Do you donate?

[Glockman9mm]

Holiday effect in full swing here like other areas. The Salvation Army guy was trying hard to hustle me for money. I declined and said I'd rather give money strait to the horses mouth.

I always pass, sorry if I seem like a heartless guy but in today's times I'm not very trusting of folks.

I've tried to help folks in the past asking me for money because they needed to eat. When I've offered to buy them food they declined and just wanted the money.

I'm not that gullible, sorry. Uncle Sam takes enough from me to give to the ones sucking that government teet.

I've been raised in hard times with a single mom who never took handouts, because of my mind set I've been called a heartless ***.


Anybody else agree or on the same page here?

 

[Gyrene6891]

I NEVER give money to any individual, most in my opinion, are just trying to get money for either booze or drugs. I give to organizations that provide help to the individual, the local mission, food bank and yes the Salvation Army and other such organizations...

 

[chud333]

I've offered to take several homeless looking folks to a meal
"on me" but each time was declined also. I see the same
folks standing with cardboard signs at the entrance to 2
different Wallyworlds close to me. Their signs say, "Out of work
need money for food". But they are always out there day in and
day out. Sometimes you see them talking on their Smart Phones.
I might sound heartless as well, but if you got money for a Smart
phone and time to pan handle all day you also have time to look
for work. And there's plenty around these parts.
Maybe not job openings for 100K a year jobs but there are jobs
to be had. So, no i won't be doleing out my hard earned money
to anyone.

Chuck

 

[Glockman9mm]

Glad I'm not the only one, thanks guys.

 

[BC38]

I donate to a lot of groups, but seldom directly to an individual.

The one exception is someone who is obviously seriously disabled. The young guy missing one leg below the knee, the old guy in a wheelchair holding a sign announcing he's a disabled vet, etc. I might get taken in once in a while by someone faking it, but its a chance I'm willing to take.

Folks who are relatively well dressed and relatively clean begging at freeway on ramps or on street corners get nothing from me. If they can stand on the corner for hours on end begging for money they can just as easily work for it.

 

[medalguy]

Never donate directly to individuals. I do give to the Salvation Army as they are one of the better charities which give nearly all their money to those in need. The CEO of the Salvation Army takes about $130,000 per year for a salary but the SA takes in and gives out nearly $2 BILLION a year. Not exactly overpaid IMO. Note that the commanders of VFW, American Legion, and DAV take exactly ZERO compensation.

If you want more information on various charities, see Charity Navigator which is arguable the best source on the efficiency of most all charities.

 

[Old Seabee]

Giving

Social Justice: The concept of charging the government to take wealth from those who have been productive and redistribute it to individuals who have not been productive in order to prevent them from ever being motivated enough to attain social , economic or mental independence .( Modern Slavery ) Thanks OldSeabee Have a good holiday season

 

[Calaveras Slim]

My wife and I get into some discussions on occasion about this. She is a soft touch and I keep telling her, 90% of the time it's a scam.

I'm just wasting my breath.

 

[hangnoose]

ORGANIZED BEGGARS

I ALWAYS gave to MY LOCAL police and fire dept, and the money DID GO to THEM. these groups that call you on the phone to collect for "police/fire depts", whatever, most of the $ goes into paid staff & operational costs & whatever $ may trickle down could end up who knows where. I gave a few times and it was the worst thing I could have done. Give them money once and they put your name out there and you will be deluged by more of the same phone calls from them and other groups. A little investigation into what % of your donation reaches the intended target vs going to paid employees & operational costs is a good idea.

 

[Nframecollector]

I give to the Salvation Army.....................how anyone can compare them to homeless panhandlers is beyond me!

 

[red14]

I tell everyone who calls (or asks me in person) for charity
the same thing. ''I give all my extra time and money to my
park, whom I coach for since 1986. And it's true. I believe
charity begins at home, and I support my community and
the kids around here.

 

[Maddog 521]

I was sitting outside a coffee house and a guy comes and sits down at my table. He said "good morning they just let me out of jail for loitering and I need a beer. Can you spare a buck"? I handed him a dollar and thanked him for being honest. My good deed for the day.

 

[coltle6920]

My charity starts with family first then will extend to neighbors whom I've known for years. It's a small circle for me because while I'll tolerate people who need help I wont tolerate those that constantly want help.

