Do you donate to charity?

[TheFifthElement]

Charity is a strange thing, everyone agrees it's a good thing, but it can cause such disagreement. Each year at work our charity co-ordinators have a big push on Operation Christmas Child, which is organised by the Samaritans. For those not familiar with Operation Christmas Child basically you fill a shoe box with toys for a child aimed at sex/age group, and the Samaritans distribute the shoeboxes as Christmas presents to children around the world.

In principle it's a lovely idea, but I object to Operation Christmas Child as it seems to me to be a cover for spreading Christianity to non-Christian countries, and perhaps instead of sending a Muslim child a christmas present, perhaps we should instead send the money and improve their lives instead.

You see, charity causes contraversy.

Anyone remember the fallout from Oxfam's 'buy an goat' promotion?

Then there's the question of why people donate to charity. Is this out of guilt, or the goodness of their hearts?

Tell us Lit-net - do you give to charity? If so, how do you decide which charities to donate to? Do you give regularly or as and when the mood takes you?

[symphony]

Well i guess i'm still too young to donate money/anything else. Lets see if i grow up to be a kind(?) human being who'll give up earned money as donation. But to be honest, i dont think i'll donate much unless i'm sure the donation will help the ppl for whom its aimed. 'Cuz from what i'm seeing from my part of the world, most of the donations never reach the ppl they're meant for. The "service" via which the money/whatever is distributed takes it all, may be not all but nothing much is left after the donations have gone through a series of such "via"s. This happens often in here with flood donations. The affected ppl never end up recieving their share, though the donations are being made by others.

This plus the fact that u can never actually help a poor person in here by directly giving him cash. He'll just spend it on cheap means of entertainment. Its way better to help someone by giving him a job which will ensure his recieving a particular amount of money (however small that be) through his own work, which again will mean he'll think twice before spending it on anything stupid.

Anyway, this is just my opinion, as fifth said "charity causes controversy", there are ppl older and wiser in here, who can of course have their own say.

Nice topic btw, fifth. ;)

[cactus]

I donate to charity but I am not set in one type. I have to admit I have a soft spot for kids and older people. I am currently sponsoring a child by providing for her education, ie I pay for her school fees, books...etc. My preference is supporting people to develop skills or means to support themselves, though it is not limited to this only. I donate when the opportunity presents and that it is within my means to help.

I have been told by others that I am too gullible. One time there was this old man who asked me for money on the street. He looked really shabby and so I told him I only had a $10 note and whether that was o.k. He thanked me but as I moved on, a guy came up to me and said the man was a con artist, he had been asking everyone for money. I thanked the fellow but said nothing. In my view, my deed cannot be measured against the recipient. I can only judge my actions according to my values and beliefs. If I had lived up to my values then I have nothing to regret. I might have been conned but to me I have done something out of the goodness of heart and that is the most important thing.

[Niamh]

I donate to three orgsnisations every month, Concern, International association for Cancer Research and Friends of the Earth. Also Every Christmas we do the operation Christmas child. Althought they do give the kids a little book about the nativity, the whole point of the project is so that these kids in poor countries get something. Many of the countries they go to are very poor third world countries or countries that had been ravaged by war and some of the poorer eastern european countries. I think its a great idea.
And its not just toys that you give them. You can put educational supplies in the box like pencils paper crayons, pairers and rubbers, chalk, copy books etc. You also put in under wear and maybe a hat an scarf, toothpaste and toothbrushes.
you cant put in books with words, sharp items, medicine or war related items.

[vheissu]

It is indeed a controversial topic...it's a good cause and all, but somehow, nowadays, it's become a big business...so many people work for charitable organizations and if they work full time they have to get paid.

So it makes me wonder, if I did donate a certain amount of money every month, how much of that actually goes to the cause to which I'm interested in? And how much goes to the manager/supervisor/employee of such and such charity organization?

[Virgil]

I donate to many charities. I never participate with the ones through work. I have my own causes and interests. I split it up where i give a little to each. I've thought about lumping it into one or two and therefore having a greater impact, but I feel bad discontinuing support to someone I have been giving to. I used to break it up across the year, but the last few years I've grown lazy and really do most of it around Christmas time. My charities include various religious organizations, international aid, humane (pets) organizations, orphanages, and medical research. Over the years I have checked out to make sure the one's I give to efficiently send the donation to the cause at hand. Some charities have such internal costs and beuracrasies that a good portion of your money goes toward supporting themselves rather than doing the good work. Oh, I never respond to those that call on the phone. Sometimes they have an agency do the calling and asking and they get a percentage of your donation. Here's a good website that researches through charitable organization finacial records to assess their efficiency: http://www.charitynavigator.org/. I thnk this assesses mostly American chairties, so I don't know how helpful it is for non-Americans.

