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How do!

So despite being a filthy lefty atheist, I’d make a surprisingly good Christian, all things considered. Especially around this time of year, when kids face the unpleasant reality of Going Without on the big day.

Now somewhat mercenary, I need only think back to my own childhood Christmases to guess what that might feel like. Whilst Mum and Dad didn’t have a lot, and I rarely if ever got everything on Santa’s list, I was well cared for. Indeed getting Castle Grayskull one year was a notable high.

Add in that from the same era, Mum and Dad’s Christmas tape (remember tapes eh, do y’remember tapes eh? Tapes. Wot wurrrrr we thinking) alongside the usual Glam Rock Bangers, was Vera Lynn’s version of this. You will listen. You will find your heart strings tugged.




And so every year I put some money aside for gift donations, usually done through a local charity. And I strongly urge you, if you can spare a few quid, dollars, pesos, shekels or what have you, to look into your local area’s similar schemes. I’m not gonna tell you to donate. I’m not going to tell you how much or indeed how, where or what to donate. But give it a think. It’s a nice thing to do, and brings just a little more compassion into our world.

Got a healthy overtime payment coming in the next few weeks, so I’m currently doing research for my latest adoptive home town. Previously it was easy enough. Head to the shopping centre, visit the giving tree and snaffle a bunch of tags, then Go Shopping For Others. And just in case my last blatant attempt at emotional blackmail didn’t quite do the job? One tag simply asked for a pair of thermal tights. Thermal Tights. A Christmas present.

In other years I’ve done fundraisers and bought in bulk. Teddy Making Kits and Footballs donated to Tower Hamlets Food-bank was the result. I can’t remember how many of each and frankly such details are a tad gauche and blowing my own trumpet. But I and those who donated to help me made a fair difference that day.

Give it a thought my fellow armchair generals. And if you can genuinely afford it, go ahead, punk, make someone’s Christmas Day.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
How do!

So despite being a filthy lefty atheist, I’d make a surprisingly good Christian, all things considered. Especially around this time of year, when kids face the unpleasant reality of Going Without on the big day.

Now somewhat mercenary, I need only think back to my own childhood Christmases to guess what that might feel like. Whilst Mum and Dad didn’t have a lot, and I rarely if ever got everything on Santa’s list, I was well cared for. Indeed getting Castle Grayskull one year was a notable high.

Add in that from the same era, Mum and Dad’s Christmas tape (remember tapes eh, do y’remember tapes eh? Tapes. Wot wurrrrr we thinking) alongside the usual Glam Rock Bangers, was Vera Lynn’s version of this. You will listen. You will find your heart strings tugged.




And so every year I put some money aside for gift donations, usually done through a local charity. And I strongly urge you, if you can spare a few quid, dollars, pesos, shekels or what have you, to look into your local area’s similar schemes. I’m not gonna tell you to donate. I’m not going to tell you how much or indeed how, where or what to donate. But give it a think. It’s a nice thing to do, and brings just a little more compassion into our world.

Got a healthy overtime payment coming in the next few weeks, so I’m currently doing research for my latest adoptive home town. Previously it was easy enough. Head to the shopping centre, visit the giving tree and snaffle a bunch of tags, then Go Shopping For Others. And just in case my last blatant attempt at emotional blackmail didn’t quite do the job? One tag simply asked for a pair of thermal tights. Thermal Tights. A Christmas present.

In other years I’ve done fundraisers and bought in bulk. Teddy Making Kits and Footballs donated to Tower Hamlets Food-bank was the result. I can’t remember how many of each and frankly such details are a tad gauche and blowing my own trumpet. But I and those who donated to help me made a fair difference that day.

Give it a thought my fellow armchair generals. And if you can genuinely afford it, go ahead, punk, make someone’s Christmas Day.

My thought of reading your little opening was Matthew 6:1-4,
so contrary to your statement I don't think you know exactly what a Christian is supposed to be like, but that aside, I feel the important thing is to not just give to charity as a once a year thing and considering the job a good 'un, but having it something that you consistently do at some level throughout the year. Even just volunteering or helping out at a food bank, soup kitchen, or whatever your local community has if you're strapped for cash, and you're actually more involved on a level with the actual people you are helping that isn't just for feel good vibes that you "did" something.

