I would say I'm a casual collector at best. I love coming on here and some other websites and looking at all the new stuff and some of the old stuff I missed out on as a kid, but its usually just that; looking. I'll buy a few Transformers every now and then. They give me something to play with at work when I'm bored. All of us that were in love with these toys growing up now have jobs and the money to go out and buy them ourselves . I usually end up giving or selling them to friends who normally wouldn't go buy their own, so I feel like I'm doing my part to spread the TF love.

Last week at my job, we got an email saying one of our former co-workers house had burned almost completely to the ground. The fire started in their attic and burned everything on the way down bad enough that the family is basically starting over. Their insurance company is being very helpful and finding them a furnished apartment that the insurance company is paying for. We had a call for donations, money, really anything we thought could help. They have 2 young boys, we were told both 10 and under.

I'm 2 years out of college, with not a whole lot of money to give, but I wanted to do something to help. I thought about what I played with when I was that age and 2 things popped up: Transformers and Lego. I happened to have a few Lego sets and some Movie and Classics Transformers around. I didn't think twice about bagging them up, scrounging up what instructions I had around, and bringing them to my manager to give to this family.

I'm not bragging about my charity, or even looking for validation. I just wanted to share a story about helping out those I could, as small as my contribution may be, and how good it felt to do it. I know there are some serious collectors on these boards, but don't forget how much you loved these toys as a child, and how great giving that gift to somebody else can be.

That's nice of you.

Each year I "adopt" a few kids from the holiday tree at work and buy toys for them. I _always_ buy a few Transformers to spread the love

Nice. I too always donate several MISB TFs to Toys for Tots each year. I also donate Joes and SW figures.

See this is different from the generic kind of faceless charity. I would never give my money, or my toys, to just a random faceless charity. However, if I know that person, perhaps even indirectly, like you do with this family, I would, like you, not hesitate to donate. Not because I want to have the credit for my charity ( I would despise that, and insist my name would not be mentioned, anyhow). However, I would know that I, directly, had a positive influence in someone's life. Those big charities, whatever they say, they can't give that feeling of directly knowing you did soemthing for someone else.

Hey, the other day, I was in this bar, and I happened to get into a conversation with a cook. He told me that he would love to start his own business, his own restourant, but that he was hesitant to do so. He also told me he loves to cook for a group of his friends, because it's at the same time large and massive, but he also knows the direct pleasure of seeing those people enjoy his food. I told him to get in touch with a certain establishment that provides meals every saturday for those of small fortune. I knew they would love to have an extra cook, and this guy would love to create a meal for such people in that way. Just knowing that I brought these people together, and that both are now happy because of that, makes me glad. Not because I did it (although, that does play a role, albeit merely partially, and afterwards), but because I know both parties are better because of what I did. I helped both of them, and that's all there is to it.

and to stay on the topic of Transformers: I often convince kids in the toystore to buy TFs instead of other things. I consider that a great charity to them.

people who lose all their stuff in "the fire" are being punished by god so why would I give them my sweet toys?

Your house is going to totally burn down now. That's why my wife won't let me pick on Marlee Matlin, she doesn't want to have deaf children.