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@Bao: yes. We always choose one child for each of our children, and try to choose one that is close in age to each of our kids. I don't think my 17 mo cares, but the newly 4-yo seems to understand. My parents used to do the same, so I've been doing this every year since I was little. I've worked at a number of orgs that have been recipients of these programs.

We do . Both of our work places do things where you can "adopt" a child. They usually send out lists of kids with their ages and a gift request. Usually we switch off and this year I wanted to do it. I picked out a sibling group that's looking for age appropriate toys and winter clothes.

@Jess1483: I love that idea! Something to keep in mind for next year.

Yes. We have a local organization that has a Santa breakfast for kids in local shelters and then people adopt a wish list. I spent more than I'd planned - about $175 - because we got a little boy the same age and with the same interests as my son and I kept thinking about how excited B is about Santa.

I think that any contribution would be appreciated, though. My organization said up front that you didn't need to fill the whole list, just anything you could provide would be appreciated. I think that of all the stuff we bought my son is going to be the most excited about the $15 Paw Patrol toy we got him, so you could do that for another child.

@Bao: I usually spend $30-$50 per child, but I know you could definitely spend less and still make a big difference! There were many children on the list I selected from that asked for items like Playdough or simliar type deal where you can get a nice set for under $20.

@Bao: Usually $30-$50ish, and I often take the last tags left at work (in addition to the ones I do with the boys), so I do less on those (or I'd be broke). And the amount also changes depending on where our family is at that year (we had just bought a house that needed a lot of work last year, so...it was less). But having worked in a group home, most places won't have just one tag out per child. They often have many, and they also often get more gifts than necessary. In the group home I worked in, there was a whole room full of gifts gotten around Christmas times that we could pull from for birthdays and such. Any gifts are greatly appreciated! Don't feel like you need to spend a certain amount.

Yep! My work sponsors a family so I buy one gift for a person from there, and then I actually help run a drive in our town to sponsor kids from families that use the town's food pantry.

The food pantry gives them a sheet to fill out in November and then we get 10-15 kids to get presents for. I find people from our town family group and facebook pages to buy the gifts and our family organizes it all! The hardest part is trying to make things equal, at the end I usually end up running out to try to make sure siblings get an equal amount of stuff since some people are CRAZY generous! My 4 year old is really getting it more this year and is excited to help out.

We sponsor a child monthly. She is the same age as LO with a birthday within days of LO.

My work adopts a few families. This year one of them was a single dad and his don. They had requested a toaster oven so I got them one for around $40. I knew my other co-workers would get the toys and clothes requested so I felt good about something more practical for their family.

Yes. Last year our street adopted a family and we bought gifts for the whole family and a Christmas dinner/grocery gift cards. This year we bought for 2 girls close to DDs' ages who are in families at DD1's school. I asked about a recommended amount to spend, and was told that we should just to do whatever we can. Right now I think we're doing around $100 per child, it may end up being a little more. I got some great deals on clothes on Black Friday. I feel nervous because I assume these children have siblings that other people are shopping for and I have no idea how "equal" it will be. I wish I had been able to get siblings!

@808love: thank you! I'm going to look into it!

We don't sponsor a child, but we do go to Toys R Us and get a shopping cart full of toys and books and donate it all to Operation Homefront.

I am through my office! It's my first time and I'm excited!

We got a note home from school that the students could pick a tag off the angel tree at school with parents permission. Of course I said yes thinking it would be a great lesson for DD who is 5.

We got the tag and it says gift cards for a 6 year old. Is this odd to anyone? My daughter won't have any concept of buying and wrapping a gift card. I don't know if the other little girl would even know about gift cards either and it's not that exciting to open.

Is this odd to anyone? I'm thinking maybe gift card to some experience places like the ice cream shop.

@twodoghouse: That does seem a little odd for the age. I've seen that a lot with teenagers, which makes sense, but not very often with little kids.

We usually pick one or two from the Angel Tree at our church.

When I was a kid there was always several places that had angel trees where you could help a specific child who had requested a specific gift. I've never seen that where I live now, but the Marine Corps does a toys for tots drive at my office, where you donate toys - but not specific ones for specific kids. We also raise money to send to very dear friends who use it to sponsor Christmas for several schools of poor children where they live, which is one of the poorest parts of the Western Hemisphere.

@T.H.O.U.: Could you talk to the school and ask if you can either get a different card or just choose an actual present instead of the card? We got the wish list for a child but the organization also said that if we wanted to get something different from what was requested that would be fine.

@looch: No just gift cards in general. I think we are just going to do experience gift cards. Ice Cream Store, Chick Fil A, the fun station that type of thing. Maybe try to get a sticker pack or something to go with it.