I see so many charities and people with their hand out for our money it really bothers me. Over the many years in my life I have been pretty stingy about giving my very hard earned money away. It seems that everyone has a gimmick to get in my pocket. As a child it started at Halloween when UNICEF sent me door to door not to collect candy but to collect money for their organization. I was a homeless and parentless child yet being used to collect money for some foreign country and for reasons I never saw the end result of. I could go on and on with the MANY times I have been asked to be used for money as I am sure all of us have. Maybe I need to turn off the outside world but that is not realistic. Does growing up with nothing and having to work so hard for everything all your life make you less giving?

I prefer the red kettle Salvation Army they are a responsibly charitable outfit that requires zero personal info. The problem with giving to places that want your personal info the sell your info to make more money they are not happy with what you gave them. I’m still getting beggars texts and emails from donating to the last election it’s never ending.

They ruin it for themselves by doing that with me.

If you don’t want to give then don’t. I personally enjoy blessing others with my time or money I’ve been blessed with.

Slick Pan I can't imagine growing up like that. We were pretty poor growing up but always had a loving family around us and food to eat. I would just say that the giving is as much for the giver as it is the receiver. The world is a better place when we can help a neighbor or friend or child. We try to give locally throughout the year as needed. If you find someone local, you can actual see what monies are being used for. There is almost always waste involved but in our experience the smaller and closer the organization the better. Or if you don't want to give money, work a few weekends at a food bank. Granted, a lot of people who don't need it show up for handouts, but there are some truly down on their luck that need it.

When I and my brother were involved in a house fire in 97 and lost all my clothes etc, the 2 organizations that helped me most and gave me vouchers immediately for new clothing etc. wee Salvation Army and United way. I have made sure I ALWAYS put something in the red kettles when I see them and yearly donate to United Way to thank them.

Not at all I'm still poor but give to many.

I still give to a family every year , even on SS

My vets cousin works for Social Services, she is my contact

I put up a box with a ham or turkey, and all the fixing every year

Never get a thank you, as I require to be unknown, my gift to humanity

If they took the money out of it, they wouldn't do it at all.

Explain please

I also make a couple gallons of jalapeño wine for my neighbor each Christmas

He is from the south west and loves the flavor of jalapeño

He doesn't drink it but marinates deer steaks and chicken in it

Marinates for at least overnight up to 24 hours

He swears by it and in the season of giving, it makes me smile

The problem is that most charities give most of the money they take in to the higher up employees in the charity, sometimes well into the 90% range.

The Salvation Army is supposed to be a better one, but they came out as woke a couple of years ago.

Keith

I, as a rule, do not donate to charities. I do donate to PEOPLE. Ask a church in your town for the name of a family that needs help, then drop them off some food, or toys. For me, it's usually a co-worker that I've learned throughout the year needs help, so i buy a few toys for their kids. One year, a co-worker was lamenting about not being able to afford a tree for her 3 kids.... so I went to the dollar store and bought a small tree and all the trimmings for less than $30.... completely made her year!

Beyond that, I love giving to friends and family. I mailed a package a few days ago that made the entire holiday for me. Giving is what makes Christmas, Christmas.... but only when doing so makes you feel good as well.

when I was a kid going around collecting food pantry items as a boy scout with scouting for food , I saw people who had used the pantry in a time of need , give a bunch like empty their cupboard into the bags saying how much it helped them when they needed it and they could afford a store trip now.

I have also worked food panties

I used to cook for a women and families homeless shelter

I don't think having come from little makes you leery , I think having seen the tactics used , the sometimes waste and the sometimes mismanagement of charity , makes you skeptical.

find your thing and donate to it in a direct way
maybe it is a family
a church
a food pantry , that you give to or work at

some people get a dopamine hit from giving they have to think no father than writing a check and it warms their soul , others get a bunch of questions like will my dollars be put to good use I think you are in the latter with me so getting involved is the way to go.

I watch charities to see how they handle the money, food, clothes etc. that are donated. Most of time the gift seems mismanaged and I feel that the public is being taken advantage of. Even the local charities that should be of benefit. I think greencountypete nailed it . " I don't think having come from little makes you leery , I think having seen the tactics used , the sometimes waste and the sometimes mismanagement of charity , makes you skeptical."

This is about how I do things. My fraternity in college used to volunteer for some charities, and I often felt things were mismanaged, particularly money. I'm a lot more comfortable when I know exactly who the money, food, whatever is going to.

I get calls from people asking for donations to police benevolent funds. When I ask how much of my donation actually goes to the police, I get an answer of 5 or 10 percent. That is when they will actually give me a figure. The last one, which I got yesterday, said the fund will get everything after expenses for the fundraisers. I had to laugh at that one.

Does growing up with nothing and having to work so hard for everything all your life make you less giving?
I grew up poor, but my mom always stressed to help people who need help. I give to people who are struggling but still trying to get ahead. A cord of firewood, cut/wrapped deer meat, fuel oil and sometimes money. My wife and I stopped giving each other gifts and donate the money to our church food pantry.
So, to answer your question, your struggles open your heart to other people's struggles.