In July I signed up to sponser a child in Bangladesh through World Vision. I finally heard back from her, and I was delighted to hear that Fall in India is known as Queen season. Well, winter is almost here (and there), and I thought it might be nice to send her a pair of nice homemade socks, as I am limited to sending only what will fit in a flat 6" x 9" envelope. But I’m not sure if that is practical, or would even be appreciated. From online research, it seems the temps can get down into the 50s at night, which is chilly enough that they might come in handy, but I can’t remember ever seeing anyone in India ever wearing socks. The Dope is a very worldly group - would this be appropriate for a 7 year old in Bangladesh?
Bumpety-bump - seriously? There’s not a single person that can help me with what’s right for this lttle girl?
Anaamika might know?
The problem might be that you asked for an opinion in GQ. You might consider asking a mod to move it to IMHO.
I agree this is better for IMHO.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
As a former child, I can’t help but feel that socks are a lame gift regardless of where you live. Unless they are really cute socks, adorned with many teddy bears/rabbits. And I’m not sure that something being homemade is really as large a plus in the third world as it might be for us. I’d imagine so much of their stuff is homemade anyway that it’s not too special. Nonetheless, I think you are special.
My suggestion: Beany Baby
Socks are nice - how poor is this kid? I mean, can she really not afford one pair of socks? Is she in rags? Indian girls do wear socks, but generally they are ankle socks and no knee length socks. Cute ones would be great.
Thanks, **fooslguinea **but I admit don’t know much about Bangladesh. In India, everything that is available here is available there, too. That doesn’t mean everyone can *afford *it, but it is there. I don’t know how modern Bangladesh is or how Westernized.
I would ask the charity via a quick email. Maybe they think it’s great that you’re personally involved, maybe they honestly don’t want to deal with explaining why one kid out of thirty got socks that month. I could see it going either way.
What kid wants socks? Send stickers and coloring books and a set of colored pencils. They may not be practical, but 7-year-olds are not famous for their practicality.
Oh, I do send tons of stickers and pencils and hair clips and coloring books I make with her as the subject - she likes art, so I really want to encourage that. I also sent a birthday party World Vision sets up for all her friends, so she gets to share. I just thought a really cute pair of socks with kittens (her favorite) on them would be fun for a little kid, but most of my friends and coworkers are childless like us, and we know very liitle about her yet. So thanks, Anaamika, I think I’ll tuck some in the next envelope.
Send her a cell phone! :3
I agree that socks are a lame gift, if they’re the only gift and the recipient grew up watching A Christmas Story. But if it’s another thing in the series of lots of things you’re sending (which sounds to be the case), then they’d be OK. Knowing why she’s being sponsored would help, too. Does she have parents? If she’s an orphan (or doesn’t have a/know her mom) it might feel extra special to get a pair of homemade kitten socks from you.
I say why not? It’s not likely you’ll offend her. The worst that could happen is she doesn’t like them and gets rid of them and looks forward to your next gift of art supplies instead.
You make her coloring books? My hat off to you, sir/madam. You have earned your username.
Some kinds of candy ship better than others. Smarties, for instance - they never melt. Oh, oh - send her a candy necklace!!
With winter coming, I’d imagine things for colds might come in handy. Is it against the rules to send some OTC meds or cough drops or whatever? I remember some years ago reading about a woman who was making up packages of cold meds to send to poor kids in China? Mongolia? saying they suffer terribly in the winters. Every time I get a stuffy nose I think of that woman, and the kids she must’ve helped.
Chelsea is grown & married. I doubt she even thinks about him anymore. The bigger question is, would he be loved?
Man, it took me a while to get this.
Socks died some time ago. Also the Clintons gave him to Betty Currie–I think–when he and Buddy didn’t get along
I can’t send anything edible, so that’s out. One of the restrictions is I can only send what fits in a flat 6"x9" envelope. That’s why I make the coloring books-it’ really hard to find stuff that fits. I like doing it, though-each one features a characature of her and our two cats and the dog on some sort of adventure. I found a stuffed kitten toy with almost flat features, about 3" thick. I’m going to put it in our vacuum food sealer and flatten it out to send. I like the challenge.
When I was sponsoring kids through World Vision they always suggested appropriate gifts that varied according to where the kid was. They did always specify that you should stick to cheap little odds and ends - socks, scarves, pencils, that kind of thing.
Where did you sponsor, don’t ask?
or maybe I shouldn’t ask…
One in Africa. And one in Central America, I recall he was Jose Nose Portillo.
I try to share my charitable dollars around, so I change charities every few years (I knew that my World Vision contributions didn’t really go to the individuals they claimed). Now I am giving $420 a year to local homeless kids.
That number can’t possibly be a coincidence.
Didn’t you get ant letters from the kid you sponsored? I just got my first, and it thrilled me to no end to know she loved the coloing books and even had a favorite cat.