donation for the dead

A Freebox in Berlin, Germany, 2005, serving as a distribution center for free donated materials

A donation is a gift given by physical or legal persons, typically for charitable purposes and/or

to benefit a cause. A donation may take various forms, including cash offering, services, new or used goods

including clothing, toys, food, and vehicles. It also may consist of emergency,

relief or humanitarian aid items,development aid support,

and can also relate to medical care needs as i.e. blood or organs for

transplant. Charitable gifts of goods or services are also called gifts in kind.

It is possible to donate in the name of a third party, making a gift in honor or in memory of someone or something.

Gifts in honor or memory of a third party are made for various reasons, such as holiday gifts, wedding gifts,

in memory of somebody who has died, in memory of pets or in the name of groups or associations no longer existing.

Memorial gifts are sometimes requested by their survivors (e.g. "in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to ABC Charity"),

usually directing donations to a charitable organization for which the deceased was a donor or volunteer,

or for a cause befitting the deceased's priorities in life or manner of death.

Memorial donations are also sometimes given by people if they are unable to attend the ceremon