<p>A friend runs a non-profit for underprivileged teens. Every Christmas she tried to have companies sponsor her kids for Christmas, but she usually doesn’t get enough (she has over 150 kids - low income and foster kids) so she asked her friends to adopt the overflow. She asks that we spend $150-200 which is fine.</p>
<p>The teens list 5-6 items (mine listed clothing items, tennis shoes, perfume, earphones…) And a dream gift (mine wants a laptop). In past years I’ve used my excellent shopping skills to manage the dream gift, but while I could get a very low-end or refurbished laptop for $200 I’m not sure it would be worthwhile… And it would take my entire budget, as would even a decent tablet. Or… I could ignore the dream gift and buy several items and add a gift card for the mall for extra shopping. </p>
<p>What would you do? Others WILL be getting dream gifts I’m sure as people are very generous here.</p>
<p>I agree. That is too much. She can’t possibly expect people to fulfill a teen’s dream gift. In fact, she really shouldn’t be telling them to list a dream gift at all, as a teen dream gift could be a car, a trip, or a computer. That’s not reasonable. That’s either setting the kid up for disappointment or putting too much financial pressure on a donor. I can’t imagine doing that, it is inconsiderate. </p>
<p>Pretend the dream gift isn’t listed, and spend the amount you were willing to and intended to. Really. Most kids aren’t going to get a laptop for Christmas, at any income level. What if she’d asked for a car, would you look into that? </p>
<p>I think the gift card is a great idea. I’d probably buy some of the other things on the list and then give a generous gift card to a place like Best Buy, or even cash if that’s allowed, with a note to put it toward a laptop or gift of their choice.</p>
<p>I don’t like the gift card idea because these kids likely do not know how to shop wisely. I would try to get a tablet, and yes there are some bargain ones right now …even for under $100…so it can be done. I saw a tablet that CAME WITH a bluetooth keyboard for under $100 …which is a good alternative to a laptop.</p>
<p>One thing I wonder about with any electronic item, such as a tablet or laptop would be where this person would get reliable and consistent Internet connection, if the plan is to use it with Internet. If she’s just going to use it as a word processor etc, will it have the program(s) she needs? Does she have access to a printer?</p>
<p>“One thing I wonder about with any electronic item, such as a tablet or laptop would be where this person would get reliable and consistent Internet connection…”</p>
<p>This. That said, there are laptops on Amazon for under $300, some with MSFT Office for 1 year. Do not get tempted to buy tablets or Chromebooks, since they are not very useful for school work (unless there is a free web-based Office included).</p>
<p>Without internet, the young person may be VERY disappointed in the tablet or laptop. Many laptops may not have microsoft office or equivalent program on it and that will be an extra cahrge. If the Office is only on the laptop for a year, the person will likely have to pay $100/year to keep it updated–for a low income person, that is a lot of money. You aren’t doing the young person any favors buying a device that won’t do what the person believes it can do and will cost money to keep the programs working on the machine. </p>
<p>This is like gifting a car to someone who doesn’t have the means to pay for gas, maintenance and insurance. It is actually a burden rather than a gift. The person WANTS it but also assumes that it will make life better without realizing the many costs associated with ownership.</p>
<p>As someone who has gifted low-income people laptops, and arranged for donations of others, I disagree with some of the above. First, for many schools, it’s almost imperative that a kid have a computer-it would hardly be a punishment to donate one to them-some schools (like my D’s) have arranged for kids’ families to get internet access. Libraries also offer free access. Second, schools can and DO use Google Docs rather than MS products (again, like my D’s school), so for them a Chromebook (which can be had for less than $200) would be VERY useful. Third, having helped one young lady who’s in college with a laptop, it can save the kids SO MUCH time to have a laptop to use even to take notes and to write papers at home, even if they have to go to the campus to print them out (some schools, again like D’s) allow this.Fourth, Open Office is a FREE downloadable product that offers similar word processing features that can be used by anyone who needs MS Office compatible features. Lastly, it may be possible to ask around to see if a friend has a laptop they want to donate. A student with no laptop at all might be perfectly happy with a second-hand one. </p>
<p>I can’t tell you how grateful the young people for whom I’ve arranged to get laptops have been. A basic on-sale laptop by Toshiba or HP is hardly low-end, and these kids know that their lives are being made easier by having them. One posted on her Facebook that “angels exist” and that she will try ever harder in school to make those angels proud after I arranged for someone to donate a laptop to her. She may not have internet access at home for a long time, but she can now type her papers, arrange her notes, and print at school. It’s saving her HOURS.</p>
<p>We who have much often think the kids like this want all the newest, coolest with the bells and whistles, but they really just want to have things little easier, like their classmates do.</p>
<p>OK–I’m glad to know that this has worked well for your donations and thank you for doing this! Thanks for setting the record straight as well. I was unaware of this and am glad that laptops have really helped these young people and that they do have internet access at public libraries and schools, as well as access to printers at schools. Great! </p>
<p>HImom, in my experience, schools work pretty hard to help low-income kids succeed. Of course, it’s not universal, but they do try. Another thing I remembered is that military families can get programs like MS Office for huge discounts, so there’s another source of word processing software for people who qualify to buy that way.</p>
<p>If the OP (or anyone else who is interested) can ask her non-profit friend for more specifics, she might find there is a way to meet “her” child’s dream gift desires. One last thing-I know that not all of us have the time, money or inclination, but if you have a reasonably new laptop sitting around not being used, consider calling your nearest high school or community college or foster children’s agency. Chances are they know someone who could use it and believe me, they would be very happy to get it. </p>
<p>I was chatting with a woman last evening and she said she saw laptops for $159 at either Best Buy or Walmart. I’m sure there are deals in your area as well. Maybe someone from your church or a few coworkers are looking to make a Christmas wish come true & will contribute! Even if 10 people donate $25, that can go a long way! </p>
<p>what about a donated refurbished laptop? Ask around! My husband’s company replaces its laptop every two years or so…and my guess is they would donate to a worthy cause.</p>
<p>In the past, DH has wiped both desktops and laptops clean for just this purpose.</p>
<p>I had similar thoughts, I can get a refurbished hp for $200, but that will take all my budget. I stress about this every year… In the past I found a refurbished Itouch. They all ask for electronics so I guess they have ways to get free WiFi. </p>
<p>your friend, OP, is surely well-meaning but has taken on too much again this year. Her hopes outweighed her realistic abilities. She wants her friends to make up the shortfall.
Give what you are willing and able to give and don’t feel obligated to fulfill your friend’s shortfall of generocity.</p>
<p>We have done this adopt a child thing for a couple of years. We are not given a price limit, but are given a list of wanted items. Last year, I think we spent about $200…which included all the items on our kid’s list plus winter hat, scarf, gloves, and socks…and a nice backpack to put it all in.</p>
<p>I would not buy the electronics…but I would see if I could find a worthy donor who is getting rid of an old one. Usually these adopted things come through a social services agency, and a social worker is involved. Maybe contact the social worker if you can get a donated item.</p>