Cafe Chat Discussion
- JustSmile
Posted on:
5th Feb 2011 02:59pm
Last Post 11th Oct 2012
Replies 24Discussion: Charity is not all about money
So many people think that charity is all about money, at 17 years old I believe this to be very untrue...to me charity is about giving what you can to help others...be it money, clothing, toys, food, blood or a little of your time....
As a young child I remember packing up the toys I had out grown and giving them to an organization that re-gifted them to children that didnt have toys...
this is a prime example of how even children can get into charity...and they are not giving up anything because its toys they dont play with...
In 2007 and 2008 I shaved my head for children fighting cancer, alot of people kept telling me how brave I was for doing it (in 2007 I was one of 2 girls, in 2008 I was the only girl that did it) but in reality its the children that are fighting cancer who are brave because they often dont have a choice in loosing their hair...but I had a chocie and decided to do it not just to raise money and awearness but to also to gain understanding of how being bald can affect a childs life.
During the 2008 headshave I met a little girl who had fought cancer, through talking to her family I learnt that just showing your support makes a pretty big impact...and money does not have to be involved.
I really believe that donating money has nothing on donating time and a helping hand...
- MacSas
Posted on:
10th Feb 2011 08:14amMacSas says: Man are you very grown up for your age!
And you are one of the rare people that truly get it. Charity is from the heart, not always the hand.
Sure there are needs for money to help others, but sometimes the best thing you can do for another person is to just spend time listening to them, taking them out, buying a gift they weren't expecting, taking their kids out for a treat (etc)
People often complain that they don't have the money to support X Y and Z charities, but they have the hearts needed to do a little on the practical side. And most times its the practical stuff that means the most. Something as simple as just a treat or dropping a letter/card in the mail can mean the world to someone. My 6 year old niece is great at doing this kind of thing, thankfully following in my footsteps. I can't afford to donate money to all those I would love to, so I do things like knitting blankets for the Neo Natal Unint or the SPCA, and we both send cards to those that we know are feeling down (etc)
Thank you for being such a stand up person! We need more young uns like you! - JustSmile
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10th Feb 2011 09:38amMacSas says: Man are you very grown up for your age!
And you are one of the rare people that truly get it. Charity is from the heart, not always the hand.
Sure there are needs for money to help others,...JustSmile says: Hi thanks!
EXACTLY! I am so happy you feel the same and that at least one other person here gets it!
Yes doing things like sending cards or flowers to someone who is unwell, knitting blankets or clothing for charity, lending and ear, or spending time helping someone often leaves more of an impact that handing someone money. I really wish that more people could understand this...
It is so cool that you do that!
I just made the short list for a job interveiw with a company that helps fundraise for five charities im unsure which ones yet but I really hope I get the job as this is something I am really good at and really passionate about.
aprat from that last year I was organizing a fundraiser for a young mum who was fighting breast cancer, the strand she had was uncurable so she was told that if she wanted to live she would have to be on a medication called Tykerb for the rest of her life, Tykerb is not government funded so costs thousands of dollars a month. It was really easy to get John Key on board, he was really cool to help and Trelise Cooper but before we could hold the fundraiser the women we were doing it for passed away :(
I wish more people could think out side the box and see the other ways to help people. - neenie
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10th Feb 2011 12:06pmneenie says: i agree ,if a rich person gives money it does not mean a lot to him but if he gives time that could be invaluable.the causes i support mean a lot to me ,i have fostered 15 babies and toddlers and my health has put a stop to that but i got so much out of it that i can never put a value on it.just trying to make a bubs life better gave so much to me and them.
- sallymc
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15th Feb 2011 09:32pmsallymc says: Thanks for this and am thrilled to see younger people even thinking about charity. Often we do not discuss this with them. In the past most charity and giving was done through churches and this is not the way so much now. My own children have been heavily involved in some amazing causes and also fundraising. Each experience has been positive in a way that handing over money could never be. My son wanted to have his hair shaved but was told he was not old enough.... Since I have had cancer but not had chemo we have talked about it and think he understands more than many children would. Helping, volunteering gives to the charity but grows those that do it too.
- JustSmile
Posted on:
16th Feb 2011 05:49amJustSmile says: I believe that if a person gives from his wallet always then he is not giving from his heart...if one gives money they wont get to see/feel that they have helped. I hate to see the people who just dont understand the gravity of helping others as much as you can, be it giving time or meterial items...I really wish more parents would teach their children the gift of giving.
Thank you all for popping into this thread and shearing your thoughts and opinions I really enjoy seeing what others have to say and knowing that there are others here that feel the same as me.
- liz
Posted on:
16th Feb 2011 10:28amliz says: Great discussion and I totally agree. Everyone has the means to do something, even if you have no spare money. We still have a whole lot more than 3/4 of the world's people. At Christmas we all give 'useful gifts' to each other so families in 3rd world countries can benefit from a goat, a toilet, water well, schooling, health checks etc etc etc. There are many groups who have this scheme now.
I also pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child through Samaritans Purse. I buy items all through the year and especially clothing in the after Christmas sales. Knitting blankets for Romania is another hobby, each evening while watching TV I can get through a square or two. We both volunteer with Foundations Worldwide, a Christian group focussing on Romania. Every little bit helps, and it gives one a global vision instead of inward looking self centred pointless 'me first' lifestyle. - wendiau
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16th Feb 2011 04:31pmwendiau says: Hiya...you are a very Brave 17 year old..and I really commend you for doing what you are doing....
