Charity

[LixyChick]

They say, "Charity begins at home", and so I interpreted this as meaning one would have to have a home to be charitable to oneself. Ergo the reason my favorite charity is Habitat for Humanty.

I donate to very few charities because it seems so many have such high overhead just to keep running to collect more money to cover the overhead, that the donations are rather minimal when they get to their final destination. I like results and I think HfH proves their results on a daily basis. I believe everyone should have a decent home to live in and that they should demonstrate their worthiness of said home with lots of sweat equity (something HfH requires in order to receive a home). These houses are built by people who donate their time and so too is the materials that are used to build them, or at the least the materials are aquired at an extreme discount. This way, more homes can be renovated or built with less overhead and no payroll.

The families that receive these homes are low income and come from pitiful circumstances. The homes they receive are paid for based on their incomes, from a loan with a very low interest rate. Yes, they still have to buy the home but in any other situation these families would never be able to aquire a mortgage to purchase a home on their own. When granted a home that they can be proud of, it seems the entire family prospers in self esteem and pride and a better life is born.

I mentioned HfH in a reply in another thread and it got me to thinking................

Do you have a favorite charity and why is it your favorite?

Oh....and BTW! "ME" is not a charity! LOL!

[Lilith]

Beings that I quit working to fulfill my dreams, we are usually fairly broke, but I believe very much in giving whatever you can.

I can give time. So I went through some intense training and have become a GAL, Guardian Ad Litem. I investigate the happenings in the lives of children who have been taken from their families by the court system. I make reports and represent what is believed to be in the best interest of the children in all court/ official proceedings. I become that child's/children (usually siblings) personal advocate. It is extremely challenging and scary too sometimes but without a doubt I know I made someone's life better and that is what I am here for.

ANYONE can become a GAL!!!! Look in the phone book! Make a difference!

[Scarecrow]

For over twenty years I have give my time to the local Girl Scout Council on the Board of Directors and various committees hoping to improve the programs for the girls.

[LixyChick]

Very admirable Lilith and Scarecrow!

I might just look into GAL, Lilith! Sounds like something I would be good at! I'm not a mother, but I do have the motherly instinct and I think all children in dire straights should have the best chance at a better future!

Just gotta free up some time now! TY Lil!

[Sharni]

Bilbo and I have given to and still do

World Wildlife Fund
WorldVision
Sporting Wheelies
Guide Dogs
Salvation Army
Red Cross
Childrens Hospital
Breast Cancer Research
Luekemia Foundation

And others
We help out where we can

[LixyChick]

Wow! Shar! Some excellent choices! Maybe we'll scare up some philanthropic wannabee Pixies by this thread!?

[2-4-tea]

Lixy, I have done all sorts of charity events. The Habitat for Humanty is a very special one to mine and my familys hearts because when both my great Grandparents died my family donated the house to that charity, they had a big cermony for the rededication for the house a very nice family got it, my family had over 25 people there to welcome the new people to the house and I know somewhere my great grandmother was there in spirit smiling.

Other things I have done is paddled for people for the fuel fund my sister and I finished 3rd we collected 35 balls out of Baltimores Inner Habor. The most unusual thing I did was jump in jello for Lukemia I did that twice first time is was cold and you got stuck the second time it was like soup green jello.

[scotzoidman]

I really don't have a lot of time or ANY money to do much charity, other than donating old stuff to Goodwill, but I've always thought Habitat seemed to be one the most decent ones for all the reasons you mentioned, Lixy...I got no problem swinging a hammer & such, I might just look in to that next time I hear of one going on around here...

[Summer]

BTW Lixy one of my favorite places to shop is The Habitat for Humanity Home Center. It is a thrift store ran by volunteers that benefit Habitat for Humanity. I take my children there to get clothes and other odds and ends. My husband goes there on a regular basis checking out building supplies and old appliances.

Also in April my husband and myself are going to do a charity auction for my daughters school. I volunteer my time to anything that is a good cause.

[LixyChick]

Awwwwwww! We are all such good people at heart! Pervin good people.....but good people none the less!

What a wonderful thing to do with your GGrandparents house 2-4-tea! And the other charitable events sound like a fun day while helping the less fortunate!

Good idea scotz! I don't have a local chapter here but one is coming soon and I am gonna pick up my tools and join in. I hear it can be very rewarding....to you and to the family that get's the home. To know that the local folk accept them into their community by helping build their home.....well, it's just a really nice thing to do!

Oh Summer! We don't have a thrift store for HfH round here. Wonder if I could suggest one? Hmmmmmm! Excellent idea! Maybe it's cause the new chapter of HfH hasn't arrived in this neck of the woods yet. I'll keep an ear open! TY hun!

[dm383]

I'm a member of two charities; the RNLI (the volunteer Lifeboat{coastguard} service here in the UK) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Both of these I give monthly donations to via a "covenant" - it just means they get a tax-break from my contributions (Somehow... don't ask me how!!)

I also support the WWF and various others on a "have cash- will give" kind of basis

DM

[Steph]

I volunteer for the left-wing party in Canada - the New Democratic Party (NDP)

I donate to the WWF, the Salvation Army, and the Canadian Cancer Society.

[Oldfart]

Lixy, have you totally lost the plot?

What the heck...............

Sorry, I thought you said Chastity. d'Oh!!

[dicksbro]

Since I retired, our budget is also more constrained ... but we do give to our church and to charities such as The Salavation Army at the holidays.

Beyond that, we've sponsored a young girl in Mexico and do volunteer work to help an Appalacian organization called the St. Jude Mission which collects clothes, appliances and furniture to help people in this economically depressed area. I didn't get to last year (2002), but this year I hope to go with a group of guys down to Appalacia to help with home repairs and other projects like that. We collect and send just over one fully loaded semi-truck a month from April to November.

Same group also helps collect medical equipment and school furnishings for Guatamala and Uganda. we've furnished schools and a hospital with significant amounts of equipment.

I'm a member of a fraternal/charitable organization that this past year collected over $11,000 for a young boy who needed a liver transplant, and over $30,000 for a man suffering from cancer (who had no insurance). That group also raises money for a variety of charities. Some donations to these activities as well.

Visit with and deliver communion to shut-ins.

Don't know if you count all that as charity, unless you think in terms of keeping me off the streets. :D :D

[Sugarsprinkles]

At the moment my personal favorite charity is the Branson Tri-Lakes Area Humane Society, here in the Branson, Missouri area. They generously took my 4 cats in when we had to move and had nowhere to stay where I could have them with me. They housed them for over 3 months and asked for nothing in return other than I supply their food and litter, which I would have done even without asking. They are a 100% no-kill shelter and receive no funding other than individual contributions and revenue from a thrift store they operate with donated goods.
The people that operate it are some of the most caring, loving and generous people I've ever met.

[celticangel]

Action Aid
the Church of Scotland
Any other causes when I can