Though if you have to start, Christmas is definitely easier for most in terms of being a season of giving during the year. And giving something is better than nothing.

When you can, give.
You never know if you'll need something back one day.

And, If Dickens's "A Christmas Carol" is supposed to tell us anything, it's something like that.

So yeah, even if we drop a quid in a charity tin occasionally, now is as good a time as ever to buy something for someone you'll never meet.

It feels like we're covering for the people who not only have enough money to cover the expense, but fix the problem entirely. When I see how much money is dumped into political advertising for even one entry on the ballot it makes me feel like the entire system is so fundamentally broken all I'm doing is propping it up. *sigh* maybe it's just me being pessimistic.

Risk of sounding twee?

Think of the kids. Fix later.

Oh I still donate, I'm just frustrated that there is still so much of a need to do so.

 NinthMusketeer wrote:
It feels like we're covering for the people who not only have enough money to cover the expense, but fix the problem entirely. When I see how much money is dumped into political advertising for even one entry on the ballot it makes me feel like the entire system is so fundamentally broken all I'm doing is propping it up. *sigh* maybe it's just me being pessimistic.

I also saw how much was being spent on elections and thought, "How many people would that feed for a year?" I think of the UN's World Food Relief Fund (or some such agency) telling Elon Musk that he could solve world hunger for a year something like $7 Billion dollars (Or some such well within his annual wealth) and instead of solving world hunger for a year, he bought Twitter instead on a whim of feeding the hungry. So, I get where you are coming from. Our charitable works allow the government, the wealthy, and the elites essentially ignore the problem and do nothing about it.

I know I can not systematically do much, but to change the world you can change one person's world, so I locally participate in a Bed Building and give away program, and Clothing giveaway program all year round. I have helped build and deliver about 50+ beds in my local area, and helps cloth 80+ some families with a weeks worth of clothing so far. However, the need does not seem to be getting smaller, only growing. However, for those 50 folks or 80 families, it made a difference.

Good shout MDG.
For the peeps feeling depressed about it, I get that. Things aren't great and the people running the things keep making it worse. But you could help someone have something they might not have gotten otherwise.
As the line from the Worst Destiny 2 Strike goes:
There's no use in quantifying the help you give. Any amount is enough.

 Easy E wrote:

 NinthMusketeer wrote:
It feels like we're covering for the people who not only have enough money to cover the expense, but fix the problem entirely. When I see how much money is dumped into political advertising for even one entry on the ballot it makes me feel like the entire system is so fundamentally broken all I'm doing is propping it up. *sigh* maybe it's just me being pessimistic.

I also saw how much was being spent on elections and thought, "How many people would that feed for a year?" I think of the UN's World Food Relief Fund (or some such agency) telling Elon Musk that he could solve world hunger for a year something like $7 Billion dollars (Or some such well within his annual wealth) and instead of solving world hunger for a year, he bought Twitter instead on a whim of feeding the hungry. So, I get where you are coming from. Our charitable works allow the government, the wealthy, and the elites essentially ignore the problem and do nothing about it.

When I am told that paring down basic civic infrastructure, or cutting defence spending, or taxing billionaires, could instead feed the poor or fund hospitals; I instead think of how many footballers salaries or executive bonuses it could pay.

Making forced savings demands for supposed worthy causes seldom has the suggested effect, and money saved in general spending is always vocally marked against something worthy the monies could be spent on, wheras something less publically worthy oftimes is overlooked and more often the recipient.

 Easy E wrote:

 NinthMusketeer wrote:
It feels like we're covering for the people who not only have enough money to cover the expense, but fix the problem entirely. When I see how much money is dumped into political advertising for even one entry on the ballot it makes me feel like the entire system is so fundamentally broken all I'm doing is propping it up. *sigh* maybe it's just me being pessimistic.

