<p>I agree with BunsenBurner here. Donating cash is much more efficient than donating food. Most legitimate agencies can secure twenty times as much food (of the kind they need and when they need it) for the same amount that a typical consumer woul spend.</p>
<p>For those of you who like to help out individuals, you might like to check out a charity called Modest Needs. It has a 4 star rating (out of $) from Charity Navigator. You can pick your own state and what kind of problem you would like to help someone out with. It is designed to (and screened) to give people a boost and keep them from falling through the cracks.</p>
<p>Did anyone watch the ABC nightly news piece about the K-Mart secret santa program? Is that my imagination or is the woman in the blue sweater with the glasses on her head (identified as Kristen Sepulveda, Costa Mesa CA) with her daughter, who had her balance paid off by the Secret Santa, carrying a Louis Vuitton handbag? [‘Layaway</a> Angels’ Pay Off Shoppers’ Bills | Video - ABC News](<a href=“ABC News Videos - ABC News”>ABC News Videos - ABC News) see clip at about 35 seconds and again at 1:43, and 1:59)</p>
<p>^^jym626, #37 made me laugh out loud…</p>
<p>Justamom-
We all have our ways of sharing and bringing joy to others this holiday season :D</p>
<p>Dingbats… I just paid off someone’s layaway account that had a few Nikon lenses… I should have known better!</p>
<p>Just kidding. :)</p>
<p>On a more serious note, I would be very careful about playing a "Kmart secret Santa " next year. I’m sure there will be a few crooks who might want to try to profit through people’s generosity this way.</p>
<p>BB- Did they have a stationery bike or some nice wine on layaway too? Your generosity will surely be appreciated.</p>
<p>As I recall, there was an extra large super cushy premium sheepskin covered bike seat… I should have bought myself a Louis Vuitton bag instead!</p>
<p>;)</p>
<p>jym-I think she bought it as a “knock-off” on the street in NYC. :)</p>
<p>Thanks for the good chuckle tonight BB! :)</p>
<p>She lives in Calif? She can fly to NY for a knockoff Louis Vuitton but can’t pay her K mart bill? Whats wrong with that picture??</p>
<p>We delivered gifts to who we thought was a single mom with two kids and one on the way. An organization claimed that she was only working with them. When we got to the house, at an agreed upon time, a man answered the door, claiming to be her husband. He was wearing $200 athletic shoes. The woman was not even home. And there, sitting in her living room were two car seats and a baby swing, the things she had asked us to get her. I’m turning into such a cynic.</p>
<p>You can buy knock off designer bags anywhere. I expect they even sell them at Kmart.</p>
<p>There is nothing that looks even remotely like a Louis Vuitton on their website, ek.</p>
<p>It sure does LOOK like a LV bag, but perhaps it is a knock-off. Hard to know when there is no vetting and these are just random acts of kindness. Hopefully those able to will “play it forward” and help others when they are in a position to do so.</p>
<p>It is troubling when you try to help someone & it appears you have been given inaccurate info as Toledo described above.</p>
<p>Yep, saw that. Costa Mesa is ~relatively~ poor compared to its affluent neighbor Laguna Beach. After all, it lacks that lush OC beachfront. Curious why ABC featured that locale vs., perhaps, one like Downey?</p>
<p>It seems the woman with the Louis Vuitton attended a private day school in Pasadena, graduated from USC, and lives in Newport Beach. Is that a fancier area than Costa Mesa?</p>
<p>That said, articles says her husband’s truck broke down and her car needs $900 in repairs, a son is away at college and she owed $251 more on the layaway items for her daughter. Everyone can fall on hard times.</p>
<p>(btw, post #51 was supposed to be tongue-in-cheek, to follow #49)</p>
<p>I feel like once this became publicized (on tv, etc), the whole concept kind of “jumped the shark”. I am afraid that people now will try to take advantage. The sweet, surprise factor is gone.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Yes, it’s a very wealthy area.</p>
<p>jym - glad I was not the only one that caught that bag! Again, I will still make my donations via our school district or church, plus a big one to the Community Food Bank of NJ, which does excellent work in our area.</p>