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Who here gives to charity? You don't have to say which one if you do...

I am just curious, particularly in light of the Myanmar disaster - lots of times I wish I gave more of myself to my community, either volunteering or at least giving from time to time.

I do volunteer work at a day centre for the disabled on a regular basis and also with a couple of charitable organisations doing whatever they deem necessary.

At one of the charities I volunteer my time we are busy gathering tents, and tarpaulins to send to Myanmar/Burma to help with shelter issues after the cyclone. We are also busy with our winter care for the homeless program...basically what the program does is provide blankets, coats and other warm clothing, hot nutritious meals, and free medical help where possible (several doctors provide their their time and services) to people who find themselves in need at this time of year.

Do any of you do something special for your community or people in other countries? If so, how do you decide which charities to donate money/goods/time to? If not, would you like to? Do you give regularly or as and when the mood takes you?

I returned from my Peace Corps service in Azerbaijan in February. I was teaching English in a small village near the Iranian border. Now I'm volunteering at the local Democratic Party office once a week.

I give to several charities and I volunteer all the time. I volunteer at our local nursing home and daycare, Salvation Army, I dress up as a clown a few times a month and visit the children and parents at the children's hospitals here in the Atl. I'm a part of our local Project Green, basically besides recycling, we clean up our streets. I read to the homeless. I give to St. Jude's, Feed The Children, UNICEF, World Vision, Salvation Army.
I have a very big soft spot for the elderly and children

Good work everyone!

I just volunteered at a hunger walk this past Sunday. I am currently communicating with the volunteer coordinator of the local charity that hosted it to volunteer with them once a week. (You may have heard of the charity, Star, since I think you live in Connecticut like me. It's Foodshare.)

Donating time or money to charity is definitely worthwhile in my opinion. You tend to get way more back than what you give.

One day I hope to start my own official charity or other non-profit organization.

I don't just give money to charity, but I do have things that are close to my heart that I will get involved with for fundraising and stuff.

This month I am organising a fundraising morning tea at work, including the whole floor (over 100 people) for The Cancer Council of Australia. They have an annual campaign "Australia's Biggest Morning Tea" where everyone has a morning tea to raise money on the 22nd of May. And they encourage people to get creative in how they do it. I'm basically asking everyone to, as we say in Australia "bring a plate" (which is like pot luck for you folks in America) and then a minimum of a gold coin donation to participate (our 1 and 2 dollar coins are gold). I've also organised a competition entry thing where if you donate $10 you get an entry into a comp to win a prize.

And I think I will fine people who don't participate!!

But I've been thinking I can make this a monthly thing, with a different charity each month. I was thinking Myanmar could be the next one.

Scott Hughes wrote:Good work everyone!

I just volunteered at a hunger walk this past Sunday. I am currently communicating with the volunteer coordinator of the local charity that hosted it to volunteer with them once a week. (You may have heard of the charity, Star, since I think you live in Connecticut like me. It's Foodshare.)

Donating time or money to charity is definitely worthwhile in my opinion. You tend to get way more back than what you give.

One day I hope to start my own official charity or other non-profit organization.

I actually spent a few summers and falls in Salisbury, near Bear Mtn. I just love it there! I've been looking to buy property there I've heard about Foodshare. Their located in Hartford and Bloomfield? I read an article about them. That is awesome Scott

Good work everyone!

I echo, Scott's sentiments. It is most heartening to see people giving back to their communties, and society through either time, goods, services and/or money.

sleepydumpling wrote: This month I am organising a fundraising morning tea at work, including the whole floor (over 100 people) for The Cancer Council of Australia. They have an annual campaign "Australia's Biggest Morning Tea" where everyone has a morning tea to raise money on the 22nd of May.
And I think I will fine people who don't participate!!

Australia's Biggest Morning Tea is a wonderful campaign for a worthy cause! The retail company I work part-time with is organising a morning tea to raise funds for the campaign...we're using the Mad Hatter's Tea Party for the theme.

I do give money monthly to a charity for Australian homeless kids
it's not much but it's all I can do at the moment.
And I can't take babies to charity work.

Though when there both in kindy I want to help foster kids.
I've always planed to be a foster mum and now I'm a mum already it wont be such a big adjustment, plus I can't have anymore kids and I've always planed to have a lot.
I actually have a boy in mine ,Michael and he's 9 I've meet him and felt motherly instantly,he's wonderful but he has a 2year old brother, I'd have to take them both it wouldn't be right to separate them.

Big decision

I just read my previous post and realized I made it sound like taking foster kids is a charity
Please excuse me if I gave anyone that impression this discussion just reminded me of all the children I have met who do need help but mostly from families who want children.

I haven't volunteering yet because I never had the time for that , but have thought several times on going to India to help people there ,like Mother Teresa did.

I've always been a hospital volunteer ( children's ward ) plus assisting the Art teacher in my grandson's school...

Raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Red Cross.

God bless Melinda and Bill Gates! ( foundation )