Suggestion for low-cost holiday gifts (Pet related)

On previous holidays (Christmas/Hanuka) we bought large (50 pound) bags of dog and cat food and delivered it to the local animal shelter.

From what I see, this holiday season might be financially tough on the animal shelters and on all of us, so I thought I would recommend donating food (or cash) in other people's name as a good holiday gift. It does not have to be expensive, but a large bag of food and/or treats would make some animals happier.

mark

Rescue groups do a lot of good work, and they are always short of cash to pay the vet bills. Every little bit helps.

this year from me and Dropkid, already told them, too. Dropkid is even willing to get just one b-day prez (dec 12th) in favor of feeding shelter dogs. Xmas is a low key affair anyhoo, but since we've been working since March on our Halloween xmas ornaments and decorations (skulls, bats, etc) we are gonna have a couple things. Dropkid's #1 request every year from Santa is lots of fluffy socks and a stuffed dog, so I think we can comply with that one and still help the pups, she loses interest in any other stuff within 24 hours anyway.

Now, my mom (does all the shopping for her and my dad), queen of conspicuous consumption, is another matter. I usually ask for a gift card to the grocery store and that's it, but she always gets something else (that I don't need/have use for) and she goes batshit crazy with prezzies for the kids. BUT, I think, if Dropkid *really* works on her from now until then, she'd listen to her at least a little bit. Dropkid is fully behind the idea, she can't wait until she's old enough to volunteer at the shelter (13-17 if accompanied by an adult).

I'm going to Sam's (evil, yeah, but my mom has a free membership) and pick up the biggest bags of decent food I can find (usually cost maybe $25) and donate one for each of the kids, my parents, and the brother I buy for (with six kids, we each get one sibling we buy for for xmas, to make it easier). That'll end up being 300lbs of food, not bad at all for the shelter, and just $150 spent for 7 people.