How charitable are we?

[Irving]

How charitable are we?

I've seen mention on here before of people saying that communities should come together to help those in need, rather than through taxes, wealth distribution, welfare, etc. From the outside, a statement like that about communities helping, is a lot easier said than done. However, I don't think anyone on here is blowing any smoke. I think that we will be blown away to find out just what kind, and how much help the members here provide for others. What you post is up to you, but let's hear some of the ways you help others. I'll start.

We're the only ones in our family who pay for babysitting. $125 every two weeks. I pay for someone else's home owners insurance, or else there would be none. That is $70 a month. On top of that we get occasional tanks of gas, family meals, medical bills and prescriptions, and more recently are covering missing income from time taken off of work; once we even lent a credit card for a month (NOT recommended). We pay easily over $5,000 a year directly out of our bank account to help with people in our family.

How about you?

[dwalker460]

Earlier this year I gave a young and struggling racer an engine, ECU, etc to get his drfit car running, and just told him to pay me when he could. Worth about 5K or so, and so far he has payed me $500. I have routinely bought parts, loaned my personal parts and equipment etc. out to those who needed it and were in a tight spot.
I pay for meals for my employees and helpers quite often. I used to buy lunch every day for my staff (when I had one). I just offered an opportunity to help me out in the shop to a former customer who has had a drug problem and needs to have something positive to happen in his life. My wife and I give through out Church, and over the years we have given time and money to those in need.
The past few holidays I try and invite people who do not have friends or relatives close by to spend the holiday with us. I have spent a large portion of my life away from friends and family, have been alone on the holidays- literally so alone and poor I couldnt go out for a holiday dinner, just sat alone in my apartment eating cheap frozen dinners- so I really understand what thats like.
My wife says I am too kind, but my personal belief is that people should help others out as they are able to, and I would literally give someone the shirt off my back if I felt they needed it more than I did and were being honest about their situation.
The converse of that is I have zero sympathy for those who are not trying to work and help themselves, I have no issue seeing someone suffer because of thier own choices, and will not lift a finger to help those who will not help themselves.

[spittoon]

Good intentions I am good with that but society has learned to be a leach . With a mentality you owe me and i got a obama phone , pay me bitch . Family will even suck you dry if you let them . A church I went to gave cash they stopped it, and just started giving food well they seemed NOT to be good with that.... Cut entitlements and they can get to work like the rest of us . I will help a man that is down but refuse to get take advantage of DAM THAT IS RIGHT I PAY TAXES ,, But yes help you neighbor family and friends but it is a two way street.. and leaches are use to attract bigger fish,

[Sharpienads]

We donate to the American Diabetes Association every so often. During the Waldo Canyon Fire, my wife and I bought a bunch of stuff to make breakfast burritos for the fire fighters. I also do charity work fairly often because part of my job performance report is volunteer stuff, so guys at my shop are always organizing volunteer opportunities. I would like to volunteer/donate more because I believe like you said a free people can take care of each other if the government would encourage (or not discourage)/let them/get out of their way. My wife and I have also discussed housing family members if something were to happen or if they just get too old to be able to live by themselves. That convo was spurred by the show The King of Queens. Great show, Arthur is a riot.

Honestly I don't know what sort of society is worse: one where the government confiscates property from one to give to another, or one where people don't take care of each other. Both are tragic. But with private charity, as opposed to government welfare, those receiving the charity are in some way more responsible to those who give charity. What I mean by that is, when receiving government welfare it's a lot easier to not think about where that money/service is coming from. If you have to look the guy or gal in the eye that is helping you, you're going to (or should at least) feel some sort of personal responsibility to better your own situation (if you are able). Also, if those helping realize that those being helped are just moochers, they're not going to help those individuals anymore. When it's government welfare, you don't have a choice. You are coerced to "give" whether you want to or not or whether the recipient really needs it or not.

[Bailey Guns]

Don't need to go into great detail but we've frequently helped out various people/families in need. We routinely give to the local community resource centers.

Mostly, though, we donate to animal charities. I find it much more rewarding. Most (not all, but most) people have the ability to help themselves on some level and so often refuse or make excuses why they can't. Animals are completely at our mercy. It's not like they can get a job and feed and shelter themselves. And they bring me a lot more happiness than people will and want nothing in return for the fantastic gift of unconditional love they give.

I'd estimate we've given $30k over the last 15 years or so to local and non-local animal shelters...not including the value of our time donated to the same organizations. Worth every penny. I wish I could've done more.

[islandermyk]

In my past years, I've tried to help out as many as I could... I even donated to "The cause" help saving dolphins in Japan and all that good stuff. It may be little, but I do hope it helps out somehow. I've also given my time in physical labor when people need it.

I am by no means "rich" and nor am I really "well off", but I do try to help out the best I can with what I have... even if it requires me to eat ramen for weeks if not months.

With all this said... I don't expect anything back in return.... and I will tell this to the people I help...

[zteknik]

I may not have a lot of money but I donate my time whenever I can.Mostly I help out with freinds and family that need help.
I usaly help repair their vehicles when their down on cash,they buy parts and I'll do the labor.But thats not for just anybody in the family.There are a few leeches that just come to you for just when they need something and allways expect a handout,those are the ones I ask for cash up front-they need a lesson in life..

Usualy if anybody needs something I'm more than willing to help just as long as I know the person isn't the type that just wants stuff for free..
And I dont ask for anything in return. Karma has a way of working full circle.
Do the right thing and the rewards will be tenfold...