I am an Entertainer...and I go and sing for the Nursing Homes and Retirement Villages here in Sydney. I do this full time...and I am just gettng over my fight with Cancer. I had my left lung removed ( Sept 10) and had to stop singing due to this....I have since started back doing a few homes here and there...One of the homes..both Residents and Staff gave up their Kris Kringles and put the money into an envelope and gave it to me to help me thru the tough time of xmas....
I believe that is Karma......
and "JustSmile"... please keep doing what you are doing.. :)
it will come back 10 fold...xo - JustSmile
Posted on:
17th Feb 2011 09:17amwendiau says: Hiya...you are a very Brave 17 year old..and I really commend you for doing what you are doing....
I am an Entertainer...and I go and sing for the Nursing Homes and Retirement Villages here in...JustSmile says: Hi
Thank you but I am not the brave one...you are, making it through cancer and helping others the way you do!
Its so cool that thay did that, and it sure is Karma!
I will never stop...its my thing...its what I do, Helping people is my addiction.
I wish you all the best for 2011
xo - daisy
Posted on:
18th Feb 2011 12:03amdaisy says: why should charity be just about money some chartneed money some are looking for funds
- none
Posted on:
18th Feb 2011 06:08pmnone says: Good on you, i agree with you completely i a a great granny and a recent widow but i still find to do voluntary work for St, Vincent de Paul. i pack and deliver food parcels and help with young Mums. I love love doing it.. However money does help. It enables us to do our work and some people simply don;t have time. At least they are doing something.
- JustSmile
Posted on:
27th Jun 2011 01:42pmnone says: Good on you, i agree with you completely i a a great granny and a recent widow but i still find to do voluntary work for St, Vincent de Paul. i pack and deliver food parcels and help with young...
JustSmile says: thank you for your thoughts, I really have enjoyed hearing everyones thoughts on this! I have not been here in a while so I have just re-read the replys and its amazing to feel the passion and love in them!
- 19chris51
Posted on:
23rd Feb 2011 05:31pm19chris51 says: that is a beautiful attutide you have,your parents must be proud of the person you are! I feel very touched to read your coments as I believe they are very true,you are an execptional person, be very proud.........a beautiful person
- CAT17
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18th Mar 2011 12:47amCAT17 says: Congratulations people like you are worth their weight in gold. You are so right that charity is more than giving money (though ofcourse it is needed) Giving time and physical help means so much to those who are less fortunate. Keep up the good work and good luck with your future charity work.
- fire1
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24th Mar 2011 02:53pmfire1 says: I agree, charity is about so much more than money, while money does have a big impact, finding volunteers these days is the growing concern for most charitys, paid volunteers take away from what the charity can give which is a lose lose situation.
- Cynz
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9th Apr 2011 01:43pmCynz says: I would have to agree with everything you have said. In 2007 i Shaved my arse length Staright hair off to nothing for "Shave a lid for a kid" christmas fundraiser for the cancer ward at my local hospital, i had the longest hair there, and the mc thought i was mad as did all my friends, but when they realised what it was for the had respect for it but not the guts to do themselves. my ponytail was also donated to wig makers to make free wigs for the kids. it is four years on and my hair is still not quite the length it was back then...but i don't care. What i did had a huge impact on people around me and the public. i work in customer servises and the ammount of people that knew before and after the shaving was enough to have a huge impact.
Sometimes we dont have the money to give but we can help in so many other ways and TOO many people don't realise that - Joydy
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19th Apr 2011 09:55amJoydy says: Wow - you are very astute and I couldn't agree more. I have always done some volunteer work usually with children - in the Scout Movement helping out reading, cooking or in other ways at my childrens schools. But now retired and no children at home I have taken on different roles in different organisations. There is something for everyone. Working with children, the enviroment, with the elder, disabled or whatever you enjoy. So put you thinking caps on and do something for the community. You will benefit and it needn't cost you money just some of your time. And you are rewarded so much more than you give.
Take an example from JustSmile and do your bit! - margecd
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18th May 2011 06:06pmmargecd says: Just smile,
What you say is so true, well done! Agree it's not all bout money,....... our time, our effort, re gifting, etc all these things do add up and help. Pity more people don't think like this. ..... - uruz
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22nd Jun 2011 05:34pmuruz says: You remind me of Lions International community service clubs. They have a set of ethics and conduct, one of which says To give freely of my time labour and means, to build up and not. destroy. They are read out at every meeting.
Currently I am a volunteer fire fighter and also a volunteer gardener at the local primary school.
You are a genuine human, well done. - Bambi
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6th Sep 2012 10:01pmBambi says: I agree. A cartoon I read years ago when I was a teenager has stuck steadfast in my mind. It read, "The hearts of many go out to those in need, but it means so much more when their hands do the same."
Since then, when I think of charity, that has been my mantra. - jeanles_195
Posted on:
5th Oct 2012 07:41pmjeanles_195 says: I agree that charity is not all about money. I think it is all about values and teaching our children that there are always people out there worse off than them.
Since my kids were little we go shopping and they have to choose a gift that they would like to donate to someone else who doesn't get much for Christmas and they have to put the gift under the wishing tree at KMart.
I think it is always important to teach them the values that their are people out there worse off than themselves.