....Better known as Charity Muggers. Why do they make me feel so bloody guilty? I donate to a couple of charities through monthly direct debits, always buy a poppy and throw my change in the charity buckets a supermarkets. :Angelic: Walking into NEXT today, a guy accosts me for "Special needs children" :baby::baby:. A worthy cause I think and throw a couple of quid into his rattle tin. "Do you want a sticker?" he enquires. "No, you're alright" I reply and trot along. Anyway 10 mins after mooching about in the store and not finding what I wanted, I leave the shop to be confronted with a woman who has taken over the collection duties. :Wideyed: "Special needs children" she says. Now I suddenly regret not taking up the offer of a sticker 10 mins earlier to prove my previous benevolence, I don't want to look like a lying tight t**t shying off from donating to needy kids by saying that I've already donated, so chuck another couple of quid into the same tin. :Banghead: I walked away cursing my luck when surely I should have had a warm glow. Next time I'm looking at my shoes like everybody else around me did. :Eggonface:
And there was me thinking you were a right wing tory brexit racist knobhead who is only out for himself :Banghead:
Was in Duane Reade yesterday, they ask at the till if you would like to donate and then they all ding a bell and whoop and holla when someone does!!
I don't give to any charity which I know nothing about. "Charities" can be good business for the people running them and there can be hidden agendas. I'd at least want to know how much of each pound donated was actually going to the cause. I never give money to tin rattlers who accost me when I'm going about my business and I don't feel remotely guilty about it any more than I do turning down aggressive beggars trying to cadge money for drink.
I know, the charity bags I get through the letterbox go straight into the bin when I read the small print on where the money goes. I resolve to avoid tin rattlers from this point on
There are often service personnel (it being a garrison town) outside the local supermarket collecting for forces charities. They stand there respectfully and never rattle tins in anyone's face and you know the charity is genuine. I always make a donation. Same with the Salvation Army and the British Legion Poppy appeal.
I'd rather give cash to the fella/girl sleeping in a doorway at 11pm when I'm walking home from the pub. Did it a few years ago, bit pissed tbh, didnt relasise I gave everything in my pocket so no taxi ride home for me. Still the walk (stagger) in the rain for an hour was worth it
A homeless beggar asked a mate of mine for money once saying he hadn't eaten for days. My mate said I'm not giving you money but I'll take you to the chips shop and buy you anything you want. The homeless bloke told him to fuck off. Can't have been that hungry after all. Perhaps he had a fish and chips allergy..
I have never given when asked, nor 'bought' big issue more than once (he wouldnt give me the rag!!) But, I have given to Shelter, made donations to people who stay out in the cold to highlight the issues.
^ that's just sarcastic! I tell to help em with words of wisdom like "charity begins at home"! And "change comes from within my friend" But seriously there too much of it going on, I mean that help for heroes lark, surly thats purely a cop out devised by the ruling government at the time not to support injured/ retired service personnel. It shouldn't be down to emotionally blackmailing the general public on the high street. But what I do find is you can never give too much, I mean you could literally give and give and give until you realise you have become one of those skint old ladies/ men who supports a donkey sanctuary/ cats home somewhere . But it's ok though because these poor defenceless creatures occasionally write to you to let you know how they're getting on! It'll all change when we're the poor man of Europe, happy days ahead!
I like the ones collecting for alzheimers. Just tell them you spoke to them not 5 mins ago. The look on their face is priceless. In most charities their costs run at about 80% so only 20p in every pound goes to the cause you're donating to. I prefer to volunteer rather than donate
Don't see much in the way of tin rattling my way - The preference is to request you sign up a direct debit to them. I scream at them, nose to nose, into the face then run, crying to the nearest traffic warden.
I got involved with our local charity of the year back a few years ago I researched into some big charities and they are run as businesses with the top people getting a very good salary thanks to the general public I would rather give my money to a LOCAL charity who can't compete with the big boys and who have volunteers instead of paid wages £6000 can go a long way to a local charity that same amount disappears into a big charity that you have very little idea of where it goes too I have noticed though the major charities have got a little wise to this and now you can sponsor locally E.g buy a puppy and follow its progress My favourite charity has been the little princess trust every penny raised bought a wig £250 each
