Donating money, toys, etc.

May 23, 2008, 1:59 AM

Have you ever donated something to an organization? Have you ever handed over some money to go to a certain group? Ever donated toys during Christmas?

As for me... I'm a cheap bastard. I can only think of one time I've ever donated money which was a few dollars to Korean war veterans. I felt really bad since the Korean war is known as the forgotten war, and veterans have been getting screwed over lately.

Yesterday, when I was buying tickets to see a movie, the cashier asked me if I wanted to donate a dollar to the children's cancer society (something like that). I said no. The girl behind me said: "I probably won't donate a dollar but it's still so sad." Yes it is sad, but I wonder where the money really goes to...

May 23, 2008, 2:19 AM

I'm a cheap bastard too. Only time I've ever donated is when I was little and my mom would donate my clothes I'd outgrown to charities, and that really wasn't of my own accord so it doesn't count.

I don't think I've ever donated anything when a cashier has asked me about it. I think my standard reply is "ehh...not today" so I don't sound too heartless. Ugh, and I seriously HATE those bastards with the Salvation Army that hang around supermarkets during Christmas season, I try to avoid them like the plague.

But yeah...I do wonder where the money goes. You always hear stories about donation supplies and money never going where they need to. A few months ago there was something on the news about how some retail company (Sears maybe? I can't remember) was claiming that they'd donate a percentage of what you payed to some charity...and the actual charity had NO idea, the company had just been saying that as a gimmick to get people to spend more.

May 23, 2008, 2:19 AM

I've taken clothing I've grown out of to the Salvation Army on several occasions. My mom donated most of my old toys from back in the day to the Salvation Army as well, I believe. It's not like I need 'em or anything...

Other than that, I can only think of the times I've dropped spare cash into the collection buckets around Christmas time.

May 23, 2008, 2:22 AM

Yeah I've donated some money and toys, usually something that has to do with children-related though. I've even considered sponsoring a child from another country, but I held back from that one for some reason. I don't know, I guess I wanted to research more on that particular organization first before giving out money monthly to someone I most likely won't even meet. I even got a letter giving out the information of that child (she lives in the Philippines) and what kind of environment she lives in, stating how many siblings she has, the state of their lifestyle, etc. But I had to deny for two reason: one, I was very skeptical, and two, I could barely afford it back then.

So yes, sponsoring is a little different from actually donating a few bucks. I can toss a dollar or two (usually 20 dollars is the limit) carelessly and just hope that it does go to that organization and not some gimmick.

May 23, 2008, 2:24 AM

The most I've ever done was give away old clothes at a donation bin that's set up year-round (I'm probably gonna be doing that some time soon as well).

A few times I gave food to a food drive, but that's it really.

I'm cheap too, so I don't like giving away money. I feel guilty for turning down people who ask, but I also feel bad for giving money away, thinking about the stuff I could've bought that I myself needed.

Like, I don't have a job or anything; if I get money, it's usually on special occasions from family and they always tell me to spend it on something for myself.

Gah, I feel bad either way >__<

May 23, 2008, 2:27 AM

My mom donated old clothes as well. We use to drop them at those drop boxes near supermarkets. Where else would a ton of old out grown clothes go? We don't live near family who wants it. Might as well donate the clothes to children and people who need it.

I heard a lot of corrupt things about churches and where the donation money goes. Like the people who work there use it for their own expenses. That happened to the church I use to go to. One of the fathers, and one of the sisters used the collection money after mass. They use the money for their personal use.

May 23, 2008, 2:30 AM

My best friend locally became the President of a school club called "Together Against Genocide,' which raised thousands of dollars to help the relief effort in Darfur. So, I gave her a good amount of money for it when I could.

May 23, 2008, 2:35 AM

I've also heard plenty of stories pertaining to churches that use donation money and items for their own benefit. As a matter of fact, one of the local churches around where I live is being investigated for conducting charity events and lying about where the money is headed.

I'm sure God's proud.

May 23, 2008, 2:45 AM

Yeah, clothes donation are pretty common, and I've donated so many clothes that belonged to me and my daughter. Food drive is also up there on my list. The last time I donated was a few months ago at my daycare center (food drive).

I've refused a few people as well when they asked me if I wanted to donate...but it wasn't like I was feeling cheap or anything. Usually I just don't have the money (even a dollar) to spare or I needed that money for something else. If I don't have anything to give, then I won't have anything to give, simple as that. But yeah, usually I try to help out just a little if I do have the money, but like I said, it depends on the organization and if I seriously think it can benefit that certain group.

Since we're kinda on topic, I'll mention that the best feeling I've really had that relates to giving money away was last year (during a vacation back in California) when I spotted an old lady digging through a dumpster at the back of a fast food building. I was in the passenger seat and I told my husband to pull over near her as I wanted to give her 20 dollars. She was really surprised and it just made me feel good inside.

Another time was several years ago...a family (without the dad, of course) was at a Wal-Mart parking lot and I guess they got kicked out of their house, so they had their belongings in their car. They were asking for money, so my husband and I treated them to Jack-in-the-Box for dinner. I hate refusing a family in need...so yeah, I guess you could say that I'm not cheap when it comes to these things.

But I really should start watching how much I spend money sometimes. =/