Charitable Advice
We're moving into the season of donating money, time, and goods in part to lighten our own load and, hopefully, do some good for others less fortunate. Before you decide to donate your used items to your local library, women's shelter, rescue mission, etc here are a couple of things that you may not think about if you have never been on the receiving end of such donations.
Before you give your item to the library, women's shelter, rescue mission, etc, look at it with the eyes of the person receiving it. Seriously, if you would be grossed out or offended if you received those books, clothes, baby gear, etc chances are really great that the person on the receiving end will not feel blessed by your "gift."
Before you give your item to one of the aforementioned charities, ask yourself if you'd be willing to pay to have it hauled away with the recyclables or trash. Your "gift" is more than likely costing your charity of choice money to have it hauled away when they cannot use it. If this is a charity providing a service that you enjoy (like your library), you're actually hurting not helping.
Before you give your gift ask yourself, "would I find this useful if I received it?" If a 40 year old tax preparation book or nursing procedures book isn't going to do your career any favors, it's not going to be helpful to the current generation of accountants and nurses either. If an 8-track tape deck won't do you any good, because you don't have any 8-tracks to play, it's not going to do anyone else living in the 21st century any good either. Please stop giving garbage and calling it a "gift".
Before you give your gift ask yourself, "if I had to sort through hundreds of peoples' donations just like this, how would that impact my service to the community?" Remember, you aren't the only one giving such gifts. Charities receive a ton of stuff every year and someone has to sort it and figure out what they can keep and what they need to trash or recycle. That takes time, time that they might be able to devote to other areas of service in the community.
I don't want to discourage you from donating goods to your local charities. I want you to be thoughtful in how you donate. Check into places where you can recycle things on your own - there are tech stores who will recycle that unwanted 8-track tape player and if you look in your phone book you can find places that will recycle old clothing that is out of date or doesn't have any wear left and most communities will recycle your paper back books (for hard cover books, remove the cover and recycle the pages). Consider volunteering at your charity of choice so you can better understand what goods they can actually use and what is a burden to them. And always, remember the old adage "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." (Boyd K. Packer) This will help us not to accumulate too much stuff in the first place.
Go do good!
Before you give your item to the library, women's shelter, rescue mission, etc, look at it with the eyes of the person receiving it. Seriously, if you would be grossed out or offended if you received those books, clothes, baby gear, etc chances are really great that the person on the receiving end will not feel blessed by your "gift."
Before you give your item to one of the aforementioned charities, ask yourself if you'd be willing to pay to have it hauled away with the recyclables or trash. Your "gift" is more than likely costing your charity of choice money to have it hauled away when they cannot use it. If this is a charity providing a service that you enjoy (like your library), you're actually hurting not helping.
Before you give your gift ask yourself, "would I find this useful if I received it?" If a 40 year old tax preparation book or nursing procedures book isn't going to do your career any favors, it's not going to be helpful to the current generation of accountants and nurses either. If an 8-track tape deck won't do you any good, because you don't have any 8-tracks to play, it's not going to do anyone else living in the 21st century any good either. Please stop giving garbage and calling it a "gift".
Before you give your gift ask yourself, "if I had to sort through hundreds of peoples' donations just like this, how would that impact my service to the community?" Remember, you aren't the only one giving such gifts. Charities receive a ton of stuff every year and someone has to sort it and figure out what they can keep and what they need to trash or recycle. That takes time, time that they might be able to devote to other areas of service in the community.
I don't want to discourage you from donating goods to your local charities. I want you to be thoughtful in how you donate. Check into places where you can recycle things on your own - there are tech stores who will recycle that unwanted 8-track tape player and if you look in your phone book you can find places that will recycle old clothing that is out of date or doesn't have any wear left and most communities will recycle your paper back books (for hard cover books, remove the cover and recycle the pages). Consider volunteering at your charity of choice so you can better understand what goods they can actually use and what is a burden to them. And always, remember the old adage "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." (Boyd K. Packer) This will help us not to accumulate too much stuff in the first place.
Go do good!
Good things to keep in mind!
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