Do you give?

[cloudy]

It's that time of year again...the time when every charity you've ever heard of, and some you never have, start clamoring for you to give of your time or your money.

I was just wondering how many people give to charities only at Christmas, or are most like me, and give what they can all during the year?

If you do give of yourself, or your hardearned cash, do you just participate during the holidays? Or is it something that you think about all year long?

If you do, what kind of charities catch your attention, and do you research, etc., to make sure that what you do give actually goes to help someone?

I'll go ahead and answer my own question...

I support a couple of organizations on the Pine Ridge Reservation all year 'round: a Women's & Childrens Shelter, and a rehab center for teenagers/young adults. I chose Pine Ridge because when I started learning about how the Lakota there are living, it just broke my heart, then it made me ashamed that so many either didn't know what conditions are like there, or just didn't care. Another obvious reason is I wanted my time/effort/money to go to help other Native Americans, since we seem to be the forgotten ones most of the time. (For any interested, I have a thread in the Authors Hangout that goes into much more detail)

Another reason is that I can give whatever I like directly to the organization that needs it, instead of it being funneled through some large charitable corporation who will skim a good chunk right off the top for "administrative expenses." It also makes it much more personal when I get handwritten thank you letters from the people there.

So.....what makes you reach into your pocket or volunteer your time?

 

[EJFan]

i support only local charities that help people/initiatives in my own back yard. my personal feeling is that large charities are great but my small donations do much more good in the immediate area than they possibly could in paying adminstrative costs for grant writing and salaried employees that account for a significant percentage of national/worldwide charities' income.

 

[Mazuri]

I participate with a couple of local charities: the AICC which is the closest our county has to a food bank. Since more than 75% of our county would qualify for aid, a food bank cannot be reasonably sustained so all the area churches pitched in and formed the AICC. The other is the Autauga Christmas Team which gives food, new and gently used toys, and donated coats (cleaning donated by the local Jim Massey Cleaners) to needy families for Christmas. This organization only exists during the holidays and augments the AICC during that time.

Most of my 'donations' are of time. I usually give between 15-30 hours a week to Autauga Christmas Team when it's in full swing. While many charities need money, during the holidays they need people almost as much if not more.

 

[Monazwx]

Most of my 'donations' are of time.

Ditto. Between the salvation army, red cross and secret santa (were you buy a gift for a needy child/ren), I'm usually all tapped out for Christmas.

 

[jerseyman1963]

I do give to charity, but I do not give to charities during their year-end fund drives, and I do not give to charities that I do not have personal experience with. The charities that solicit me just because my name was on a demographically segmented mailing list they purchased piss me off. That kind of throwing-pasta-at-the-wall-to-see-what-sticks fundraising is old school and a total waste of valuable funds. Charities that send me a year-end appeal also incurr my disdain. Like I am more likely to give to the Disease of the Week Foundation just because the end of the tax year is looming? I don't think so.

I give to a wide range of tax exempt organizations, some national, some local, and all I have some sort of emotional or personal connection with, and am relatively sure that the money they fundraise is being used wisely. In other words, that the bulk of whatever I give them is going to go out again to support programs and services, not to support overblown salaries of staff members. Staff members are important, and they deserve to get paid for their work, but I look for clues that the salaries are reasonable, and that the bulk of their annual budget is going to support programs and services, not to the fund the executive lunch account.

For novices to the charitable giving world, it's worth noting that you can research charities you are thinking of giving to at www.guidestar.org, which posts the tax returns of charitable organizations online, so you can go and review how they're spending their money, and make a determination if you think your donation will be used wisely. Smart giving equals a better return in services for our communities and the people in need therein.

 

[NaughtyLil1]

I usually donate through Catholic Social Services for different things and also the food bank.

When I'm out and about, I will give cash to different organizations.

It's great that the holidays put people in a giving mood, but we should remember that the need is present all year long.

 

[Cathleen]

I give to some charities thru out the year and a few at Thanksgiving time. I tend to give to the same organizations. I followed the lead of a relative of mine, he set up his Will so his donations went to groups that served men, women and children. He chose local shelters for men and women and St. Jude's Hospital for children.

I liked the idea very so have adopted it and have added my local animal shelter (I give to them at Thanksgiving since I'm grateful for the pets I adopted from there), since I love nature and books, I added a local organization that is working to conserve land and my local library too.

Another orgainization I think is great is Heifer org, it's such a great set up.

I have recently been able to give my time to a couple of local groups that help local people with things like getting them to medical/dental appointments, grocery shopping, and errands etc. There is always local need so I start there.

 

[Tele2047]

I'm not an independent yet, a student supported by my parents, so I personally rarely donate money when asked. My parents keep a list of the organizations they have donated to, and the last time they donated to them. They'll give money once a year to the charity, if the charity calls before the year is up they just tell them to call back another day.

 

[glynndah]

I give to a local women's shelter: clothes, toiletries, household goods,etc., several times a year as the items are collected. I give time and money to the local grade school. Last year the school kids sent Christmas cards and pictures along with toys, games, toiletries, cards, etc., for soldiers who were hospitalized in Iraq and any Iraqi children they might come in contact with. I drop off small wrapped gifts of hand lotion, hankies and slipper socks to the local nursing home for the old folks who may not have anyone to remember them during the holiday. I always throw in money for the Salvation Army kettles set up and was very proud to see my son stop and put in his own donation last Christmas. I participate in the Christmas shopping with kids program where we take a child (preschool to 6th grade) and shop with them for clothes at JC Penneys.

