Need advise. While Christmas is a time for giving how do you cautiously tell someone not to keep sending something as in a food item that is expensive and you don't care for and they have sent before not to continue to send. My daughter's work is sponsoring some families in need this year so this will be donated to one of the families and not be wasted this year. I still need to acknowledge the gift was received. Any thoughts on this or gentle wording would be appreciated.

Personally i would smile and say God bless you for being so kind and pass it on .Sometimes i know it is the best way hugs carolyn

2 comments

by capoodle 23 Dec 2011

Thanks Carolyn, I did send off a thank you e-mail to let them know it was received. Found out it went to a struggling single working parent with two teenage boys that are good students.

by capoodle 23 Dec 2011

More details on the sponsored family. Three teenage boys and one eight year daughter living in a two bedroom trailer.

I usually just pass these gifts on to someone who would like them. Once year, a friend gave me a Collin Street Bakery fruit cake. I make my own fruitcake, so I gave it to my Dad who usually orders one from them anyway, and he was tickled to get it. I like to avoid confrontations.

1 comment

by capoodle 22 Dec 2011

I'm like you on the confrontations but after a few years of this I'd like for them not to waste all that money again.

Thanks cuties! Have combined all these suggestions and found a nice solution. Went and sent an appreciative thank you for now and and sometime later when it isn't the holidays will address the giving to a family that needs some help. You have all been very helpful and having a migraine headache for part of the day clouded my thinking.

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by shirlener88 23 Dec 2011

Anita, glad you got it sorted out - Merry Christmas.

by capoodle 23 Dec 2011

Yes it did take a few hours. lol The eye doctor changed the power in one eye and it gave me such a headache I couldn't think. Went back to the old contact until after Christmas.

Perhaps. Thank you, you are very generous to me at Christmas time in sending .......... NEXT year I am going to donate to the needy families at Christmas and wonder if you would like to participate instead of sending me the usual gift.

hugs Helen

3 comments

by greysewist 21 Dec 2011

I like it! It's a great idea, Helen. Subtle, too :) I've been known to ask for a donation in my name to a care fund instead of a gift that I don't need.

by moyed 22 Dec 2011

I work for an organisation providing support accommodation to homeless men.The Managemant committee gave me a cheque and on Tuesday I went to the grocery shop and spent nearly $800 on food items for Christmas hampers for our 25 current clients. We do this each year...hugs Helen

by moyed 22 Dec 2011

every year to give them some food for Christmas break. hugs Helen

I just thought of something that you could do as I did a few years back, I asked that we donate collectively to the homeless shelter rather than give each other gifts and that way no one was offended and felt they were (and continue to be) in a joint effort to make a difference. We are now 4 couples who this year will feed 35 at the homeless shelter with the money we would have spent giving to each other. Try that maybe and include their children if they are adults, we have and each year during our xmas dinner we raise our glasses and toast our
friends at the homeless shelter.
Maybe who knows,
Hugs
Michelle

2 comments

by capoodle 21 Dec 2011

They were not able to have children and there is a great distance between us and that is probably why they send to us. They are in a different time zone so in a little bit I will have to send off an e-mail and then pick sometime latter in the year to bring it up.

by capoodle 21 Dec 2011

latter in the year to bring it up.

Some people just don't hear it, better to let him continue and then you donate it to someone who can use it. He might take it wrong if you try to talk to him so maybe it is just best to let him continue. The thought is what counts. My parents won't let us give them a gift, even a scratch off lotto ticket for the past several years yet then give us each $50 and $25 to my sons (their only grands) and I'd rather they give the $50 to my boys but my Dad does what he wants so we just let it be and say thank you. Good luck and Merry Christmas to you and yours!

2 comments

by capoodle 21 Dec 2011

The thought is what counts is what we were thinking but would still like to gently try to get them to stop sending I'm just not able to find the wording. Michelle thought to say something later and that might work. I so do not like to hurt anyone's feelings. What would I say if they asked how we liked it.

by capoodle 21 Dec 2011

I so do not like to hurt anyone's feelings. What would I say if they asked how we liked it?

Hey Anita, Your brother might consider the FSL a gift you think? We have family and friends that sometimes do that and we always ask them to not give gifts but to take the money and give it to a children's shelter or another charity or missions. Maybe next year when sending out your card omit the FSL and see what happens. :)

1 comment

by capoodle 21 Dec 2011

I'll give that a try. Still have to say something about receiving the gift.

Boy that is a delicate one, is this someone very close, if it is I would think they would understand if you told them how you feel, if not maybe explain that in the future rather than exchange gifts you would prefer to donate something to the needy.
My opinion, hope it helps
hugs and happy holidays
Michelle

2 comments

by capoodle 21 Dec 2011

It's my brother and we had agreed not to exchange gifts a long time ago and the last few years a package shows up and then I feel awkward not to have sent him one. I do put in the greeting card a fsl ornament but that is part of the card. Oh, I'm lost for words and that is unusual for me.

by capoodle 21 Dec 2011

for words and that is unusual for me.