What did you give this year?

Every Thursday I ransack our closets for clothing to give to the local shelters. I've been doing that for three years. Wearing clothing is for meep.

$100 and about 20 hours of volunteer time to Ronald McDonald House, $50 to Food Not Bombs and $50 to Habitat For Humanity.

Also, I stole a Salvation Army kettle stuffed with cash yesterday.

Each year, I give one quarter of my income to The Church Of The Puckered meep.

I give nothing, I ask nothing.

I also think that recieving a notice that your xmas gift has transformed into a bullmeep donation is meeping hateful.

Donating in someone's name instead of a present is horribly presumptuous and a little rude. What if the recipient doesn't much care for what the Heifer Project does, or chooses to prioritize another charity, OR just plain doesn't believe in charity.

Give a gift, meep. Let your friends and family donate on their own.

I give nothing, I ask nothing.

Nobody expects Canadians to be charitable, they don't even get to keep most of the money they earn :D

i didnt ask yany of you selfish pricks whether you thought i should or shouldn't or whether I was presumptuous or not.

I am really more curoius if you put yourmoney or your time where your mouth is.

and just to set the record straight, you fat meep, that was 2 grand i DIDNT spend on a meeping HDTV. meephole

Haha. Someone's a little touchy.

I agree that those "in lieu of the gesture I'm now referencing but didn't complete" cards are annoying. Or something. I dunno if 'presumptuous' is the word. Tacky?

I don't make donations. Sal's Army happens largely because I have something I don't want and am aware someone else can probably enjoy it and am usually not enough of a meep to just throw it away.

I'm not into making donations as a habit, but I think it's cool that some people are.

i apologize for the personal slam.

I personally LIKE to get "I gave" cards in lieu of a gift - there isn't anything I need that is more important than some of the things certain chaitable organizations do for people and creatures less fortunate. It REMINDS me of how fortunate I am.

I hate getting sucked into the consumer frenzy - and I refuse to submit. I give nominal gifts to my children relatives and perhaps a bottle of wine to the adults. So i suppose in the strict sense of the word, my donation to the Heifer project, which is by any account a pretty cool gift that perpetuates itself, is not really "in lieu" of gifts.

i have a new daughter and i want to somehow instill a sense of giving in her right from the start. I have been toying with the idea of suggesting she donate a healthy percentage of the trunkloads of toys I expect she'll be getting from her grandparents every year.

I cleaned the christmas tree at the local casino of the wish cards (23) for the local "poor" kids. I would rather do that then give money, because its sucks to be a kid and not get meep on christmas day.

Well looks like you win. You gave more then everyone here. For the record, I didnt give a meep thing to anybody and dont plan on to either. Maybe next year.

Those who give do so for a reason. I have very good and personal reasons for giving to the charities I do, except for Habitat For Humanity, I just give to them because I like what they do and it's tax-deductable ;)

If you've never been helped in any way in your life I can understand refusal to give/help.

Advertising how generous you are, then berating others for their candid honesty seems sort of, how do you say, meep baggy? If this is in fact what you do with your money then kudos but there is something to be said for quiet anonymous generosity.

i didn't think i could ask without revealing myself. wasn't tyring to be a meepbag.

kudos to you and your quiet anonomous generosity.

Not a god meep thing.

chlamidia...

^ lawl

Herpes, the gift that keeps on giving [right sonny?]

I gave fundz to the 3FF cause they are leet1! and I two second the no braggarts policy, although I think this is more like saying you have a generous streak and would rather help others than not [or yourself for that mother].

Kahuna, and all you tight meep mother meepers, do I what I used to do and it will mean something to you:

One time, one day and one moment each year give something to a beggar, a charity, the first person who asks for it--don't be too cheap but don't break the bank. That's it once. Then if ever asked the rest of the year you "already gave"--and really nobody worth their meep asks, and you can tell them that with an unburdened soul.

The gifting junkie(s) above, really know that you feel better when you give. Ironically, saying that you gave to forgo something you wanted is rather stupid--you gave yourself the luxury of "giving to others". That usually lasts longer than a shiney bauble or momentary joy [fast sportscars and hot escorts excluded].

I guess to clarify, I don't give to charities, I do give old meep to goodwill on occasion, and I help out people when I want to.

