don't get me started ... uh oh, too late

[wasabi_poptart]

Toys for Tots's heart is in the right place, but I realized today that according to its policy it does not accept any gifts that are handmade or handcrafted.

I think this is bad policy for a number of reasons:

1. It promotes commercialism by privileging disposable, manufactured crap over quality, handmade items.

2. It inculcates commercial values onto children by refusing to distribute anything other than factory sealed, brand-new merchandise.

3. It discourages creativity, both for the sender and for the child.

4. It reinforces the conviction that the holidays are about shopping, not about giving.

Shall I go on?

Comments

[dlightful.livejournal.com]

If you have/ plan to make handmade items that you want to donate, I recommend checking with the smaller non-profits in your area. They tend to be more open to these types of donations. For example: My mom and her class of inner-city high school kids knit some stuffed toys with the intention to send them to AIDS orphans in South Africa. But when that fell through I was able to arrange that they go to an agency that I work with who serves families living with HIV. The local agency was thrilled to get them.

[wasabi-poptart.livejournal.com]

that's a great idea! I know my LYS was heavily involved with the Mother Bear Project last year ... I didn't participate, though, because I didn't like the pattern they required us to use.