To what causes do you donate?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (238284)
Walnut Creek, California
September 17, 2019 7:45pm CST
As some of you know, I am quick to give a homeless person on the street a cigarette, or some Altoids (mints), or to listen to their story.
And I have volunteered my time at Catholic Charities, Dapper Hat Fund (for classical musicians without medical insurance), and other "causes" around the Bay Area.
But I am hesitant to "send money" anywhere. I have seen clothing donations stolen by the Director at a mother-and-child drug rehab facility where I worked. She also embezzled money from the facility.
I saw grant money (I wrote the grant) stolen by another Director at the same facility. The money was supposed to be used to buy musical instrumements for the children there.
I have seen corruption even at a place of worship where I once worked.
But I HAVE donated small amounts of money to several radio stations that play classical and jazz music in the Bay Area, including KDFC and KCSM.
Right now I'm listening to a "fund drive" being held by a National Pubic Radio station out of Sacramento that I often listen to. They play classical music during the day, and jazz music in the evenings.
I am SO tempted to call and make a small donation. But the cynicism induced by my negative work experiences is holding me back.
Would you donate? Do you donate to certain causes? Have you ever witnessed embezzlement of funds and other kinds of corruption at places where you've worked?
18 people like this
16 responses
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
18 Sep 19
I know this one woman, well I dont know her but I know her family, she worked at the church and stole over $100,000.
I have fed homeless people randomly, with them not asking. I will give people food, no problem. But my heart goes to the children with cancer, adults with cancer suffer so much, how do they handle this? Its St. Jude`s for me.
5 people like this
@TheHorse (238284)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Sep 19
A lawyer friend if mine represented an Indian-American man who owned a truck stop. Some of the young women who worked for him stole $400,000 in cash from his truck stop. They were videoed doing so. The DA in that county was too busy to ever press charges against them. They're still out there doing what they do.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
18 Sep 19
@TheHorse I never heard what happened, but he daddy in law was the preacher there at the time.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (122101)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
18 Sep 19
I do donate to veterans causes since some my relatives did serve in the military as well as donate money to the Goodwill programs to assist people who need to get on their feet.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (238284)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Sep 19
@Deepizzaguy They are indeed.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122101)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
18 Sep 19
@TheHorse That would be a great idea since the horrors of war is very traumatic.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135664)
• Marion, Ohio
18 Sep 19
I almost never give money. I do donate stuff I no longer want or need.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135664)
• Marion, Ohio
18 Sep 19
@TheHorse Yes you always know that one was used right.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97954)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
18 Sep 19
I would love to donate to the homeless, to children's needs, and of course to animals but I just cannot spare any money now. I am considering adopting a new cat so that will have to be my contribution for now.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40845)
• Laguna Woods, California
18 Sep 19
Yes, I know about the same kinds of incidents as you have described. Still, I donate to the Red Cross when there is a crisis. I donate to our church. I donate to politicians whom I believe will vote the way I want on issues which are important to me ... even though I am skeptical of politicians, in general. I also volunteer in our local homeless shelter, taking food once a month with other members of a group from our church. I do what I can. Here's a picture I took at the Laguna Shelter one time. A man from our church was playing holiday songs on his guitar, and many of the homeless sang along.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40845)
• Laguna Woods, California
19 Sep 19
@TheHorse - My husband and I enjoy taking the food to the shelter and serving it. As you say, we know the food is eaten by the people who are there and we also get to know some of them. We enjoy it. We have always preferred to be involved in charities where we are personally involved in delivering the service. We always leave feeling good about ourselves. It helps us as much as others.
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
20 Sep 19
I can understand your cynicism. I have no doubt this kind of corruption within charities happens. But I'd rather have faith and trust the organization and believe most of the time they do the right thing. As with most things I've found in life there are always exceptions (even the bad kind), however I prefer not to have a jaded view of charities. I have given to the Vets, Heart Association, Goodwill, Muscular Dystrophy, and Big Brother/Sister.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
21 Sep 19
@TheHorse
Giving back in some way is the right thing to do. Whether monetarily or with volunteer service helping others in need is a productive pursuit.
You can't control what happens to those donations. You have to trust donations are being handled properly in most cases. It's really out of your hands at that point.
Or put another way let me respond by quoting one of my favorite magazines as a kid. 
@BarBaraPrz (51817)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
18 Sep 19
I give to an independent radio station (Jazz.fm/CJRT).
And I just read in today's paper that there has been unbelievable thefts from the cathedral that's undergoing restoration.
https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news-story/9602622-cathedral-renovations-hard-hit-by-thefts-vandalism/
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51817)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
18 Sep 19
@TheHorse Makes ya wonder about the nerve of some people.
@ptrikha_2 (49753)
• India
18 Sep 19
I have been donating to some reputed NGOs who also undergo audits.
But if they still misuse some funds, I am not sure but I believe God punishes those who misuse things meant for the needy.
So I think that I just do my duty and forget about other things.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (40026)
• Toccoa, Georgia
18 Sep 19
The one Charity I think is totally legit that I contribute to is "Operation Christmas Child" that is run by Samaritan's Purse.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (40026)
• Toccoa, Georgia
19 Sep 19
@TheHorse People all over the world pack shoe boxes full of gifts and they are collected and transported and given to destitute children, through out the world. Not only are gifts given, the Gospel is presented to the children and their families.
Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse, has delivered 157 million gift-filled shoeboxes to boys and girls around the world. We praise God for so many children whose lives have been changed as the result of a simple gift.
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
18 Sep 19
The only causes I donate too is to a missions organization, which is reputable and church. I don't worry about giving to the church as I look at it as not giving to the church as much as giving to God and if there is anything mischievous going on, God will take care of it.
I've been tempted to donate to the local radio station when they have their fund drive. I know it's reputable, but I don't have the added funds to do that.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238284)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Sep 19
I'm glad there's a church in your life that you trust. I got to be friends with the lady who ran a BBQ place in Oakland near where I worked there. She was a devout Christian had a different Bible passage open by the cash register every day. She told me with sadness about some of the corruption in the churches in Oakland--money disappearing, exploitation of young congregationalists by the "ministers," etc. And then I saw similar stuff at a religious institution where I later worked. I am a sadder but wiser person now.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (22247)
• United States
18 Sep 19
I donate clothes to the Kidney foundation and Hope for domestic violence. But I don't donate money to any charity.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45155)
• Philippines
18 Sep 19
I would love to donate to homeless (but I think its alms/help because its not big amount) but I never did yet to institutions.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (77119)
• Philippines
19 Sep 19
Embezzlement of funds is a very common thing in this country and that's why I hesitate to donate to the government agencies claiming it will be given to the victims of this and that. But every beginning of school year, I would buy school supplies to donate to children.