I also saw how much was being spent on elections and thought, "How many people would that feed for a year?" I think of the UN's World Food Relief Fund (or some such agency) telling Elon Musk that he could solve world hunger for a year something like $7 Billion dollars (Or some such well within his annual wealth) and instead of solving world hunger for a year, he bought Twitter instead on a whim of feeding the hungry. So, I get where you are coming from. Our charitable works allow the government, the wealthy, and the elites essentially ignore the problem and do nothing about it.

I think Elon asked for them to provide a plan on how the money would be able to end world hunger, and if a plan were provided he'd sell Tesla stock and donate it, and the response was some vague thing like 40 cents a day could save 1 person so extrapolating out would mean 6 billion would save 40 million people for 1 year. I don't really blame Elon for not following through on that one if that's the only "plan" they offered, estimates on how much it would cost to end world hunger are wide ranging and rise to as much as $300 billion a year.

I gladly save some of my wage each week to donate at Xmas to a worthy cause. Myself

 Rolsheen wrote:
I gladly save some of my wage each week to donate at Xmas to a worthy cause. Myself

That's the spirit

In this day and age, where people put themselves in debt for the rest of their lives to buy a house, I'm not sure it'd good advice to tell people to give out of their savings/investments/mortgages. If you are in that sort of position, maybe give up something for a few weeks and give out of that, or if you can give of your time rather than your money.

Personally... I don't really give much to charities, a bit here and there, some to the local church charities (the actual outreach charities more than the "help us buy a new building because this one isn't modern enough!" charities). I have chronic health issues, and while I can work now, it's a real struggle, and I'm cognisant that in the near future I might not be able to work, so aside from my relatively cheap hobbies most of my spare monies goes towards the "I may have to live off this for the rest of my miserable life" fund.

Pretty sure nobody is saying people should be emptying their savings to give to charity though. In fact, I am very sure of it.
If you can't afford to do it then don't, nobody is going to crucify you for it, least of all the charity folks themselves.

 NinthMusketeer wrote:
When I see how much money is dumped into political advertising for even one entry on the ballot it makes me feel like the entire system is so fundamentally broken

That money goes somewhere. It would usually go to campaign-trail travel costs, venue bookings, banners and merch, etc, I expect. If it is one way for the super-rich to throw money back into the system, I'm all for it.
It is probably mostly back-handers paid to their political mates though, so super-rich paying just the too-rich.

 Gert wrote:
Pretty sure nobody is saying people should be emptying their savings to give to charity though. In fact, I am very sure of it.
If you can't afford to do it then don't, nobody is going to crucify you for it, least of all the charity folks themselves.

This.

Give if you can. That’s it. That’s the message.

To be 100% transparent, many charities are just funnels to put money back in to the hands of the rich again.

I look at my local community as an example. The rich folks give a bunch of money to an organization that has a strong mission, yet when you look close the organization has no measurable impact, and the money is just going straight back to businesses owned by the wealthy as fees, events, and administration costs. The spouses or kids of the wealthy are running the charities in the first place.

Classic example, it the tons of money they raise for a local private school. The only people who benefit from it, are fellow rich folks. Is that really a charity, or just another investment?

The only way to make sure a charity is doing what you really want, is to make your own. Which is not as hard as it sounds.

Or, don't give money. Give the thing they need, and will spend the donations on.
Food banks for example. They may be able to buy staples in bulk, so donate meat, coffee, etc. The stuff that's more expensive, but wanted just as much. Sure, the rich charity organisers might pick the good stuff, but if you buy the basics brands, often just as good as some premium brand goods, they'll leave them alone.
The same with clothes. A cheap but warm coat will go across better than a pile of brand-name t-shirts.

 Skinnereal wrote:
Or, don't give money. Give the thing they need, and will spend the donations on.
Food banks for example. They may be able to buy staples in bulk, so donate meat, coffee, etc. The stuff that's more expensive, but wanted just as much. Sure, the rich charity organisers might pick the good stuff, but if you buy the basics brands, often just as good as some premium brand goods, they'll leave them alone.
The same with clothes. A cheap but warm coat will go across better than a pile of brand-name t-shirts.