In the past I have seen the ugly side of many "non-profit" organizations, that designation is just a tax dodge for many of them. Or a chance for some people to generate a decent living

If you ever want to see an eye-opener, pick a charity at random and check the payroll (the info is not easily obtainable, but available if you are persistent enough). To further illustrate, I used to volunteer at an drop-in center in Kitchener Ontario that fed and indoctronated boozehounds and drug addicts (it was run by two brothers who were ex-cons). They used to charge $5 for breakfast that included donated eggs, hashbrowns, toast, OJ and bacon all cooked by myself and a few others who also donated their time. Their location was donated, their overhead was paid for by a government grant, and they got a sizeable lump from a larger charity organization (I won't say their name, but it rhymes with United Way) and these dudes both had a salary that was over 100k a year.

This has soured the whole "charity organization" thing for me, not the act of charity, but the mechanism that seems to exist today in many places (church bilking, that drop in center, etc).

I still hate the non-gift gift tho.

Heifer Project $500 - in lieu of christmas gifts

Does the wife know you refer to her as such? I'd hope you got more than a hand job from her for that much.

I do not give to the Salvo's since I met someone who was doing volunteer work for them and heard a story about a worn-once, $500.00+ Balenciaga dress that was cut up and thrown in a bag of rags "because we needed rags to fill an order". If they are going to waste donations like that, meep 'em. Also, the food that they get ( bread, cakes etc.) seems to go to members of the congregation before those who really need it.

I attend all the working bees at my kids school, and help out those people I know who are worse off than me when I can. Charity begins at home, so I keep it close to home. And I get my cats, dogs, etc. from the local shelter instead of pet shops.

I think when you give to others you should do so in silence and not feel the need to brag about it. There are many ways to help out those in need even in our everyday lives and it doesn't necessarily need to be a monetary gift.

You have to be careful which organizations you give to and make sure that the money is going where it is needed most. I'm a strong supporter of World Vision, they at least inform you of where your money is going. I also think that being able to communicate to your sponsor child through letters and hearing how appreciative they are for your support, is more rewarding than anything. LK is skeptical of World Vision 'cause he thinks I'm not writing to a real person and that the money just goes to wherever they feel it's needed in the organization. Even if that's true I would probably still support them.

Amnesty International is doing a lot of good by helping those who are often forgotten and whose stories don't always get the media attention they deserve. Red Cross continually does a variety of good deeds in their local communities, nationally and Internally. I've actually applied for a job as a Personal Support Worker with them, but I guess if I'm getting paid that doesn't really count, or does it Infectionconnection?

I think I deserve a special spot in heaven though simply for the fact that I donate my time to caring for the needs of Lord Kahuna. Even though I take more money than I give to him, I clean his meepsocks and scrub the throne in which he sits on daily to donate his meep to the homeless people that live in the sewers...so it all balances out. It's the circle of life yo'!

hrm, seems i missed the drama somehow.

last year i gave to:

western pennsylvania conservancy maryland public interest research group national parks foundation red cross for katrina (matched by employer)

this year? nothing

well, i do s.a. dropoffs probably twice a year.

i was kinda soured because of marypirg. i donated due to some wetlands stuff, but i find out a) they're not tax-deductable (not that big a deal) and b) they're meeping nanny-state 'smoke free bars' meepgots.

i keep thinking maybe i'll send to the eff or whatnot sometime, but haven't yet.

I donate large chunks of meep to the salvation army trucks every so often, usually because I can't find a dumpster empty enough for all of my old meep. Plus I occasionally throw a few bucks at homeless bros. I think charity is a good concept, but I don't trust the middle-man bullmeep. Donate directly to needy, do not pass go.

"I think when you give to others you should do so in silence and not feel the need to brag about it. "

The drama, which some cant help but shovel, seems to be split between those who would be offended to think that someone donated something to a cause instead of giving them a gift, which, seems trite to me, but its your honest feeling, so ok.

The other drama topic seems to be that by indicating amounts given to charitable organization amounts to bragging.

What if i had announced that I just got back from a 2 week gig helping build a house for H4H? Such an announcement would seem to infer that i had the financial ability to do so. Is that something one should keep quiet about too? why/why not? (for the record, i did NOT do this, its just an example).

What about non-charitable announcements of purchases, etc. Hypothetically, say i were to announce to the group that i had decided to drop $$ on an HDTV. Would that be bragging too or is this a rule that only applies to spending on charitable organizations?

i WISH i could offer my time in stead of money. I work too much. I may try to make my vacations a little more rewarding though. I think it infinitely more rewarding to donate time, hence my comment that "It doesn't seem like enough though when i add it up." I don't think i would feel that way if i had spend a week or even a weekend hammering for H4H or doing something similar.