[Shalot]

I used to give to United Way through my paycheck. If I am asked to donate money to some Children's Hospital or Diabetes research at the checkout at the store, I will do that.

I remember receiving a needy basket from the Church back when my family went through some hardships and I didn't like it.

Does anyone find being the recipient of charity somehow embarrassing? Or what is the deal? Bad things happen to people and your community is willing to toss together a few apples and oranges and a pack of candy canes and some canned goods and send it your way. But if your hardship extends beyond a certain period of time, you get the "God helps those who help themselves speech." Or, "Give a man a fish and feed him for day. Teach a man to fish, and feed him for a lifetime."

Does anyone prepare food baskets for the hungry in your community or church? That's something I might do soon.

[Petrarch's Love]

I have a rule that 5% off the top of whatever money I take in for the month goes to charity. Some months it's closer to 10%, especially around the holidays, and there have been a couple months that I've had to do a little less than 5 because it would interfere with paying the rent, but generally speaking its a fast rule with me to set that money aside the minute it comes in. It's not much now, since I'm on a student budget, but I decided a couple years ago that I should start giving a set percentage, partly so that I would just be in the habit when I did start having a professional income in and partly because, though I don't have a large income by American standards, I really have an incredible amount by world standards. The charities I like to give most to are local ones, including a soup kitchen I also volunteer at sometimes, because I can directly see the work they're doing in the community and because when you're giving a small donation there's less red tape involved in getting my money to a group near home. I do also regularly give to some larger organizations, but they're groups I've checked out carefully and that I've actually heard about doing some concrete good in the world.


Anyone remember the fallout from Oxfam's 'buy an goat' promotion?
No. What's the story with Oxfam? I've never donated to them (I'm not entirely clear that 1/10 of a goat is the best way I can contribute to the world, and I find their adverts vaguely annoying for some reason), though I do get occasional mailers asking me to buy a goat or something, and I've sometimes wondered if it actually works.

[AimusSage]

I usually do not donate to charity, and I do not necessarily agree that it is a good thing either. Sure, it is almost always done with good intentions, but good intentions alone are not enough.

That's not to say there are no charities worthy of my attention and money, but I just can't be arsed to find out which one is and which one isn't worth my money.

[TheFifthElement]

No. What's the story with Oxfam? I've never donated to them (I'm not entirely clear that 1/10 of a goat is the best way I can contribute to the world, and I find their adverts vaguely annoying for some reason), though I do get occasional mailers asking me to buy a goat or something, and I've sometimes wondered if it actually works.

Oxfam set up a 'gift' facility, whereby instead of buying a friend a christmas present, for example, you could buy them a goat which would be given to a family in a third world country. It's a great idea, and of course there are more 'gifts' available than just goats.

For some reason the campaign seemed to focus on the 'buy a goat' option, until someone pointed out that actually goats don't help who are starving but add to the starvation because they eat everything in sight including struggling crops etc, etc. It caused a massive stink, unsurprisingly.

The idea in principle is great, and I have bought people Oxfam gifts on the basis that I would rather spend the money on that thing they didn't want, than something else that they didn't want or need.

It's one of those examples of charity = contraversy.

details here www.oxfamunwrapped.com

[Pensive]

I don't because yet I don't have the money to prepare banners which I should stick in every nook and corner of the world saying, "Hey, Pensive donates! Pensive is a donator!"

[Petrarch's Love]

I don't because yet I don't have the money to prepare banners which I should stick in every nook and corner of the world saying, "Hey, Pensive donates! Pensive is a donator!"

