Do you regularly contribute to charity?

**Mojjo** · 06-29-2005, 09:11 PM

DH and I are thinking of doing it regularly...mulling over options. I think it is going to be really important to us even in a frugal lifestyle.

Do you?

**AmyMCGS** · 06-29-2005, 09:17 PM

I put money in the basket every week at church.

We make donations to the Arbor Day Foundation when someone passes away to have trees planted in their memory.

We donate "stuff" to Goodwill every month or so-- but I guess that's not the same, really.

And we donate $$ to ChemoAngels, the Humane Society, and other charities periodically.

So.... I guess none of our contributions are exactly regular (scheduled) but we do donate monthly to somewhere.

**kaykwilts** · 06-29-2005, 10:23 PM

We tithe every week to our church. Our church supports various worthy causes.

**PrairieRose** · 06-30-2005, 06:22 PM

We donate to the local charities (school fund raisers, baseball teams, football teams, etc...) very often and we try to donate money to a very worthy cause at least once a month on top of that.

**sunshine** · 06-30-2005, 06:40 PM

We tithe.

I make crochet, knitted, sewn items for Pine Ridge reservation, for the local homeless shelter, and for preemie nurseries in our area.

I donate my hair to locks of love, whenever I have a reason to cut my hair (looks to be soon, and my hair is long enough again)

I frequently drop change/bills in the various cans at the gas station/grocery store. Depends on the cause, as to the amount I put in it.

My kids generally do a mission program every summer ( couldn't this year, but plan on it again next yera) wher they re-roof, paint, repair eldery person's homes.

**Darlene** · 06-30-2005, 08:08 PM

Yep, most through payroll deductions.

**guest000** · 06-30-2005, 08:24 PM

Yes, we do. Quarterly.

We donate to St. Judes, American Heart Assoc., and to our local SPCA.

We also donate and shop at Goodwill.

**Julia Kimber** · 07-01-2005, 04:59 AM

I knit clothes for overseas orphanages. Our local pharmacy runs this every year for a few months and I try to make a few things to help out.

We also buy raffle tickets for anything close to our hearts ie: cancer, animals etc.

We donate items for re-sale to thrift shops and also to our animal protection society plus we give them food for the animals.

Julia

**Early Bird** · 07-01-2005, 08:21 AM

When DH and I were engaged, he said, "And we'll give 10% to charity."

I squawked. I argued. I probably wept.

He was not going to be budged.

I finally figured out that he was adamant. So, rather than break up a great relationship, ... I agreed.

About 15 years into marriage, we went from tithing on our net to tithing on our gross.

And we have been blessed.

There are times I'd definitely like the things that more money could buy -- a new car, home improvements, etc.

But our donations are going to help people who need the things that money can buy.

However, I wouldn't have come to charitable giving without DH's persistance.

**britbunny** · 07-01-2005, 09:32 AM

There's usually a bucket collection at the rugby each week either for a local charity or fundraising for local kids teams which we take money to donate to. MIL volunteers for a dog rescue charity so we take part in their fundraisers.

As far as having a direct debit or regular payments to a charity, no I do not. I take donations of clothes and household goods to charity shops - I do not shop in them though.

Last year I bought charity gifts, i.e I donated an amount and the person I was buying a gift for recieved a card saying "you have bought some goats" etc. I was actually looked down on a little bit for "not buying proper gifts", this soon stopped when then tsunami happened - I guess it brought things home to everyone.

**cheapgeek** · 08-10-2005, 01:45 PM

I don't actually write cheques or anything; I prefer to stay anonymous and remain off mailing and marketing lists. I donate the way others have mentioned: change into boxes at counters, I donate my used stuff, I save Canadian Tire money and grocery receipts for the animal shelter, and every time I go to a large grocery store, I buy at least one non-perishable item to throw into the local food bank's bin at the front of the store.

bg · 08-10-2005, 02:10 PM

I used to donate to big charities till I worked for one and found out that one person's job was to exchange mailing lists with other charities. Suddenly it dawned on me, why I kept getting solicitations from random organizations (not to mention the unwanted paper).

Now I donate money to small businesses that I believe in (small time radio shows or websites that have helped me - FV is on that list of websites that I intend to donate to

).

**forestdale** · 08-10-2005, 04:15 PM

Developing a generous attitude is an important part of my simple life philosophy. I donate to various charities that I'm interested in but more importantly I give my time and effort to anyone who needs it.

**waterlover** · 08-10-2005, 08:35 PM

We tithe at church
and
instead of a change jar we have a baby bottle, once thats filled up, I write a check for the amount to a local pregnancy center. The center came up with the baby bottle idea. They handed out special bottles at a presentation they gave at one of our womens breakfasts at church.

**annieacid** · 08-11-2005, 10:07 AM

I donate monthly to the adopt-a-farm-animal program at Farm Sanctuary. Yeah, I know they exchange my info with others places that seek donations, and I can't donate to them all, but I've been to farm sanctuary and I like what they do.

I also give on a semi-regular basis to Goodwill, and shop there as well.

I give away things on freecycle, which doesn't count as charity really, but last night someone picked up 3 bags of food from me that she was going to give to a homeless woman she helps out.

I also buy a toy for tots every year at Christmas.

Oh, and I also lend people close to me money when they need it. Does that count? I'll always help anyone in need. I think I'd even give $$ to a friend at work if they were desperate.