There's a right time to collect
IT is without a doubt that throughout this town and country there are some fantastic charities and charity workers doing some amazing work and fundraising for some excellent causes.
I, myself, over the years, like many others, have done some fundraising and also given cash towards various groups.
However, I believe that it is the person's individual choice to make a donation if they so wish and people should not be made to feel guilty or pestered by groups/persons.
What I mean by this is if you go into a certain supermarket one day, then the gym the next and the following day make a trip to a garden centre and are confronted by the same group/people at each venue rattling a tin, making you feel like you have to make a contribution every time.
Also, when you're out relaxing in the pub and you get people coming round trying to sell you badges/roses for this charity and that charity. When you say no thank you, you feel some embarrassment and guilt at times that you haven't given anything.
Please don't misunderstand what I am saying, I am in no way against fundraising and charity work, but do believe there is a time and place to collect.
And I do worry that more and more people will get fed up if every time they go out to the shops or pub they feel obliged to put their hand in their pocket by the same group/persons.
Andy C, Humberston (full address supplied).
The Telegraph says
Andy's point is a good one and one that has been heard elsewhere. Certainly, charities should be allowed to collect – but people also do have the right to say no and that right should be respected. The real root of the matter here is that charities are so desperate for money in the first place. If these are good causes that benefit the lives of others, they really should not have to "beg" for money in today's modern world – should they?
7 Comments
by warrior, Cleethorpes
Friday, March 12 2010, 12:10PM
“oops, chance's?? try "chance." :-)”
by warrior, Cleethorpes
Friday, March 12 2010, 12:07PM
“Thanks for that Cheerful Charlie.
I have never asked for or received charity in my 71 years on this earth. So I'll keep my money and not take a chance's on it "going astray" in any charity, except perhaps an army charity.”
by Cheerful Charlie, Grimsby
Thursday, March 11 2010, 4:22PM
“Most local charities that I know of, like St Andrew's Hospice for instance, fit your requirements pretty well Warrior. It tends to be the big national charities that have the big overheads. But then again, something like the British Heart Foundation needs to raise a lot of money every year so it is bound to have admin costs.
It's sad that so many people need charities in this day and age with a welfare state and NHS but the government seems to rely on them to fill the gaps that taxpayers would otherwise have to fund.”
by warrior., Cleethorpes
Thursday, March 11 2010, 3:50PM
“oops, I'd better try part of that again. :-(
If I could be given a guarantee that 100% of my donation went directly to the cause, etc....
That's better. :-)”
by warrior, Cleethorpes
Thursday, March 11 2010, 3:43PM
“I don't give to charities any more since I found out years ago that only about 10p of every £ actually goes to the cause and the rest of the money goes to "administration."
I have no intention of contributing to CEO's and directors Savile Row suits, big offices, secretaries, etc.
If I could be given a guarantee the 100% of my donation when directly to the cause, that would be a different matter.
Charity begins at home for me now.”
by Bernard, Sth Killingholme.
Thursday, March 11 2010, 2:47PM
“I agree that there are too many charity collections,
I have no objection to the ones such as Help the heros which i believe is a very worthy cause and will allways give for the brave soldiers who risk their lives for us, What does annoy me is the ones like the Donkey sanctuary reported in one national newspaper today, They are currently advertising for a "marketing director" salary. £70,000 per year.
They also have an executive director who has an assistant director, Who knows what their salarys are, but it is reported that this charity was given donations totalling £22million in 2008.
Not all charitys are on the make but i think the public should be careful when making donations as making a donation to the wrong one can be taking the money from the more worthy causes.
I also agree that the lottery fund which was set up to help charity and worthy causes has been hijacked by the government and the money used for funding goverment projects rather than the ones originally intended.”
by 54321whatnow, barton upon humber
Thursday, March 11 2010, 1:37PM
“Yes, there may always be a need for charities to hold street collections but all those doing the collecting should be appropriately trained so as not to be intrusive or intimidating otherwise they risk alienating people against their cause. Like the writer of the original letter I have taken part in collections. There will be the occasional person who lets you know very forcibly that he/she doesn't agree with your cause but many people are extremely pleasant, especially if with younger children, and clearly enjoy giving.
On a more sour note we should remember that the National Lottery was partially justified by the millions of pounds it would be able to generate for good causes and how its ability to do so has been severely diluted through governmental diversions to what may be vote-winning projects such as the Olympic Games that are probably not going to benefit our local area or its good causes.”