Where does charity begin?

[*sunflower*]

The government doesn't necessarily give direct funding to organisations that do medical or environmental research (unless, for example, a hospital based research programme). This important work can continue because people donate and raise money and do volunteer work and also because scientists and researchers have an interest in that particular field. So donating money is important.

That's not to say helping out in a more active capacity isn't important either, I just don't think people should undervalue money in this situation.

The fact that you can get it back in your tax means that hopefully, more people will donate money (for the above reasons). Of course it shouldn't matter (in a moral sense), but realistically it does.

 

[Backo]

Hmm... I give a monthly donation to the red cross, and I used to give blood. I am going to start giving blood again because I used to like the gift i could give someone. I havent in about 3-4 years because of obvious reasons but now im clean so yeah.

I also give money to the Aids Foundation because its an extremely worthwhile cause, and the people with buckets are great people.

 

[*sunflower*]

No prick gave a shit about me when I was down other than the odd mate or two.

So Fuck all of them.

If you're ever diagnosed with a medical condition (and this applies to ... oh, 100% of the population at some stage), the fact that this medical condition can be either managed, cured, controlled or at the very worst, give you quality time to say goodbye to your loved ones, is attributable to scientific research which in turn occurs in part because people donate to research organisations.

Money is important to medical research. Without it, the 80% of women who survive breast cancer today (as opposed to 30 years ago) would not be alive for their friends, sisters, mothers and children. And given that 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with it, thats a lot of women.

 

[PsychoKitten]

The company I work for has its own community fund so I donate to that weekly because I know that it makes a real difference, I sit on the community fund board and can see that the funds get dispersed to local communities directly.

I also donate to cancer funds and children’s charities because two of my family members have been ill with cancer, one lost her leg and had a wish granted, so I’ve directly seen the results.

Oh and I always buy those pins at the supermarket and participate in any raffles for charitable concerns.

 

[Macksta]

I sponsor a little girl through World Vision in Mozambique.

Other than that I don't really do much else.

I suppose I sponsor Teresa as much for my benefit as for hers. I certainly feel less guilty about my relatively privileged lifestyle. It's a little bit selfish in a way hmm.

 

[doofqueen]

I think there has alreday been a charity thread here o some of this may be repeated.

I'm a member of greenpeace because i care about what happens to the world i live in and want to make sure it's liveavble for my son and his children.

I donate to st vinnies etc because as a migrant/refugee they really helped us out when we came to australia. I was present of the st vincent de paul group in high school and organised a free bbq for underprivliged kids (because i was one)

I give as much as i can when i can to all the different charity days as anna mentioned aswell.

I'm putting on a party next month to raise money to go towards women who have been in domestic violence situations *cough* check events section *spam* because i was one of those women once.

Makes you feel good doing little things like that. Makes you feel human

 

[Pop Popavich]

I make the odd monetary donation to charities as I see fit, not any one in particular, but I try to find ones that I believe do the most good with my money. I'm somewhat skeptical of how many cents in the dollar some charities actualy pass on to the needy.

On a far more regular basis though I do things for individual people, I always help out friends and family if they need a hand with something or a loan.... actually this pretty much extends to anyone I meet. I quite often buy lunch for homeless people (I would always prefer to buy someone a meal than give them a few $$). I also donate blood regularly, and when I keel over people are welcome to any parts of me that are still useful.

I totally agree with the idea that not all charity is a tax deductible, money donation, and the attitude of the woman Raz mentioned is quite sad. Charity for me is doing anything within my power to help out someone who needs it

 

[Defective_Model]

I also sponsor a boy through World Vision on my own, and a girl with a group of my friends. I came here as a refugee and can relate to many of the hardships kids all over the world face and now that I am in a much better position I am really grateful that I can help someone else.

Other than that, I've donated to Amnesty International and bought badges for breast cancer, stickers for jeans for genes day and other charity-related merchandise. I don't do this every year for every charity, but if I happen to have enough cash on me at the time I certainly do support the cause.

I also clean out my wardrobe every so often and take all the stuff I no longer wear into one of the Smiths Family bins.

For a while I've been thinking about volunteering in a homeless shelter, these holidays I may get onto that.

That some people aren't willing to donate if it isn't tax deductible goes against what chairty stands for - a selfless act for another's benefit. The point is to help others or help a cause, not to help yourself. Not getting it back in tax is a horrible reason to put forward for not donating, it's better to just say "I don't want to. I have my own things to worry about". However, I think it's wrong for people to criticize rich people who donate huge amounts of money to charity on the basis that they only do it to pay less tax. This may be their motivation (but may not) but in the end the charity still gets the money and that's the important thing.

 

[Taliana]

I recently donated to the Darfur appeal, one of the most starved countries that is one of also the least known about who is at war... such a beautiful culture...forced to move out of their homes due to civil wars.

http://www.wfp.org/

I do what i can for the environment but not enough.

I have and always will donate my organs when i die, and im with SLM, everyone should be an organ donar, what good are your organs when you are dead. Sure, the earth could use them, but people could use them also.

I dont give enough though.

 

[Solipsist]

I donate monthly to Amnesty International. I'm not entirely sure why... I got charmed by lovely English charity pimp at Central Station and thought it was a good idea. I like that they help people who are forced to face the kind of problems I will never have to deal with.

I'm thinking about changing charities every 6 months or so, though. There are a number of other charities I would like to support, but can't afford. Changing every few months would be a pleasant compromise.

 

[Cookiequeen]

I always give money to the Queensland Cancer fund as I watched my nanna die from Cancer and hopefully one day other grandaughters won't have to see what I saw because my nanna lived with us.
but apart from that I tend to support all sorts. If it is red nose day I buy one, for the deaf society I buy a butterfly ect ect.I also but cat and dog food and put it in the rspca bin at my local shoping center because I know they need all the support they can get plus I hate to see animals in pain or suffering.
I would like to sponsor a child but don't feel at the moment I am able to do it.
One day though deffinetly.

 

[- l - u - c - e -]

My boyfriend and I are going to sponsor a child, probably thru world vision.
I would love to donate alot more of my money to charity, but I cant help spending it on myself.. Hmm..

 

[m4dd0g]

*bump*

Was thinking about this recently and wanted to hear if anyone knew much about the effectiveness of some of the 3rd world charities?

 

[Strawberry_lovemuffin]

Through my encouragement our workplace now gets into "causes" pretty heavily. We recently had an "Australia's Biggest Morning Tea" where we raised $6000 for cancer research ($5000 contributed by the company itself). We also do Jeans for Genes day, and all those other things.

Gotta say, it actually makes me feel really good to give money to these things. I'm in a position now where I can do it, and why the hell not.

When Jamie Oliver starts his "Fifteen" restaurant in St. Kilda I'll go there too.

The only thing I DON'T like is being accosted by tin-rattlers as I enter or leave a supermarket. For some reason it REALLY bugs me. Yes, I'll contribute if I want to, but generally I prefer to do it on my own time, not made to feel guilty because I pass them by with their puppy-dog eyes and their pathetically held-out tins and signs.... even worse when they actually block your way and ask for a donation. Hey... I just want to get my bread and milk, okay. And am most likely in a hurry.

It strikes me as manipulative, because they *know* you have money, because you've just bought groceries. That's why I don't like it. I will donate to causes on my own time, in my own way, but I really do not appreciate the hard sell. Telemarketers for charities as well (although I have been known to give my credit card details to Canteen, they're very very good ). I actually don't mind those who knock on the front door - but supermarket entrance-blockers, tin-rattlers at intersections, and people who phone during dinner time, I've no time for whatsoever.