Charity Giving

[ProfessorM]

Is it just me or are you getting so many charities asking for $$$ that you need to hire a full time secretary to handle the mail every week. Now don't get me wrong i give to several and feel good about doing it, but I would have to be a millionaire to give to all the ones I receive every month. I literally get 15 plus a month. From easter seals, council for the blind, Arthritis foundation, all kinds of cancer groups, Appalachian Christian, so many Central American and African funds sending me rosary beads and wanting me to sponsor these poor children I can't remember them all, to the local red cross, rescue missions, several veteran and disabled veteran associations,salvation army,Indian mission schools, matter of fact 4 different Indian groups. Why don't they contact these Indian casinos raking in the big bucks and get them to share a little of the money with their fellow native Americans. Should be enough there for every single one of them. heck I even have the local and even non local police and fire department's calling looking for funds. Why would I give money to some other town's police force other than mine? Also still have people calling on the darn phone looking. I have given to the same somewhat local ones year after year but I just am getting sick of all the mail. Makes me feel a little guilty sometimes when I can't help out but I am no Bill Gates. Please tell me others have this problem and anyone have any ideas on how to get out from under this barrage of paper. I know I must be on some good givers list or something. Hell I have gotten to the point where I tell them i will give to them and then just never do thinking they will get the drift after a few times but they don't. Oh well I am not trying to be grumpy about this subject and I know 99% of them really need the help but I don't have a money tree out back and I don't need the guilt about picking one and not the other. Any ideas???

[Backbeach Jake]

The police and fire dept. callers are the worst. Last time the police called, told me to put it in an evnvelope on my front porch. Sure, 10 bucks? No not enough, we need at least 20. Aren't you supposed to be patrolling my street anyway, it's not like it's out of your way. We need at least 20. Then nothing it is..

[Swimmer]

Originally Posted by Backbeach Jake

The police and fire dept. callers are the worst. Last time the police called, told me to put it in an evnvelope on my front porch. Sure, 10 bucks? No not enough, we need at least 20. Aren't you supposed to be patrolling my street anyway, it's not like it's out of your way. We need at least 20. Then nothing it is..

I agree, especially since its illegal for them to solicit you over the phone to begin with!

[Raven]

Better to have a phone message on the land line
and caller ID

what law is that Swimmer?

[justplugit]

Obviously you have been very generuos over the years P. and someone is selling your name.

With the economy being so slow alot of charities are having a tough time.
American Red Cross had to borrow money because of the hurricane needs this year.

My Mom passed in 1992 and i still get charity requests in her name.

[Raider Ronnie]

Charity begins at home !

[Backbeach Jake]

I had the Fire Dept. open their call with:
" Would you agree that firefighting is a dangerous job?"

My reply was " Would you agree that you have to have connections and pull strings to get a full time fire fighting job. Would you also agree that no one forced the job on you?"

silence

dialtone

[Raven]

your the definition of witty Fred....
you never cease to amaze me.
I've got to hang out with you more often....
even if it's just online...
~
How ya feelin lately?
~
here i sit with my legs under a blanket draped over an oil filled heater thats perculatin....
drinkin hot coffee.... thats goin cold real quick...
only 44 degrees out here in the Barn....today
oh yeah? who should we be voting for ....in your opinion

[Raven]

might be....it's just you.... mail wise..

and ditto on the someone sold your name and address

even senior citizens get hammered..

a case in point:
my Uncle Gorden had made a huge fortune ok
and then in his later years he slowly got old timers disease
(Alzheimer's ) and then he received a contribute to our campaign letter... which he read and sent in the max amount in thousands of dollars.... he got so many requests for contributions after that he was Broke within a year....(nobody in his family knew he was doing this)
->
because they (the contribution seekers) convinced him it was not only his obligation but imperative to save the world baloney... and he believed ever word of it
he became an easy mark..... on the LIST...
totally CRIMINAL in my opinion...

[The Dad Fisherman]

I bet some of that 700 billion that we gave to bail out the Finance nitwits could have helped out some of these charities

[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

I bet some of that 700 billion that we gave to bail out the Finance nitwits could have helped out some of these charities

now THAT deserves a grump thread all on it's own


Ya Paul, the more you give, the more they call and ask for more, vicious circle

[Swimmer]

Originally Posted by Raven

Better to have a phone message on the land line
and caller ID

what law is that Swimmer?

Soliciting over the phone in Massachusetts is illegal and has been for about four years.

[Swimmer]

Originally Posted by Backbeach Jake

I had the Fire Dept. open their call with:
" Would you agree that firefighting is a dangerous job?"

My reply was " Would you agree that you have to have connections and pull strings to get a full time fire fighting job. Would you also agree that no one forced the job on you?"

silence

dialtone

They get thier job because they got the highest mark on the test. The rest of what you said may have a ring of truth to it though.

[maddog2020]

All non-profit charities are hurting BIG time. Many people are out of work and economy is poor and that translates into people with less pocket $. Retailer are suffering as well. This shopping season will be terrible for many all around.

For example - the place I do a lot of volunteer work for is hurting for donations big time. Last yr the money crunch was towards November and this yr it came two months earlier.

For those who are familiar w/ ACONE (adoptioncommunityofne.org) and would like to help out, we could really use the aid. Thanks to those who helped us out last yr.

Sorry - plug for my heart string for donations.

I've been on the phone 6 hrs in the past few days and it is pretty depressing. Those who have any $ to donate have been routing it towards cancer or feeding homeless.

This is one of the main reasons I haven't been fishing as much this yr. Busy on committee mtgs, phone calls and so forth. What time I have free at nite, I need sleeping. Stress from this is reaking havoc on my body.