Also this.

Having been on the bones of my arse in the past, I can tell you those in need really don’t care that much for big labels and brand names. So long as there’s food in your belly and non-wrecked clothes on your back, you get by.

This is why I like to do Toy Appeals at this point of the year. It doesn’t need to be Expensive. It doesn’t need to be Extravagant. But I do like to donate something that’s gonna see use. Teddies, Dollies, Footballs etc. Something the recipient isn’t likely to get bored of any time soon. Nothing likely to be broken by Boxing Day.

In years past, the Wish Tags I picked off the tree included Dr Who DVDs and word based board games. Bit of shopping around with God Sprog in tow (who was super well behaved and stayed on-mission, even in the midst of a toy shop!) and decent deals were found, and the pressies turned in.

If you’ve any doubt about what to get or donate, reach out to the organisers. Not only might they have existing wishlists, but they’re also likely to have an idea of age group appropriate gifts, and indeed any such age group where demand is high.

I also like to try to ponce a Bookers Card/Cost Co type card off friends that have them to get loads of choccie advent calendars to drop off to a foodbank, and/or selection boxes. They’re usually pretty cheap, and everyone likes sweeties at Christmas.

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young

The most sought after clothing item is socks and underwear.

Are you giving to demonstrate how much better you are than other people, or are you giving to help those in need?

It's interesting how many organizations have big plans for other peoples' money - and also depend on it for their executives' salaries.

Do what you think is right, and keep quiet about it.

Definitely the latter. Do you get warm and fuzzies in doing so? Yes, you absolutely do. So no, my acts cannot be entirely altruistic.

My examples are there to show that such charitable efforts needn’t be expensive. Whilst as ever I’m not telling anyone what to do, how much to spend etc, I do hope others will see what I’ve got to say, and at least think on it. It’s also there to demonstrate I practice what I preach in this area.

But whilst I will heavily moderate what I say and how I say it? I’m not going to keep quiet about it. A little good goes a long way in this world. And if the price of a few more kids Christmas being made is people on the internet thinking I’m a raging egomaniac waving his charity peen? So be it. It’s not true from my perspective, so not a high price at all.

If no-one ever said what they do for charity, nobody else would bother.
"Why should I, if I'm the only one doing it?", and similar.

By having someone mention that they donated, there's a bit of peer-pressure to do something, and also a guide on what to do.

'Warm and fuzzies' are nice, but getting a pack of new undies when you're in your last pair must feel good too

 Skinnereal wrote:
If no-one ever said what they do for charity, nobody else would bother.
"Why should I, if I'm the only one doing it?", and similar.

By having someone mention that they donated, there's a bit of peer-pressure to do something, and also a guide on what to do.

'Warm and fuzzies' are nice, but getting a pack of new undies when you're in your last pair must feel good too

The biggest thing I took away from a Praxis assignment in my sociology course in uni was time:

See, this time of year, food banks, homeless shelters and the like will be inundated with people doing a bit of "charity tourism". They get groups of people, kids in tow (a couple of my local groups actually started turning away this sort of activity) during the holidays. . . At times, there's an air about those adults with their kids "you better shape up, study in school or THIS could be you". Sometimes that gak is actually spoken out loud. But the thing that they absolutely HATE?? On December 26th, all that help dries up. The volunteers go back to their miserable lives, content that they did "good" this year. There are 11 and a half months throughout the rest of the year where the need is still there. The needy don't disappear as well.

And the fethed up part of all that??? The people being fed by those food banks and kitchens see that gak too. The folks I had to interview/work with for that project were saying how the weeks post-holidays are usually the absolute worst. Attitudes in the ones being served decline, as they see and feel that rejection more acutely than even the ones who do still volunteer year round.

And yeah, they get loads and loads of CANNED goods. . . At least my local banks/orgs when I was talking with them, the biggest thing they always want, and never have enough of, is stuff that so many people say "can't" be given. . . Butter, pepper, salt, fething seasonings of any kind really. Pretty much all of them (again, local to me) have deals worked out with grocers, meat markets/butcher shops where they can and do get an adequate supply of meat. . . but its literally the other ingredients to make gak actually taste good that they lack.


