Go to Wislon's modern manners
- Add a comment
- Go to To give or not to give? Charity or modern colonialism?
Thanks
for sharing your experience. I, too, sponsor a child through a charitable agency. She lives in Ecuador and part of the money goes to her and her family and other funds support their entire community. I feel pretty good about it. She sends me drawings (she too young to write) and my daughter and I send her letters of encouragement. I like being in contact with a person and family I am trying to help rather than giving my money to some impersonal organization and worrying about how they manage it and how high their overhead costs are that they take out of every dollar I send. Meanwhile, I found another family in New Orleans suffering after the hurricane. They needed clothing, furniture, food, and lots of moral support. My daughter and I took up a collection of items, including toys and sent them to the family of 68 members. We also sent money, which they desperately needed. We then shared this information on the radio so that others could help as well. This was much more comforting than the many stories we heard from others that they had donated but had no idea what happened to their donations. Everyone in New Orleans is saying they have not seen a dime of the funds people donated from all over the world. This is very sad, but not surprising. At least we know two families on the planet that we have helped received what we sent and it has made a difference.
posted by
rafika
on February 1, 2006 at 10:19 AM
| link to this | reply
giving money isn't as charitable
especially if you don't have any. It's a quick flip of the wallet, and that's it, maybe a tax write-off later. I think people would be better off finding a local charity they can donate their time or skills to, instead of money.
posted by
_the_staggering_genius_
on February 1, 2006 at 9:20 AM
| link to this | reply
There is no answer..
as long as people with greed and self interest are in charge of the charities. You really have to check out the charity you give to, to make sure that your money is helping and not going to administrative fees, or employee expenses. If I donate $10.00 for some kid to get shoes, then he better get those shoes! But how do you really know what your money is really going for? Trust does not equal charity.
posted by
sassmeback
on February 1, 2006 at 7:09 AM
| link to this | reply
Well of course we wonder about these things but I prefer to give when I can. i would not like the idea of someone missing out on help while I quibble the details.
posted by
Azur
on February 1, 2006 at 4:15 AM
| link to this | reply
totally agree - great post, I wish there was an answer
posted by
blagging
on February 1, 2006 at 4:02 AM
| link to this | reply