best donation time

[pianistimo]

guess that donations are good at any time - but toward the end of the year i notice many companies doing their 'good deeds.'  the local bicycle shop is having a 'used bike' donation - where they collect the bikes and send them to third world countries for people to be able to get around.  and, the tax benefits of getting rid of the junk in the garage is good, too.   the name of the bike store is 'bikesport.' 

[ihatepop]

Ah, all that good bubbling inside just gives me the most peachy feeling!!! *acts cute*

ihatepop

[jpianoflorida]

You know what is sad?   everyone around Christmas gets the good heart and gets involved, but unfortunately during the rest of the year most people don't get involved in charity.      I do 2 nursing home ministries and I'm involved with a homeless shelter...we see people at christmas coming in and helping out, but the rest of the year we have to beg for volunteers.   I mean, I'm extremely glad people help out at Christmas, I just wished more people would get involved all year.

[pianistimo]

i'm impressed jpianoflorida that you work in the community so much.  it takes a lot of free time and time that people don't typically want to give up.  but, churches are great places to ask for volunteers because usually people do.  in fact, many of the charities are church backed - and the food collected is on the weekend at a church donation site.  we've had canned food drives, baked food drives, are told of specific people that need help, and rarely when an announcement is made do people ignore it. 

but, when it comes to a whole community service - yes...it is larger and more difficult in scope if the government expects churches to handle the whole entire community.  if you look at what happened with katrina - the bulk of people who got long term care - were from their own extended families and various church organizations.  i'm not saying FEMA didn't help - i think the temporary housing was ok - but for a church to do what FEMA is doing is kinda beyond their scope.  even churches right now are hurting for money.

ps  philabundance is doing a donation drive for Thanksgiving for children, senior citizens and families who need meals throughout the year.  215 339-0900  philabundance, 3616 south galloway street, po box 37555, philadelphia, pa 19148-7555  or www.philabundance.org   your gift is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.