Give something or do something. In my case, i gave something. In some of the other swarmer's cases, they gave something, or spent some time or at least considered doing something. It's a step in what I feel is the right direction. A difference no matter how small is a step in the right direction.

For your holiday shopping consideration---> Some interesting recently released statistics, courtesy the United Nations University-World Institute for Development Economic Research 'WIDER- (the first study to cover virtually all countries in the world and take into account all the variables including land, household debt, other financial assets and liabilities, as well as income):

2% of the people on the planet commandeer half the world's wealth, while the bottom 50% control, as a whole, only 1%

The richest 1% of adults alone owned 40% of global assets in the year 2000, and that the richest 10% of adults accounted for 85% of the world total. In contrast, the bottom half of the world adult population owned barely 1% of global wealth.

To be among the richest 10% of adults in the world required $61,000 in assets, and more than $500,000 was needed to belong to the richest 1%.

Average wealth amounted to $144,000 per person in the USA in year 2000, and $181,000 in Japan. Lower down among countries with wealth data are India, with per capita assets of $1,100, and Indonesia with $1,400 per capita.

The GINI - a measure of inequality in the united states is 80% - The same degree of inequality would be obtained if one person in a group of 5 takes 80% of the total pie and the other 4 share the remaining 10%. Mmmmm....pie.

Household debt is relatively unimportant in poor countries. 'While many poor people in poor countries are in debt, their debts are relatively small in total. This is mainly due to the absence of financial institutions that allow households to incur large mortgage and consumer debts, as is increasingly the situation in rich countries'

'many people in high-income countries have negative net worth and-somewhat paradoxically-are among the poorest people in the world in terms of household wealth.' (not to be confused with level of consumption)

Read the rest of it at your leisure.

So Wolfer, chances are pretty good you are a winner too (despite probably not being included in the Bush tax cuts).

You too LK. How about turning that video camera into something for the forces of good? Mocking people at a fantasy convention is like shooting fish in a barrel. Really, I think even I could do it.

merry merry....I/C

if i could, i would delete that and repost with the paragraphs. but i cant delete for some reason... : (

KrazEEyes - if the net effect is an increase in good - i think it counts.

If you are stealing their office supplies then using their computers to sell their meep on ebay, then it doesn't count.

Is there a difference between 'Hey guys, I'm going to buy a TV, any suggestions?- and 'I gave $2000 to charity this year and gosh darn it I wish there was more I could do. What did you give?- There sure is. Most people who are considering a major purchase will seek out the advice and experiences of others who have made similar purchases; it's a fairly normal occurrence. A rational person wouldn't consider this bragging unless they're perhaps envious or feeling inadequate. Volunteering exactly how much you give to charity, then ruing how little you give, wishing if only you could give more has no clear motive. Is it bragging? Are you trying to encourage others by taking the lead?

ok. i know the rules now.

Your generous, giving nature is showcased nowhere so extravantly as in your large-hearted response to the criticism and open discussion fostered by the journal topic you spontaneously shared with us. Thank you!

Wow, way to make a someone's opinion into your own personal soapbox and pepper in a personal swipe.

LK. How about turning that video camera into something for the forces of good? Mocking people at a fantasy convention is like shooting fish in a barrel. Really, I think even I could do it.

LOL ok!

If i could back up about 3 days I would.

Sounds like you're cutting and running. If you know your opinions are right then stay the course.

I just gave 94 cents to the salvation army at the grocery store.

i think it just got lost, thats all. i got defensive and pissed off blah blah blah. i really wasn;t starting out thinking how can i appear to be a big ol meephole.

Oftentimes we do not truly know what we are capable of until we do it. Then we are so frightened of it that we run from it instead of embracing what we cannot escape.

i am now embracing looking ike a big ol meephole

you are what you eat, ol chap.

Encouraging others to share is laudable. Talking dollar amounts can get one into being a little self-rightous looking though, depending on what it seems your motives are. The $ I donate I really don't talk about much, cause I know I'm no better than the next guy, I'm just trying to help out with what little I can.

If you're very well off, then I think giving money is just as legit as giving time. Your time is better spent making more money and donating a tiny fraction of it versus the value (though to some it may feel superior) of ladeling soup. I have no strong like or dislike for Bill Gates, but I can bet that the money he's given easily overpowers any reasonably equivalent amount of time he could have given.

There are some exceptions to that rule. I think anyone that can reasonably give blood should try. That's something that really cannot be bought, as yet, and is of great benefit to your fellow man. If you're really a stud, you could give a kidney ;)