tessagin

Many years ago while still living in Ft. Wayne, I purchases a new artificial tree. It was the most cantankerous thing. I got it right after Thanksgiving on sale for $25.00 back then. I found out why. After wrestling with it and trying all I could to get it together, I tried to move it to a better spot. Lights and all on the bottom just stayed put. Took it apart and with the lights still on it, I packed it up and got a different one. Still little over 3 weeks til Christmas I took it to the YWCA who takes donations for the Women's shelter at that time. I explained everything and said I hoped it would stay put for them. They asked if I wanted a receipt and I said no, only a photo of it with some happy faces if it stayed intact. I prayed for that. A week later I got a Christmas card of a Christmas tree with little heads covered in SAnta caps facing away from the camera (security reasons). One of the repair persons for the shelter fixed it. With the extra $50.00 allotted for a tree, they were able to do more for the children for Christmas. I cried and cried and still get tears even as I write this. Memories of those little Santa caps still dance in my head. That was one of my best Christmases when I can get a child to think of something other than the trauma they've been through. One other time, I had a listing of an estate. The lady had 5 boxes 3x3x3 of gift wrap remnants. Donated that with permission from the owner to a type of Toys for tots. luckily I had an 87 suburban to put them in the back. that helped with paper budget and a bag of tape.

MarLeClair

Every year I try to do something that makes me feel good. Two years go I donated money for one of those off the floor beds for an animal rescue place I got my dog. Last year I got a gift certificate for a man in the neighborhood who would walk to MacDonalds for his meals. He was old and grouchy so I put the gift certificate in a Xmas card and didn't sign it. I hope he didn't spend it all one time. I prefer the recipient does't know who is doing something for them.

Karamarie

When we gave our daughter a cabbage doll for Christmas. They were a very hot item at the time. She was about 10 then, now is 41. Both her daughters play with "Viola" now. Another special gift was a gun for our son - he's a hunter like his Dad.

madamekelly

Most years, DH and I send out about a hundred Christmas cards to friends and relatives. This year, we decided to do something different. I sent out text messages, Facebook messages, etc. to everyone, so we could do something different with our Christmas cards. I have many friends and family who have served our country, and all have come home hale and hearty. DH and I got to talking about that as his family is the same, so we decided to send all of our cards this year to wounded American soldiers at Walter Reed Army medical center. We sent out 115 cards, one for everyone we usually send a card to. I like knowing that those 115 cards made Christmas so much brighter for those who are back on our soil, but not back home yet. The hard part was writing a personal folksy greeting on all of them. It was so worth it. If any of you would like to join us next year in doing this, PM me and I will share the address.
We also adopted family friend and her family that was going to be homeless for Christmas. They are renting our extra bedrooms, and I am over the moon in love with their two little girls (ages 3 and 6). So sweet and well mannered.
We had a last minute guest for today's Christmas dinner, I sent DH out to get her a minke blanket for her bed. She lost her DH a couple weeks ago, and mentioned she had always wanted one, but could never "waste" the money for one. When she opened her gift, she was so excited. DH managed to accidentally buy one that matched the fleece sheets her DH had bought for her last birthday.
Life has been good to me, so I just have to pay it forward. Karma is everything.

sewbizgirl

My favorite gift to give was probably the anonymous gifting I did for a young family in our church with lots of kids, who were struggling financially. My father had given me $100 to buy myself a Christmas present from him. I really didn't need anything so instead I went shopping for this young family. For that $100 I was able to buy them all a modest gift, even the mom and dad. I wrapped them all and during the next church service I went out to their car (which was luckily unlocked) and loaded their car with these gifts for them to find when they got back to it. It was one of the most fun gifts I've ever given. It truly is more blessed to give....

Shrink42020

I sent flowers to my Mother on MY Birthday!

linhawk

Mine aren't really Christmas gifts. I buy the large quilted moving blankets for about $5.00 at Harbor Freight. I always have several in my trunk. Also socks, soap and some other hygiene items. I won't give them money but will go to a fast food and let them buy whatever they want. Their smiles and thanks warms my heart.
I think it does more for me than for them.

Kimkankwilt

Reversible fat-quarter friendly aprons

Maggie_Sue

After I was divorced, and raising three children, without any support at that time, was only able to give my daughter a top and jeans, and both boys jeans and a shirt each. On our third Christmas, I was able to give my daughter a pair of black hills gold earrings, and bow for one boy and a scope for the other's hunting rifle. BEST Christmas gifts ever! As no one expected anything but clothes for Christmas!!!