Would this be rude? (Christmas gift question)

[Esther_bunny]

Hi! I'm not sure if this is in the right area or not so mods please feel free to move it.
Ok, so my BF's Mom's side of the family decided to draw names for Christmas and we were all to email everyone with our list of what we wanted. Well I have been thinking and thinking and there's not really anything I want. Well nothing I'd put on the list b/c everything I really want is a big ticket item and I ofcourse will buy my own toys (cameras, laptop, etc).
I don't want to come across as a party pooper but I really don't need any blank dvds or cds or socks or lipgloss. 
So would it be rude to ask the person who drew my name to donate (the money they were going to use for my gift) to the local animal shelter?

[freakyfemme]

I'm not sure if you could get away with asking for a charitable donation in place of a gift outright, but you could always point people to this website:  www.theanimalrescuesite.com.  It has lots of cute animal-themed gifts, and all the profits go towards helping animals in need.

[ZipTheWonder]

I would not ask someone else to donate in my behalf.  That's just me.  I wouldn't want to put someone on the spot, even with something as innocuous (at least I think so) as animal rescue.

I'd just come up with a few books you've been wanting to read or some music you'd enjoy. 

[dawbs]

I probably wouldn't. 

While your heart may be in the right place, I can say from experience that when someone says "ooh, per request, we made a donation instead for x person" it creates an awkward feel to the entire thing.

 (maybe it shouldn't be awkward, but it's hard for that not to be uncomfortable for everyone...the giver [who may be thought to be shirking in his gift-giving duties] and the receiver [who will be busy trying to assure folks that no, of course this is what she really wanted, but of course she doesn't begrudge them their material exchange] and the rest of those watching the gift openings [who are wondering if the giver was rude, the receiver really didn't want to play, and if they should try something else next year])

Perhaps camera acessories (memory cards, lenses, flash, tripod)?

[Esther_bunny]

Thanks for your help! I will check out the site. I hadn't even thought of a book or a cd- that's an excellent suggestion as well!
I guess it could be kind of weird for the person who drew my name and maybe everyone else. I didn't really see it from that side clearly.

[CrayonOutlines]

I really like dawbs's idea about accessories!  If that doesn't suit you, you could ask for a gift card to a store/wesbite you like.