[Aloha_Shooter]

Rather than brag on myself, let me talk about things I've seen:
- My workplace sponsors 2-3 needy families every year to enable parents who are down on their luck to give their kids a special joyous time at Christmas. The families are screened by a third party but the families' profiles are posted and not only do people at work drop some serious cash to help out, they give their own time to shop, wrap and deliver the goods. We have received some GREAT thank you letters from the parents and kids!
- Our Scout troop bought a used bus over 20 years ago to enable a cross-country trip to visit the National Jamboree. One father opened his Garage to us for several weeks and spent time with us showing us how to pull the motor and transmission, do some of the easier disassembly and then put it all back to together after he and his assistants donated their time to rebuild the carb, engine and transmission.
- While on our trip, we had an overheat to the point of needing new headers. A bunch of bus mechanics from Baltimore towed us to their shop, one guy donated his racing headers and they all put several hours in putting everything back together. They wouldn't even let us buy them soda or beer.
- Both our district and BSA council have received amazing support from local businesses despite the financial crunch of the past few years.
- I had a bolt blown out on one of my WW II-era Mossberg 44s at a recent Scout shootarama. I got on a collector site to ask about sources for a replacement bolt after striking out at Havlin Sales and Numrich. I had one collector, noting it was rifle used for teaching Scouts, who told me he'd sell me one of his spares at cost -- didn't even want postage (the fact he was willing to let go of a very scarce, very highly sought-after part at all was amazing) but I felt obliged to write the check out to cover postage and a couple beers as well.
- While riding my bike this summer, I ended up miscalculating the amount of gas left in the tank and ran out about 0.5 mile or so from the nearest gas station. I had several people stop to ask if i needed help while I was pushing the bike uphill (Road Kings are NOT lightweights!) then had one gentleman stop his NAACP van and INSIST I take 1 gallon of gas -- and again, wouldn't take a dime. He preferred I pay it forward (and I have and will continue to do so!).
- The Marine Corps Reserve and Young Marines were out in front of Sam's Club today collecting for Toys for Tots. I saw full jars of cash and boxes of toys.
- The recent Waldo Canyon fire showed the depth of generosity in Colorado Springs with people donating water, blankets, food and (of course) cash immediately even as the fire was still being fought.
- I've usually been out of town when they held the Best Christmas Ever event at Mr. Biggs but got to volunteer once before they shut down. It was incredible to see people donating toys, cash and time -- and even better to see how genuinely grateful most of the recipients were. It definitely showed a lot of people weren't succumbing to the entitlement mentality.
- Several of the "local" wildlife refuges (two wolf sanctuaries and a big cat sanctuary) benefit from hunters donating their kills and farmers donating animals that were going to be put down anyway.
- Dozens of people donate time and materials to support the Pikes Peak Regional Science Fair every year.

Whole lot more efforts out there with people donating time, cash and materials and not a bit of it involving the Federal government.

[Great-Kazoo]

When we can, we do. When we cannot, we don't ask.
Numerous days spent on the rez running plumbing, electrical, installing appliances, building a library etc. A dollar or 2 here and there to those selling at store fronts, without taking any of their product. Annual donation to LE & FD funds.
The guy or gal ringing my doorbell @ 8pm standing in front of the NO SOLICITING SIGN, i call the cops.
The freeloading homeless fuker with the PLEASE HELP - AMEN sign on the corner. I tell them to sell their mtn bike (average $150) get rid of the dog they have (how much to feed) AND QUIT SMOKING ($5+) per pack. They ain't homeless or hungary, just freeloading scam artist.

[roberth]

I'm charitable when I can be. I like to help people who really need it.

[Big Wall]

We do what we can wnen we can and only ask that it be passed on.

[Big Wall]

Whoops!

[hatidua]

The guy or gal ringing my doorbell @ 8pm standing in front of the NO SOLICITING SIGN, i call the cops.

I wish that'd work around my neighborhood, the salvation sellers are thick here trying to solicit the lost.

[Goodburbon]

My BIL had a CHL but no carry piece. He was given one. My neighbor's sink was clogged for a few months, when we visited and I found out, I fixed it...That was worth more than the damn gun, being covered in months old decaying sink garbage under a house... My other neighbor was out struggling with post holes for a fence... I brought him my tractor with auger. My other neighbors kids broke their trampoline. I brought over my welder and fixed it for them. A local equine center had fallen upon hard times and many of their stalls were uninhabitable. I brought over the Welder and repaired more than a dozen stalls. I volunteer firefight. I will help anyone that I can help that asks for it, and when I just see a need. I taught another neighbor to skin a deer at 9pm one night when the sheriff gave them some roadkill. My monetary donations are slim, but I donate about 2 pickup truckloads a year to goodwill, and all the time I can manage to making my neighbors more comfortable. Heck, one of the neighbor's kids lives with me because his parent's home is so crowded. This year I also donated about 200# of canned goods to the local food bank.



In return I'm turned in for watering my animals with my well ( I have a legal well), and my closer neighbors hear from the grapevine that I'm the guy that turns everyone in for everything. I don't care, I'll still do what I do.

[sniper7]

We do quite a bit but mostly im proud to donate monthly to 4 different military organizations that help our soldiers and wounded.

[Great-Kazoo]

I wish that'd work around my neighborhood, the salvation sellers are thick here trying to solicit the lost.

My local PD has Free NO SOLICITING stickers you want a couple? Pretty bad when you have someone trying to pawn off reading material and not understand what NO Soliciting means:(

[Ashton]

I'm glad I live in a subdivision that's "off the beaten path" I can't remember the last time I got a solicitor. Only jehovas witnesses.

[Ashton]

I help single moms? Often.

[Sharpienads]

I help single moms? Often.

Lol. Help single moms and help young ladies afford college. You, sir, are quite charitable indeed!