:lol: Ah, Pensive our resident satirist. You bring up a good point though, since I suppose one motive for charity might be recognition and this can lead to some complex moral questions. Of course one can argue that as long as people are being helped by it, there is nothing that wrong with a generous donor taking pride in his or her contributions and asking recognition. On the other hand, I can see some ways in which having one's ego involved in giving to charity could be problematic. Not only can it lead to hypocrisy, but it also can lead to a feeling of superiority--the great bounteous giver who deserves the gratitude of the humble needy--that is not only morally unhealthy but ultimately leads to the antithesis of the initial charitable impulse (i.e. instead of the gift helping raise up others to lead more productive lives, it becomes a way of branding others as the "needy" who stand as foils to the wonderful provider). It is a sticky trap to avoid, since almost all of us have more ego than humility. I have always been profoundly struck by the passage in the Christian Bible from the opening verses of Matthew 6:


6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Whether you're Christian or not, I feel that this text philosophically addresses an important moral idea of giving without desiring praise or recognition for the act in any way. I personally deeply admire the idea of giving without ever receiving any credit or praise, even from yourself. It is, however, a harder ideal to live up to than it might seem. I wonder though, how others feel about this. Should charity ideally be carried out entirely in secret, or is it sometimes important for some people to proclaim their gifts in order to draw attention to a cause or to lead by example?


Oxfam set up a 'gift' facility, whereby instead of buying a friend a christmas present, for example, you could buy them a goat which would be given to a family in a third world country. It's a great idea, and of course there are more 'gifts' available than just goats.

For some reason the campaign seemed to focus on the 'buy a goat' option, until someone pointed out that actually goats don't help who are starving but add to the starvation because they eat everything in sight including struggling crops etc, etc. It caused a massive stink, unsurprisingly.

The idea in principle is great, and I have bought people Oxfam gifts on the basis that I would rather spend the money on that thing they didn't want, than something else that they didn't want or need.

It's one of those examples of charity = contraversy.

details here www.oxfamunwrapped.com

Ah! So it was a problem with goats in particular rather than OxFam as a whole. Yes, I knew the general premise of the organization, and it does sound like a clever idea to give something that has at least a chance of being worthwhile rather than yet another knick knack.

[jlb4tlb]

[QUOTE "Charity is a strange thing, everyone agrees it's a good thing, but it can cause such disagreement. Each year at work our charity co-ordinators have a big push on Operation Christmas Child, which is organised by the Samaritans. For those not familiar with Operation Christmas Child basically you fill a shoe box with toys for a child aimed at sex/age group, and the Samaritans distribute the shoeboxes as Christmas presents to children around the world.

In principle it's a lovely idea, but I object to Operation Christmas Child as it seems to me to be a cover for spreading Christianity to non-Christian countries, and perhaps instead of sending a Muslim child a christmas present, perhaps we should instead send the money and improve their lives instead.

snip
QUOTE]


Greetings

Interesting post, it got me thinking so I looked up Operation Christmas Child on the web. It is not a cover up for spreading Christianity, spreading the word is the goal of the group and they are right up front about that. If you have a problem with that then do not give. It is Christmas and as a Christian I have no problem with the telling of the good news of the birth of Jesus. Remember the reason for the season.

Anybody wanting more info about Operation Christmas Child can go to http://www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC_About.asp?OCCPath=1

Christian charities improve the lives of people of many faiths around the world every day of the year not just at Christmas time. No matter how you look at it, that is a good thing.

Jeff

[applepie]

I always try to give where and when I'm able. Some of our favorites are making donations to the firefighters, the NMCRS (Navy Marine Corps Relief Society), I always sponsor a child or two at Christmas, and we normally give to others when there is more money to do it. The only thing that I hate is, no matter how much we give, they always call another month or so down the road asking for more and more money. My personal favorite is the giving tree at Christmas time. I always go overboard, but I figure that isn't a bad thing:)

[TheFifthElement]

Christian charities improve the lives of people of many faiths around the world every day of the year not just at Christmas time. No matter how you look at it, that is a good thing.

Jeff

Hello Jeff - see right in there with the contraversy :D.

Yes, on the whole I agree with you, particularly in relation to the point I've highlighted in bold above. My beef with OCC is the people in the office that make a really big deal out of doing it, and a really big deal out of people not doing it, with the 'oh but it's Christmas' comment, which is missing the point that we should be giving that child a better life 365 days a year, instead of a few trinkets at Christmas. I get behind any charity that improves lives, Christian or otherwise, by getting to the source of the problem, not putting a big Christmas tree shaped sticking plaster over it, and giving children of other faiths the clear message that Christmas means gifts and materiality, and perhaps the false hope, or worse the dilemma that if they convert to Christinity that they too will have food on the table, and not have bombs dropping down on their street in the night.

