2023 Tundras.com Secret Santa Announcement

With heavy hearts, we’ve decided to skip the Tundras Secret Santa event for 2023. This is not a permanent closure of the event as of right now, just skipping a year. Times are hard for people, life is expensive right now. We’ve seen simple expenses skyrocket and we can only imagine the impact it’s having on some of our members. We encourage our members that aren’t feeling the pinch to consider donating to local charities. Consider buying food or toys for your local animal shelter, donating food to the local food pantry, asking domestic violence shelters what needs they may have, participating in a local toy drive, or something similar. Tundras members are typically very giving and we’d love to see some efforts pushed to your local communities if you have the ability to give. Feel free to use this thread to post your efforts, we all need to feel warm and fuzzy sometimes.


Please be mindful who you donate to, do your research. Typically you can check your state’s Secretary of State website to see if an organization has a 501(c)3 status. We hope you understand and bless others if you are able.

- Santa

 

The Marine Corps "Toy's forTot's" drive is quite legit. Donate a toy or two. The Marines will make sure needy kids will have toys for Xmas. The Marines have been a secret Santa for quite some time now and want nothing in return. Ooh rah!

 

godammit.

 

https://give.ohsufoundation.org/

OHSU DOERNBECHER CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

Special place in my heart. My daughter required multiple surgeries and these people helped us through that time. I donate to them every year. Happy Holidays fam

 

I'm not trying to initiate an argument (so please accept this response w/the utmost of respect); and I do understand that you provided some very worthwhile options for people wanting to give. However, with that being said, I would like to offer an alternative perspective on this...

I can certainly appreciate the position some folks are in, and while everything is definitely more expensive and taxing on a family's budget this year, events like this are something that I truly believe not only bring folks together but they also relax some of the inherent tension and pressures that are common around the holidays. Secret Santa events are not meant to be extravagant or expensive, and they should never take away from other worthy causes or from the needs of one's family. However, they do serve a purpose in enhancing the holiday experience, bringing an element of surprise and keeping us all just a little closer to that time when we were kids and enjoyed the 'magic' of Christmas.

For me this forum is my only 'internet outlet'. I don't do any other social media (no twitter account, no instagram, FB, etc); for me this is it...

I'm a month shy of 2 years here, and over that time I've made so very interesting and valuable connections. I've met some folks in person, conducted business and transactions w/other members, listened to some of the stories and life experiences that folks have shared, shared some of my own, got tips/advice that have saved my butt more than once, tried to offer advice when I think it would be helpful, blew off some steam being a smart ass, spent money on my truck doing some mods that I had no idea I even needed, and most importantly I've come to realize that I've been able to engage w/folks here that I'm honored to spend time with, whether that's face to face or simply through the internet... I guess what I'm trying to say, is that I've learned over these last couple of years that this forum and the people involved with it are truly no different than any other 'community'.

Last year was my first non-work related SS experience, and I had a blast!!! I actually found myself grabbing some things throughout the year in anticipation of this year's event; most of which are kinda 'truck' or 'Toyota' specific and they don't really fit in w/other traditional charitable recipients. Also, if I had to guess, I'd think that a fair amount of folks that were participants in last year's SS also gave through other means and outlets. So, in other words, I don't think participation in Secret Santa (here on the forum) would diminish the likelihood of other charities and causes being on the receiving end of the generosity of our members.

Finally, if there is concern about members feeling like they can't participate because they are not in a position to give this year, I'd argue that's even more of a reason doing a Secret Santa program. If I recall there was a place within the 'sign up sheet' last year for anyone to offer to be a back-up SS in the event we end up w/more recipients than Secret Santas or if someone backed out of being able to participate after they were assigned a recipient. So, on the initial announcement or on the sign up sheet, simply put a sentence in there encouraging participation in the event (even for those that are not necessarily in the position to give) and just maintain the back-up Secret Santa plan to make up the difference.

Sincerely,

 

*deep breath*

What he said.



Seriously though...was REALLY looking forward to grabbing some stuff and brightening someone's day. I'd actually already grabbed some stuff for the prospective recipient, actually.

 

Secret Santa will live on. Now just need to find a Santa suit I can deliver the mail in.

 

Another great place to find worthy charities is Charity Navigator. It does the math for you about the percentage of your donations that are actually going to the program, versus the 'cost' of the charity (the salaries of people running the charity). In some cases, the amount of money a charity pays its employees is stark and disappointing. Knowing your charity dollars are well spent is comforting.
Charity Ratings and Donor Resources | Charity Navigator
Look up Chive Charities; and if you're in North Texas, look up Child Advocacy Center of Collin County (or whichever N.TX county you're in)