If you're looking to make some contribution in your community, start with your local school. Most of the time the teachers would love a little bit of help. We have volunteers who read with the first graders, help with snack time in kindergarten, help once a week with art, and tutor the older kids in spelling or math. If you have a special interest or talent in an area, they would probably love to have you come and talk to the class.

 

[SweetErika]

I'm trying to give more throughout the year, but do tend to do more during the holidays.

Recently, my pet (literally) project has been taking care of the feral cats who live in our backyard. Maybe it's not much to make sure they have food, water, shelter, and won't reproduce like crazy, but it feels good to know they'll have a good life because we're here.

When they needed to be fixed last month, I came into contact with the Feral Cat Project, which is a great organization that spays, neuters and gives basic immunizations for donations. It would have cost us upwards of $1000 to have that done at even a low-cost vet; it's a terrible position to not have that money and know failing to take action will lead to a massive colony of animals who will suffer quickly, so we're eternally grateful for orgs like FCP. They need volunteers, supplies and donations, so I'm planning on donating and organizing some drives with local churches and vets so they can keep helping cats and people.

Last year I got involved with the Pine Ridge Christmas after seeing Cloudy's post on the GB. I really appreciate giving locally, but saw that was the problem here - PR isn't in our backyard, and it's easy to ignore. I did my research and found a lot of people on PR FREEZE TO DEATH in the winter, not to mention don't have electricity or running water. All I could think, as I sat in my nice warm house in front of my newer computer and TV was, 'Why the fuck are we allowing OUR people to live and die like this? What the hell is wrong with us as a country that we'd let this happen, and allow the government to cover it up?'

So, the very least I could do was gather small toys, games (Candyland and such are always on sale for about $3 at Christmas), makeup samples, toiletries, coloring books/crayons, school supplies, clothing, and other things for Christmas gifts and they need year-round. I wish I had the money to give more, or could volunteer my time at PR, but the truth is every little bit helps and a lot of the stuff I sent cost me almost nothing because I sent things I had, shopped sales and used store rebate programs (e.g. Walgreens and Rite Aid always have appropriate toiletries and supplies for free after rebate, and that's stuff they can use all year).

My mom did the same with her friends and alternative high school, and I think we sent upwards of 100 pounds of stuff to the reservation. Plus, she called in the district's Cultural Resource person (who's a longtime friend and Native American) to speak and teach about PR and why so many tribes are underprivileged, so it was a true learning experience for everyone.

That one act, helping many kids have *something* for Christmas, made me feel better than anything else because I knew every single thing I sent was used and greatly appreciated. When people ask what I want for Christmas this year, I'm going to ask them to send all or part of what they'd spend on gifts to PR instead.

 

[cloudy]

I'm trying to give more throughout the year, but do tend to do more during the holidays.

Recently, my pet (literally) project has been taking care of the feral cats who live in our backyard. Maybe it's not much to make sure they have food, water, shelter, and won't reproduce like crazy, but it feels good to know they'll have a good life because we're here.

When they needed to be fixed last month, I came into contact with the Feral Cat Project, which is a great organization that spays, neuters and gives basic immunizations for donations. It would have cost us upwards of $1000 to have that done at even a low-cost vet; it's a terrible position to not have that money and know failing to take action will lead to a massive colony of animals who will suffer quickly, so we're eternally grateful for orgs like FCP. They need volunteers, supplies and donations, so I'm planning on donating and organizing some drives with local churches and vets so they can keep helping cats and people.

Last year I got involved with the Pine Ridge Christmas after seeing Cloudy's post on the GB. I really appreciate giving locally, but saw that was the problem here - PR isn't in our backyard, and it's easy to ignore. I did my research and found a lot of people on PR FREEZE TO DEATH in the winter, not to mention don't have electricity or running water. All I could think, as I sat in my nice warm house in front of my newer computer and TV was, 'Why the fuck are we allowing OUR people to live and die like this? What the hell is wrong with us as a country that we'd let this happen, and allow the government to cover it up?'

So, the very least I could do was gather small toys, games (Candyland and such are always on sale for about $3 at Christmas), makeup samples, toiletries, coloring books/crayons, school supplies, clothing, and other things for Christmas gifts and they need year-round. I wish I had the money to give more, or could volunteer my time at PR, but the truth is every little bit helps and a lot of the stuff I sent cost me almost nothing because I sent things I had, shopped sales and used store rebate programs (e.g. Walgreens and Rite Aid always have appropriate toiletries and supplies for free after rebate, and that's stuff they can use all year).

My mom did the same with her friends and alternative high school, and I think we sent upwards of 100 pounds of stuff to the reservation. Plus, she called in the district's Cultural Resource person (who's a longtime friend and Native American) to speak and teach about PR and why so many tribes are underprivileged, so it was a true learning experience for everyone.

That one act, helping many kids have *something* for Christmas, made me feel better than anything else because I knew every single thing I sent was used and greatly appreciated. When people ask what I want for Christmas this year, I'm going to ask them to send all or part of what they'd spend on gifts to PR instead.

Thank you.

Pine Ridge IS my christmas every year, and every time I hear that someone has sent something, anything, it's like a gift to me.