[Virgil]

I have a rule that 5% off the top of whatever money I take in for the month goes to charity. Some months it's closer to 10%, especially around the holidays, and there have been a couple months that I've had to do a little less than 5 because it would interfere with paying the rent, but generally speaking its a fast rule with me to set that money aside the minute it comes in. It's not much now, since I'm on a student budget,

That's quite a lot .Petrarch. Five to ten percent of your money adds up. I just did a quick estimate off my take home pay and seems I give around 3%.

[lisahead]

Its a personal thing- I do it because I want to- I do not care what other people do (give or not give) because thats their business.

[Niamh]

I remember receiving a needy basket from the Church back when my family went through some hardships and I didn't like it.

Does anyone find being the recipient of charity somehow embarrassing? Or what is the deal? Bad things happen to people and your community is willing to toss together a few apples and oranges and a pack of candy canes and some canned goods and send it your way. But if your hardship extends beyond a certain period of time, you get the "God helps those who help themselves speech." Or, "Give a man a fish and feed him for day. Teach a man to fish, and feed him for a lifetime."

I was to youny to understand what was going on to realise people were being charitable. But We were lucky in a way. Some of the kids i went to school with would go to a place called the sunshine house run by the St.Vincent De Paul for a few weeks during the summer because their parents could afford to bring them on holiday. My Aunt use to take us to their houses in the countryside. One of my aunts use to bring boxes of canned food etc and my mams friend use to give us bags of clothes once owned by her daughter.
Where i grew up and still live was a real poorish working class area back in the late 80's early 90's and every christmas the kids on my road would get excited. Wanna know why? Because Santa would come onto our street on an old coal cart and hand us out little christmas presents. (my mam was his helper:p )
There are people i'd never admit these things too. Only because they never went through these types of hardships and wouldnt understand or generally mock it. I'm not embarressed by it, just dont want to be put down.


Greetings

Interesting post, it got me thinking so I looked up Operation Christmas Child on the web. It is not a cover up for spreading Christianity, spreading the word is the goal of the group and they are right up front about that. If you have a problem with that then do not give. It is Christmas and as a Christian I have no problem with the telling of the good news of the birth of Jesus. Remember the reason for the season.

Anybody wanting more info about Operation Christmas Child can go to http://www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC_About.asp?OCCPath=1

Christian charities improve the lives of people of many faiths around the world every day of the year not just at Christmas time. No matter how you look at it, that is a good thing.

Jeff


Hello Jeff - see right in there with the contraversy :D.

Yes, on the whole I agree with you, particularly in relation to the point I've highlighted in bold above. My beef with OCC is the people in the office that make a really big deal out of doing it, and a really big deal out of people not doing it, with the 'oh but it's Christmas' comment, which is missing the point that we should be giving that child a better life 365 days a year, instead of a few trinkets at Christmas. I get behind any charity that improves lives, Christian or otherwise, by getting to the source of the problem, not putting a big Christmas tree shaped sticking plaster over it, and giving children of other faiths the clear message that Christmas means gifts and materiality, and perhaps the false hope, or worse the dilemma that if they convert to Christinity that they too will have food on the table, and not have bombs dropping down on their street in the night.
It is very good. Most of my family get involved every year and one or two people in work help out. With work it was more people heard what we were doing and offered to help. I never look doen on people for not, hence why i wouldnt campaign it in work.

[Petrarch's Love]

That's quite a lot .Petrarch. Five to ten percent of your money adds up. I just did a quick estimate off my take home pay and seems I give around 3%.

Well, 5% of a student budget doesn't really add up to much. :p I also don't have anyone to support but myself and my bird. If I had a family to take care of I would probably have to reduce the percentage. I got the idea from a pastor I used to know who said that he and his wife always took 10% off the top for charity. 10% seems like too much for me to do consistently (I like buying new books too well! Not to mention I don't think the budget would balance), but 5% is doable most months, and it's much easier if you just take off the top because then you never miss it.

[jlb4tlb]

Hello Jeff - see right in there with the contraversy :D.

