Charity: (noun) The voluntary giving of help, typically money, to those in need.
Now, I'm not saying that any of the causes are not worthy. In fact I am a supporter of them all. But there comes a point where you think your pockets might just start presenting lint instead of pennies.
Like this:
It started out slowly: about three weeks ago, we had to donate a pound so that the kids could go to school dressed as a hero. The pound went to Help for Heroes.
A few days after that we had to empty our homes of old clothes to donate to bags2school.
Then of course it was poppy season so every time we went anywhere we donated again to collect an entire bunch of poppies because obviously I never remembered to wear the poppies I had and so always felt guilty about not having one on.
Then we needed to donate prizes for bingo and the Christmas Fair. In exchange the kids could go to school out of uniform.
Then it was school bingo - spend your Friday night paying to win a prize which you have donated to the school.
On Wednesday this week, I should have gone to a quiz night held by a local organisation to raise funds for a campaign against the installation of an incinerator. But I was away. But I'll be donating my time tonight to attend the committee meeting for this organisation, so that counts.
Similarly, on Friday we should be going to the quiz night at the local rugby club as they're trying to raise funds, but instead, we are going to a quiz evening on Saturday night to raise funds for our local village hall. That will cost us £20 for a babysitter, £10 in tickets and god knows what in alcohol.
This morning I drove in my pyjamas to the local shop to buy things for the Christmas Shoe Box appeal because having read the leaflet more closely, our second hand toys weren't going to cut it and they needed to be new. So I bought £14 worth of new
This afternoon I have baked cupcakes for Children in Need activities at school tomorrow, printed off a bunch of pictures for a colouring competition and will be forking out another £1 per child to go to school out of uniform (again) and have to give them each 'some money (?)' to spend on the fundraising activities for Children in Need.
And then of course we have the school Christmas Fair. For this I have made 20 mini Christmas cakes (yet to be decorated), 10 jars of chutney, 10 bags of edible Christmas decorations (to be made still) and have bagged up heaps of our walnuts. All of the ingredients, jars and packaging has been paid for by me (Lakeland - I want a loyalty card). In addition, I will be rummaging through the house for stuff to sell at the second hand stall, am calling a bunch of local companies to try rustle up some prizes for the raffle and will be spending the day of the fair setting up, manning stalls and spending money, buying back the stuff I donated no doubt.
Goodwill to all men and all that. But good grief it's expensive, not to mention exhausting.
I fear I have donor fatigue. Come 1 December, I am going on strike. So is my wallet.
Anyone else tired of all the giving when the season of giving hasn't officially started yet?
3 comments:
Yes!! I know I sound awful but if I gave to every single charity that asked me to give, I would be in need of charity.
And not a day goes by that I don't get an email from a friend asking for sponsorship for a charity run. I think it's amazing what they are doing, but we make our own donations automatically each month and even these are a stretch. So lately I've been saying no and I hate it.
Tell me about it - all of it is supposedly optional but...
I do get to the stage of feeling it would be easier just to empty my wallet of money and hand that all over
Yay for your Children in Need efforts! - but I know what you mean.....
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