunities.

My 'realistic' idea would be to find a way to raise money for an underachieving school to hire tutors after school and help a group of kids. The tutors we hire could be from a for profit organization or not, it really only matters the quality of teacher they are.

SKLIMO, I love the idea of those packages, especially because it would only take an afternoon to fill them up, then keep them in the trunk to use whenever it seems fit. Can you give me more info, either in this thread or pm me, about the average cost and how many bags you're able to make with that?

Thanks everyone for your responses, let's keep the ideas and constructive criticism coming!