charity is like fast food

[dvtimes]

Its rather easy and quick to give a few quid to charity, or do some pointless silly money raising gimick (such as doing a run to rais money).

Its popular as it makes people feel they have done good.

It makes people not feel the need to do somthing worthwhile such as realy go out to help people. The same people who give a few quid to charity probably will drive past somone who has broken down or who needs help.

Just a thought.

[SGS]

Charity begins at home.

[Pandemos]

Charity begins at home.

LOL, I knew exactly what your post would say before I read it ;)

[SGS]

LOL, I knew exactly what your post would say before I read it ;)

;)

[Geezer]

Its rather easy and quick to give a few quid to charity, or do some pointless silly money raising gimick (such as doing a run to rais money).

Its popular as it makes people feel they have done good.

It makes people not feel the need to do somthing worthwhile such as realy go out to help people. The same people who give a few quid to charity probably will drive past somone who has broken down or who needs help.

Just a thought.


So how is it like fast food?

[Bernice]

I worked at a charity shelter for the homeless in London last year for about 6 months. A friend of mine does a lot of charity work and roped me in as a long time ago I used to run a commercial kitchen and they badly needed an experienced chef/chefette to handle the kitchen. I wasnt exactly a master ched but I knew enough to get the kitchen team organised and get the meals flowing through.

I found it VERY rewarding to be doing something for people who have had a worse life thn my own and I'll tell you this - its TOTALLY changes your views about homeless people.

I think before I started I woulkd have agreed that most homelss people are feckless, alcoholic, drug users etc who bought in on themselves. The reality is VERY different.

Most of the people coming in for food and the night shelter were people who have simply had some very bad breaks. Abused teenagers on the run, ex-service people who have left after 25 years and simply cant cope outside of the services, middle class people who have taken a very bad knock through illness, redundancy, broken marraiages etc.

Some of it was heartbreaking to see - especially services people who have served their country and then are left to fend for themselves as best as they can, ofetn traumatised from combat and so forth.

Last xmas I did a toy drice for kids in orphanges abroad who fdont get many breaks - my partner and I collected enough stuff for about 500 boxes of presents. Each box contains a pack for a child - a few toys, some sweets, colored crayons and so forth. We were just part of a bigger operation that made a drop of about 20,000 xmas packs.

When my sites were up there with the bog boys I used to donate all of christmas weeks takings to charity - used ti tun a banner on the sites saying 'now you can be naught and be good at the same time' the surfer can have his naught fun and know he is doing some good.

Last big one I donated to was St Dunstans and I still have a very nice letter from a certain general to say thanks for the cash - think the cheque was about £3,000 off the top of my head.

I'd agree DVT - people often put a few bob ina collection jar and think thats qualified them to say they are charitable. All it really does is salve the conscience. I have done it myuself but I find being actually involved is much better. It can be dun, you have some laughs and you get a real feeling of acheivement that you have made someones life maybe just a tiny bit better.

[dvtimes]

So how is it like fast food?

Its like fast food in that its rather cheap and quick with no need of any real effort.

By this I mean modern tacky charity methods. Such as red nose day and in deed today with the london marothon.

By this imean you can nip out do somthing quick or give a few pounds. Makes you feel good and thats it.

It takes no effort to give a few pounds. And lets face it the people who cycle or whatever there event is to raise cash do it for the fun of the event.

By this I mean the same people will often do not do the things that take real effort. Ie, they will probably drive past some old lady who has a bust tyer. Rather than stopping to change it for her, will simply drive past.

As a child I often found it amusing that I would be taken to church each sunday. And yet I knew not one of the people going had done anything that week to help somone.

In some ways religion too is like fast food. Pop in a building once a week, sing and dance then leave. No real effort.

Even at aged 9 I used to think that if you realy were a proper christian then surly you would not have the time to go to church, you would be out helping homeless people.

I also find it rather tacky that Alan Suger (amstread chap from the apprentace) going on about all his charity work. For him its just a jolly event for him and his chumbs to feel less gulty about getting rich and ripping off his customers (buy one of his crappy net phones and you will see what I mean).

Basicly what I am saying is that doing silly events or giving a few pounds is easy. Its like driving into a drive through. No effort, quick and no thought needed.

[dvtimes]

I think before I started I woulkd have agreed that most homelss people are feckless, alcoholic, drug users etc who bought in on themselves. The reality is VERY different.

I suspect many have learning disabilities. As a student nuse I found many people with learning disabilities ended up living on the streets as they had no help from people.

Also you get ex militery and people with mental health problems on the streets too.

In 2007 we should not have people living this way.

But then again I find it odd that christians do not take these people into there homes and help them. I guess they are far too busy telling us how evil we are.

[Geezer]

A few years ago I dressed my kids up and we walked for miles with buckets, we collected nearly £4,000 in just a few hours. Didn't give it to charity, unless my local offy and takeaway has charity status. Fucking touch ;)
























































Didn't really, but its an idea :)

[bluefox]

I don't think running the marathon for charity is a soft option - it takes many months of training then a gruelling several hours for the actual run. I saw some of the people doing it for charities like 'Children with Leukemia' being interviewed & the definitely weren't doing it for fun. I admire what they are doing & I know I couldn't do it.

As for giving money I give money every month to my chosen charity but generally refuse to give 'off the cuff' to other charities because you don't always know who they are, what they do, how much of the money actually gets through to the needy & if it actually does any good! Plus I'm fed up hearing about dictators just lining their own pockets in Swiss bank accounts! I do sponsor my kids when they do something through their school though, so in that way I give extra to charities.

I know what you're saying about just giving money is the soft option & I agree. Maybe when I'm older & the family have flown the nest I'll have the time to volunteer to help others, but I can honestly say that time is my most precious commodity & I do not have enough myself let alone any to spare. I would imagine this is the case for most people, especially with families. so yes, I take the easy option & give a few quid to charity but I think it's better than doing nothing.

I agree that homelessness is a huge problem & that many people are homeless through no fault of their own & need help. However, with the housing crisis in this country (i.e. lack of) I fear it is only going to get worse.