Yesterday, Mortgage Partner had a great blog about philanthropy. Or rather, he linked to a blog about philanthropy. Whatever. Same thing. Also yesterday, while I was grading reading responses from my students, one of them commented that it seems charities really ramp things up during the cold months but seem to stagnate when it's warm. That got me thinking about the connection between giving and the so-called holiday season. I admit I'm prone to charitable acts this time of year--you know, the whole Sharing is Caring thing. And yes, the Salvation Army does some stuff that's a little too fundy for my liking, but the organization's heart is in the right place. I'd rather give to the red kettle than the panhandler asking for a downpayment on a cheeseburger.
But why is it that we open our hearts up so much this time of year and seem to want to forget that people are starving/needing medical treatment or shelter the rest of the year? What is this connection between the "holiday spirit" and philanthropy?
After all my family-related stress this fall, I'm planning to keep this Christmas low key in the gift-giving department. And for that matter, I'm kind of thinking that's how it should be year-round. I look at my own house and life and realize I don't need anything, and in fact, I have plenty to give. Not money really, because we're squeezing by as it is. But I have things to spare, and if I look hard enough, I even have time.
Now I know that my readership isn't tremendous, but those of you faithful readers who do come by here occasionally, I'd like your feedback on the whole philanthropy-holiday connection. I know most of you personally, and I also know I'm preaching to the choir here. But maybe you know of some people whose ears could stand to be bent a little. As I noted on Mortgage Partner's blog, we need to be thinking about Phil Anthropy and not Phil Entropy.
4 comments:
It could be that commercialism is the flip side of charitable giving. When you have more of one, there's more of the other. Simplistic, I know....
Recently I started "shopping" by just walking through a store. This is really fun at the grocery store... I go up to a food, like Buffalo Wing flavored Pretzel Nibs and I think "MMMmmm yum" and I think about eating them and how they'll taste and I enjoy it. Then I think about all the things in the world... and how I managed to get by 3 years in London with now Buffalo Wing flavored pretzel Nibs and I saw, "Nice seeing you!" and I move on the Hostess Cupcakes.
That was off the subject a little but not much. You can shop for charities too, and it's pretty much all the same. Everyone just wants you to buy MORE at this time of year, of everything.
But, you can't. No one can. I mean come on.
I think there are two ways to think about charity: one, tradition and two, spontaneity.
First, you have the things that you do. Like for example, my Mom does not give any money to the bell ringers all Xmas long. However, a couple days before Xmas, she puts some large amount of money-- 40 bucks maybe -- in one pot. That's it.
As for me, my charity is a little girl in Brazil. Also, a place in Colorado. And a place in London. They are my people and I love them. I take care of them.
However, secondly, I think you need to be spontaneous too. So when a hurricane hits, you have to have that part of you that just says, "Yeah, lets go to Mississippi and help build houses for a month" or whatever. This keeps you in the wildness of life and also makes it fresh.
As for me, charity is much more useful in the form of service. But that's me... some people will always make the excuse that they have no time, so money works better for them. I say, ask yourself: If your car was stuck in the snow, how glad would you be if someone drove by and threw a 20 at you?
Yo!
I am on my second little Guatamalan girl from Children International and until just recently supported a woman in Africa trying to start her own business. I had to cut that one off for personal financial reasons, but I'm hoping to start back up again after the new year. Around Christmas, I try to support local people. I keep giving Operation Breakthrough all the little angel's old stuff even though I could probably sell it or give it to family. I feel like they need it more.
Personally, I feel like every time you let someone into traffic, treat a homeless person with respect or compliment someone on their fabulous-if-inexpensive clothing or decor, you spread good cheer and respect. I try to spread my respect around as much if not more than my money. When I have money, I'm more generous with sharing it. Right now, since I don't have a lot of money, I'm trying to unload my stuff in the right places every time I clean our closets. I'm also trying to accumulate the least amount of stuff possible.
I have the worst time this year - I want to give to everyone! I have to reign in my spending for family and friends, so the non-profit section gets left out of our spending equation this time of year. But year-round I have subscriptions to several magazines whose organizations I feel are important - I get something, and so do they. And we sponsor an adorable 4yr-old Colombian girl - and that good feeling is ongoing.
No more garage sales - I give things away to the VFW and BBBS (BigBrosBigSis). We give to Toys for Tots every year, and S gives toys away that she's picked out from her toybox.
The best thing I can give is, oddly enough, my blood. I'm making it my goal to donate blood to our Community Blood Center as much as I can before Jan. People forget how vital that so-common substance is -- its still needed, although no one has the time to give it during the holidays. I can handle the needle part, and it can by done over my lunch hour. Only costs my time. And it could save a life. Now there is a gift!
Now, if I just had more time to volunteer - looks like a New Years resolution!
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