I used to help out co-workers who were in need until I realized they were scamming the system. We had a sick time system where you could accumulate the hours over the years ( I retired with 100days "donated" back to the company). Other people used their sick days to go to a ballgame or whatever and when they needed the paid time for an actual emergency it wasn't there. That's when the jar got passed around.

While women and children are cherished parts of our lives when was the last time you saw a jar requesting donations for prostate cancer? I never have seen one and I make it a point to let people know.

I'm also sick and tired of these Hollywood actors/tree-huggers that use their "fame" as a podium to get you to donate to their cause.

Like others have posted I would rather donate a little time or effort to a cause because at least then I know where it's going. Charity should not be a job for someone to get filthy rich from. I'm talking about the imbalance of where the monies actually go to such as administrative costs.

Just saying......

 

[Faulkner]

I do donate and I've helped lots of friends, family, and neighbors when they were in need. Sometimes it's money, more often it's help I provide in time and effort. Sometimes it's very worthwhile and rewarding to see people recover from hard times or bad situations, other times I got took but the Lord knows what was in my heart and that's what counts to me.

I do believe that the first step to getting back on your feet is to get off your butt.

 

[S&W45Colt]

Buy $5 gift card from McDonald's and put them in your wallet. If someone asks for some help getting a meal, you can provide it and not contribute to their habit.

I always find it interesting when someone says they don't give to ________. My next question is who do you give to? If they answer ______. I don't say a word, they are helping the less fortunate in a way that makes sense to them. If the answer is no one, I walk away and pretty much write them off.

A man is not put on this earth for just himself. I know I don't want to account for and would not know how to account for, that kind of attitude in the next life. There are those who need help and there are the resource suckers, I'm addressing the truly needy with my comments, anyone who says they do not know anyone truly needy is either lying or leading a very privileged life and can really afford to help others.

 

[mtelkhntr]

I channel my contributions of time and money through the church.

I am on the board of directors of a youth church camp 250 mi. from home which I support in many ways.

I am on the local state governing board of our church body and working on a capital campaign to raise money for among things, mission venture capital to provide funding for groups doing new and innovative mission work assisting the hungry, the poor and those in need.

A man in our local church with no insurance recently spent 52 days in the hospital. I bought him clothes and other supplies while he was in rehab. The wife and I took care of his animals and cleaned his house. The bible study group wanted to do a fundraiser for him so I bought all the food and did a ll the cooking for a pancake breakfast.

There are many ways to serve and donate our time, talents and treasures. One just needs to focus and start moving.

Happy Thanksgiving to All,
Mtelkhntr

 

[vigil617]

I am going to say something here without the intent to get into forbidden "religious" territory. I have said this before, and I appreciate the moderators' tolerance.

"What you do for the least of these, you do for Me."

In life, opportunities to help others are placed before us. These are blessings, to which we can either respond or decline of our own free will. Whatever we choose is between us and Him who provided us the opportunity.

No one likes to feel as if they are being scammed, and there are certainly scammers aplenty out there. We aren't being good stewards of what we have been given, if we throw it away.

At the same time, all that we have is not ours, but His. We are just responsible for it for a little while, while we are here on this Earth. It is right that we share it with those who have less. In fact, it not only is right, it is a joy and a tremendous source of gratitude that we are asked to do so.

Happy Thanksgiving, all, and may all of you be blessed, and recognize the many ways (some of which you might have to think about a bit to realize) that you have been, are being, and will continue to be.

 

[vytoland]

god helps those that.....help themselves...

 

[old bear]

I do donate

First the Salvation Army does not hustle for funds, they request in a very low key fashion, come on ringing a bell is not high pressure, so I always try and drop a few bucks in the kettle when I go by one.

After a life time of working, saving, prudent investing, and a nice inheritance a few years back I'm now able to donate to my local food bank and Remote Area Medical quarterly. I also step it up at this time of the year.

Sadly there are lots of folks, through no fault of there own, who could use a little extra help about now.

Folks I realize that I've posted this before, but do your best to share with others this year. It doesn't have to be a lot, and it will make you feel good about yourself as well.

Happy Holidays All!!

P.s. I do agree with CHUD333, about pan handlers with smart phones. Ya got enough money to pay for the latest smart phone, ya don't need my money.....

 

[vigil617]

god helps those that.....help themselves...

Vyto, this is one of the many examples of a verse commonly believed to be in the Bible, but in fact is not.

The message of His grace is that He helps those not able to help themselves. We all fall into that category at one time or another, and He is always there for us.

Blessings....