Is Real Charity dying?
Posted: Tuesday, October 25, 2011
by John Nichols
http://www.bulldogcaretips.com
For many years I worked for a nonprofit company that took in donated items, cleaned, fixed up, and resold them to raise money for good works.
While I worked for them I observed many things that I would like to talk about. Since I recently lost that job due to fewer and fewer items being donated. I have come to believe that the spirit of charity is dying.
Over the years I have seen a difference in attitude from those that have left donations. Many different items pass thru a donation door, from expensive paintings to rusty cooking pots with broken handles.
When I first started working there people would drive up, and as I helped them unload they smiled laughed and in general enjoyed themselves. On many occasions they would not even ask for a donation receipt, because they just wanted to do a good deed.
As years passed fewer and fewer of those people showed up. We began to get the people with broken chairs and stained couches that wanted to have their donations written up for unreal amounts for a tax donation write offs.
On occasion we would have someone bring in a broken or nearly destroyed item that we had to refuse. These people would become angry that we would not accept the items, or even throw it away for them.
One lady complained when we turned down a box of chipped dishes, that someone might be able to use them.
If you have an item or items that you are considering for a donation to charity, please take a good look at it and think, would I buy this item at a sale. Please consider the condition of the item you want to donate, and decide if you think someone would actually want the item before you just go for that tax write off.
Where I worked it cost the business $2,000 a month just to throw away the items brought in hidden in plastic bags and boxes that were simply trash. This expense causes these types of charity organizations the funds needed to operate the service and provide for the people that work there.
When you donate to a charity please do so with the good feelings and attitude that you are doing it for people that need those services, and not just to get that piece of paper for the tax write off.
Again let me say I have absolutely no bitterness about the loss of the job, and in fact have offered and accepted to help in a volunteer role. I just hope that this economy can get back to the point where people do good deeds just for the joy of it, and not for the tax write off.
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