Do you feel lucky? (Charities in general)

Name: Mush

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Product:	Charities in general
Date:	26/04/01 (89 review reads)
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Advantages: Charities do fantastic work for so many people. It is so easy to help them.

Disadvantages: Charities shouldn't be necessary (see op). Too many people take things for granted.

I love charities.

No, really, I do. I got a lower degree than I should have done because I spent too much time fundraising and not enough time studying. I left University, started working for a charity as a project worker, changed jobs and became a fundraiser for a different charity. And here I am. I would fundraise for anything worthy – Guatemalan wasp sanctuaries. Research into the prevention of dry rot in rabbit hutches. It doesn’t matter, as long as I am doing charity work.

I even came across Dooyoo as a result of Internet research at work.

“All very interesting” you cry “But stop waffling and get to the point!”

Ok. I am here today to tell you why charities are the responsibility of ALL OF US. I’m not here to get you to donate (but if you do...great!), but maybe to change the way you think about charities. It is my belief that charities are a product of the failing of society and the powers that be...

...think about it...

...it’s not that outrageous really. If the government provided enough taxes on cancer research, the Imperial Cancer Research Fund would be unnecessary. If social services were as efficient as they should be, Help the Aged would not have to provide the service and support that they do. If blind people gained all the facilities and assistance they required to lead as normal a life as possible, the Royal National Institute for the Blind would be obsolete. If society was doing the job right, there would be no need for the charities to do the job for them. In my idea of Utopia, charities would be unnecessary.

Oh my god, I’m talking myself out of a job here.



Next point to think about...

Look at this -----> ;@

Pretty easy for nearly all of you, eh!

Now wiggle your toes. I imagine most of you managed that.

Did you eat a good dinner last night? Highly likely.


Think of how lucky you are to be able to do the things you do. We all have problems – we all have things that we can’t do. But think of the things we CAN do! And think of the people who can’t do them. Wouldn’t you like to help them? You help charities, you help those who aren’t as advantaged as us. Think of it as a way of giving thanks.

Now look at the statistics (and correct me if I’m wrong). Statistically one in three people will develop some form of cancer in their life. Statistically one in five people will develop some form of Visual Impairment in their life. We will all get old (potentially). The chances that we, or someone we care about, will develop something, or have something happen, or be involved in something that will benefit from the efforts of a charity are quite phenomenal. In that way, think of it as an investment – if you help a charity now, you may well get the help you need from a charity later.

Finally, some people get a buzz out of doing things for charity. We all have an altruistic streak in us (altruism?? Look it up), and giving to charity can tickle that streak and make us feel good. What? You’ve never felt it? Give it a try. Even better, do something for charity, and as you do so think about the person/animal/whatever that you are helping, and I guarantee it will bring a smile to your face.

Imagine how I feel at the end of a day’s work, knowing that I’ve spent a whole day helping people less fortunate than me! What a rush! (Of course, London Underground and the rail services soon manage to dampen my elation).


I could leave it there, having just spouted my bit about the worth of charities, but for those of you who want to know how you might be able to help, read on...

The easiest thing to do is just donate! I don’t mean go out and give £100 to the first charity that comes into your head, but just donate as and whe
n. If you get some little change in Tescos, drop it into the guide dog’s head as you leave (but make sure it is one of the plastic collecting vessels, not a real one!). If you see a street collector, drop a bit of money in the bucket. It all adds up!

[A note on street collectors: Having spent far too much time on street corners drumming up donations for charity, I know that it can be the most thankless task in the world ever. Please NEVER ignore them – even if you can’t spare change, just say ‘sorry, no change’ and give them a smile. It really means so much more than being ignored, or worse, being abused. You could even drop a few pennies in if you like!]

There are loads of easy ways to give money without actively opening your wallet, such as donating the last hour’s pay from each month’s pay cheque (like you would notice!), or automatic monthly pledges of a quid or two. You can leave a legacy (you can’t take it with you!), and there are even internet sites that will give the money for you (check details elsewhere on Dooyoo)

OK...so you can’t give any change. Fair enough. But there are still things you can give. Don’t throw away your old shirt, donate it! Charity shops can sell anything on, and your shirt could prove invaluable to someone in a less developed country. Your old glasses (you know, the ones that have sat in your drawer for years) could help someone in Africa to see.

So you can’t give change, and you only have a few possessions that you cannot spare. Fine. But most of us have time. Do you have anything planned for Saturday? Well here is my easy five step plan to stop you getting bored:

1. Pick a charity.
2. Find their contact details (Yellow Pages, 192., Dooyoo!)
3. Phone them – they will put you in contact with the fundraising manager for your region.
4. Tell them you aren’t doing anything on Saturday aft
ernoon – can you help?
5. They will soon find something for you to do!

And why not? Did you really want to watch the A-Team repeats AGAIN! Can you not video the Emmerdale 4 episode omnibus? Get out there and help! If you have any skills, there is a charity that can make use of it! If you don’t, what is stopping you picking up a collecting tin and going into town for a couple of hours? Give it a try, just once – if you don’t like it, fair enough. If like me you caught the bug...EXCELLENT!

[I love street collecting. You meet so many new people the time rushes by, and when you find out you’ve raised a hundred-odd quid you’ll be over the moon!]

So you jog? Jog for charity...get sponsorship! You like looking after people? Help provide a bit of respite for a carer – even just an hour a week looking after their elderly mother, disabled child is wonderful! Everyone can do something...



That’s pretty much it. I am now bound to get umpteen people complaining about charities. “They don’t spend all the money wisely”. “They have failed so and so by not providing the proper service”. No-one and nothing is infallible and nothing is perfect. Some charities are a bit dodgy or spend too much, but most are within an acceptable margin. But heck...if you’ve got the time to spend griping about charities you are either feeling guilty for not doing your bit or just a misery. Get out and spend your time helping people instead. No-one likes a whiner.



Thanks for reading this far. It’s been a bit of an epic, but it’s something I really feel strongly about. There are so many things I haven’t said...

If you want to know more, please contact me. If there is a specific cause you want to help, I will probably know someone there, or will be able to get information or point you in the right direction.


Please...don’t just let it ride. I hope this changes you somehow

Even if it just changes your attitude.

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