So yeah. . Do what feels good. Do what you feel you can afford. But for feths sake, do it for the right reason. And, before you give, reach out to a local org and ask what they need. Or, ask "if I bring you X perishable good, how much is an appropriate amount so it doesn't get wasted?" And even better, make it part of your year round, daily life. . . not some holiday cheer feel good pat on the back moment that youll forget about by February.

Sound advice,

Previous local Food Bank posted a weekly list of stuff they needed, stuff they could do with, and stuff they really didn’t need more of right now.

I’m yet to find a new local Food Bank, but I’d hope for much the same.

It's also going to be a much colder winter for a lot of people due to huge increases in energy costs preventing them running the heating they used to.

So boring stuff like warm socks, jackets, blankets and so on will be even more important this year as it could make the difference between someone being miserable or alright. Dead or alive.

I assume everywhere has a local group that knows what is needed and can hand it out as required.

One good source of super cosy and kind of stylish jumpers? Primark. Specially their Snuddie range.

Massive oversize hoodies, and like, half the price of the brand name Oodie. Something to be worn over your other togs, and guaranteed to keep you toasty and warm.

Today is Giving Tuesday FYI.

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

So yeah. . Do what feels good. Do what you feel you can afford. But for feths sake, do it for the right reason. And, before you give, reach out to a local org and ask what they need. Or, ask "if I bring you X perishable good, how much is an appropriate amount so it doesn't get wasted?" And even better, make it part of your year round, daily life. . . not some holiday cheer feel good pat on the back moment that youll forget about by February.

Yes, that is the way it should be. Pick a set donation - a few bucks a month - and do that all year. That helps them build a baseline of expenditure. When they send you a special appeal - answer it.

I only donate to charities close to home where I can see the results. Sad to say, a ton of non-profits are basically money-laundering operations where most of the dough goes to salaries or is handed out in grants to other non-profits, who in turn use it for salaries and grants to other non-profits. A huge amount of money is siphoned away from the needy this way.

Keep it simple, keep it local.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
How do!

So despite being a filthy lefty atheist, I’d make a surprisingly good Christian, all things considered. Especially around this time of year, when kids face the unpleasant reality of Going Without on the big day.

Now somewhat mercenary, I need only think back to my own childhood Christmases to guess what that might feel like. Whilst Mum and Dad didn’t have a lot, and I rarely if ever got everything on Santa’s list, I was well cared for. Indeed getting Castle Grayskull one year was a notable high.

Add in that from the same era, Mum and Dad’s Christmas tape (remember tapes eh, do y’remember tapes eh? Tapes. Wot wurrrrr we thinking) alongside the usual Glam Rock Bangers, was Vera Lynn’s version of this. You will listen. You will find your heart strings tugged.




And so every year I put some money aside for gift donations, usually done through a local charity. And I strongly urge you, if you can spare a few quid, dollars, pesos, shekels or what have you, to look into your local area’s similar schemes. I’m not gonna tell you to donate. I’m not going to tell you how much or indeed how, where or what to donate. But give it a think. It’s a nice thing to do, and brings just a little more compassion into our world.

I say the Spirit of Christmas or any Holiday is " Good Will towards Man!" I.e. Goodwill Towards Others!

The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future!

How does Dickens present kindness in A Christmas Carol?

Dickens utilises Scrooge in order to illustrate how self-centred, insensitive people can be converted into liberal, compassionate and socially conscious individuals. Benevolence and generosity overcome Scrooge's hostile apathy as he realises his responsibility to look after the less fortunate.

I heard a story about a man who punched a woman in the face for saying "Happy Holidays" instead of Merry Christmas. I myself love Christmas and am bothered by how it's put down but attacking people or getting angry over it isn't the answer. Early Christians had to survive in a Pagan Dominated world and didn't have the luxury to get violent yet still managed to spread the Gospel. They did this by acting with Goodwill and Kindness even in the face of Avarice.

Punching someone in the face is not Goodwill Towards Men.