Charities, Do You Donate or Not?

[Mausey]

Seeing as how my little town (3,000 people) has just had it's twice annual rummage sale, fund raiser. I was wondering how many people here donate to charities and how do you do it. Do you donate time, goods or money? Is it anything for a good cause or do you feel that most/some/all charities use too much of the cash for office overhead. We've all heard about the stats where for every dollar raised the charity gets 15 cents while the professionals that were hired to raise the money pocket the rest. So what do you think, let's hear from everybody.


By the way, our sale averages between $9,000 and $12,000 twice a year. All money raised goes to the hospital auxilary and they buy items for the local hospital that the general budget doesn't cover. All items are donated as is everybody's time. Everything we don't sell, that's in excellent shape, is sent to the Salvation Army, women's shelters and a couple missions in a city near us. A local trucking firm hauls everything for us at no charge. The only bills we have are the building rent (we get a deal on that) and the food for the volunteers during the 2 days of sorting, usually coffee, juice and donuts.

[C_ris]

It depend on what you classify as a 'charity'. I help(ed) out at my local Scout Wood (campsite), which is a registered charity, when I was at home (and I do so when I go back). There I would donate my time helping out as part of the crew looking after the Woods and campsite, and a large part of this was/is as a climbing instructor helping cubs and scouts climb. It would generally be at least one night each week during the season for this, and often a few weekernds as well (though as I woorked many Saruirdays then I couldn't do many of them).

I donate money to charity tins etc in shops when I have change, but not much each time, just whatever coppers I happen to have.

Howver, if you include 'charity' such as giving money to beggars, then no! There are places they can go and get food, and schemes they can go on to get off the street for good. I will not fund them to live in such a manner. To give them money often has the opposite effect on the welfare - it keeps them on the streets! If beggars ask for money for a cup of tea, and you want to help them, buy them a cup of tea, don't give them money.

:2cent: :box:

[Calla]

yes, I donate all three - money, goods, and labor.

I donate through our church and through the Salvation Army...mainly because of their good management of the money.

[Priscilla]

I also donate money and goods, not as much labor as I used to. Good used items go to local thrift shops to be resold and the money goes to various charities. A lot of the money we donate goes to our local volunteer fire department, for safety equipment upgrades and things like that. Cancer society, and heart association, oh and I've donated some to the Christopher Reeve foundation.

[Kitsch]

I donated to the Tsunami fund and also when I get rid of clothes they always go to Oxfam or in another charity bag which they drop through the door round here rather than in the bin. Plus I always buy a poppy every year without fail and pop loose change in charity tins.

However, I got caught by someone recently who came round claiming he was doing a sponsored run for CLIC (a children's cancer charity) and then a few weeks later we got a questionnaire through from the police asking to describe them as they were in fact collecting for themselves. :mad2:

We also get people coming round the pubs selling roses purportedly in aid of Rolf-Harris's Brain-Injured-Children-and-Or-Animals (which is illegal btw - charity collectors aren't even allowed to shake their tins according to my friend who used to work for Save the Children) but really in aid of themselves. It's always some girl tarted up to the nines in a mini skirt and tons of make up with her fat man pimp outside in a car. Grr at fake charities :mad2:

[Mausey]

An update on our "little" rummage sale. According to the paper we made almost $15,000 :faint: Not bad when the most expensive item I saw was an electric organ somebody donated that was sold for $150.00. GO US!!! :D

[AnnMarie]

I wish I could donate more money to the charities that mean the most to me. Usually, I donate time. I started that YOUNG, when the local schools used to get involved with the read-a-thons and walk-athons for the March of Dimes. I've been an operator for the Children's Miracle Network Telethon. I've worked fest tents for the PTA and the Neighborhood Watch, I've volunteered in nursing homes, hospitals, schools, and an Environmental Center. I buy poppies. I take chances on raffles for the seniors, the vets, and the PBA, when I can afford to. I've done walkathons for the Heart Association.

SOmetimes I wish I could do more, but I am only one struggling mommy.

[NeouofPern]

Of course! My family donates to the cystic fibrosis foundation... Of course. We use my progress and cause to help get our friends to donate as well.

[Mausey]

AnnMarie, giving time is as important as giving money or items. If it wasn't for the time donated we couldn't hold our sale. There are about 50 people who give up the better part of 3 days for this project. Think about the people who sort through the clothes given to the Salvation Army or the people who put together outfits so an abused spouse or homeless person can go to a job interview and start rebuilding a life. When giving time you are giving more than money, you give yourself and your talents, money can't buy a willing set of hands. :group:

[leahiniowa]

We donate money, time and labor too. We put a few coins in a charity box every day except for Shabbos and holidays, we are always sending checks to organizations - e.g., we bought a wheelchair for a hospital in Israel, we've donated to the burial crew in Israel who pick up body parts after bombings, we established a video library at our local Jewish library in memory of my father in law, we buy food for needy families for holidays and Shabbos, and we volunteer for many things.

My favorite fundraiser is the Chinese Auction. People donate items and then you buy tickets for whichever item you're interested in trying to win. One charity, Oorah, has $5 tickets for EVERYTHING, even trips for two to Israel or Switzerland, but most places has varying ticket prices ranging from $5-$75. Our community just raised $3500 for playground equipment for our girls' school.

[Keita]

Yes, I do donate, mostly money and goods. Any old clothes I don't wear anymore goes straight to the local chapter of the Salvation Army or to the Red Cross.

Cash I donate only to registered charities. I don't donate to church fundraisers and the like (because too many times when you ask the minister if they managed to reach their target they don't know what you're talking about, meaning a fraudulent fundraiser for who knows WHAT cause or out and out corruption). Yes, it does happen.

So I either donate via SMS or the little tin cans in supermarkets.

Beggars...if they come to my door and ask money I give food, otherwise I just ignore them. There are numerous homeless shelters and hostels availible.