Yes, on the whole I agree with you, particularly in relation to the point I've highlighted in bold above. My beef with OCC is the people in the office that make a really big deal out of doing it, and a really big deal out of people not doing it, with the 'oh but it's Christmas' comment, which is missing the point that we should be giving that child a better life 365 days a year, instead of a few trinkets at Christmas. I get behind any charity that improves lives, Christian or otherwise, by getting to the source of the problem, not putting a big Christmas tree shaped sticking plaster over it, and giving children of other faiths the clear message that Christmas means gifts and materiality, and perhaps the false hope, or worse the dilemma that if they convert to Christinity that they too will have food on the table, and not have bombs dropping down on their street in the night.

I agree with you, OCC doesn't do much good in the long run, but it does help a bit. A childs smile is a great thing.

I understand office politics, it sucks when people try bullying employees to futher thier agenda. :( Have you ever mentioned that the Samaritans have many other missions that help the poor year round? They do alot of medical work, disaster relief and community development.



Anybody interested in the fine work that they do can find out more here

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/MPGroup_Index.asp?MPGID=6


A quick side note. For a number of years I ran the food bank at church and we had a steady amount of donations each week. Come the holidays ( ThanksGiving thru Christmas ) that amount would more then triple each week. It just shows that folks are more generous this time of year.

Best of luck at work.

Jeff

[Virgil]

Well, 5% of a student budget doesn't really add up to much. :p I also don't have anyone to support but myself and my bird. If I had a family to take care of I would probably have to reduce the percentage. I got the idea from a pastor I used to know who said that he and his wife always took 10% off the top for charity. 10% seems like too much for me to do consistently (I like buying new books too well! Not to mention I don't think the budget would balance), but 5% is doable most months, and it's much easier if you just take off the top because then you never miss it.

Don't be so modest. That is quite generous.

[Bakiryu]

We're poor, (dirt poor). I do volunteer work and such but i can't give to charity, I'd starve. Charities often give us stuff though, for Christmas and such.

[jlb4tlb]

We're poor, (dirt poor). I do volunteer work and such but i can't give to charity, I'd starve. Charities often give us stuff though, for Christmas and such.


Greetings

Doing volunteer work is giving to charity, therefore you are making the world a better place. I thank you.

Jeff

[Virgil]

We're poor, (dirt poor). I do volunteer work and such but i can't give to charity, I'd starve. Charities often give us stuff though, for Christmas and such.

Actually volenteer work is way more charitable than just giving money. You give your heart and time. For a fifteen year old to sacrifice her time shows a wonderful heart. God bless.

[Shalot]

I forgot about the angel tree at Christmas. That's one of the things l don't mind doing.

Also, whenever I venture downtown, I am constantly approached for cash. How are you supposed to know whether someone geniunly needs a few dollars for food or if they're using the money for something else?
I don't know whether to feel guilty when I don't give money or foolish when I do. However, I rarely carry cash so I can say with a clear conscience, I don't have any cash on me.

If they do need food though, I know that there is a Church downtown they can go to. I think next time I will tell them to go visit a priest.

And I think the pastor of the church I sometimes visit was talking about the difference between someone who truly needs help or someone who is just looking for a handout. Either way, I think the person needs help. It's just a matter of when a person is able to make a move towards helping himself/herself.

[Virgil]

Also, whenever I venture downtown, I am constantly approached for cash. How are you supposed to know whether someone geniunly needs a few dollars for food or if they're using the money for something else?
I don't know whether to feel guilty when I don't give money or foolish when I do. However, I rarely carry cash so I can say with a clear conscience, I don't have any cash on me.


I hardly ever give to people on the street. Most are just supporting some sort dependency. I just refuse to encourage dysfunctional behavior. They need to get to a center and clean their lives up. There are so many government agencies to help that I don't feel guilty. These people are either mentally ill (and therefore need to be off the street) or don't want to do want it takes. They want to wallow in their drug habits.

Of course I'm talking about the United States. I can't speak for other countries.

[Chava]

I got a sponsor child when I got my first job. i support several organistations for everything from child protection to animal rights. Essentially, all the money i have that i don't use is given away, it's a lot in the long run, but logically, i don't really miss it, and it's put to better use in other places.
I think thought that charity is as much a mental effort as an economic issue. I spend hours down at the local library helping kids from dysfunctional families, or kids with imigrant backgrounds (which in modern Danish society is really very difficult) doing their homework, learning the language, etc. Sometimes they just want there to be someone there to talk to...