Charity Requests

Just throwing a question out there. Why do all of the charities increase their fundraising efforts at this time of the year? I understand that they want to maximize their dollars in for the year, but really? At this time of the year we're all mega-broke from the holidays and excess funds are a pipe dream. Any extra funds I have right now (and my Discover card balance is laughing at me as I write this) is going to two new sets of exercise clothes so that I don't frighten anyone at the Y while I'm on the elliptical or in the pool. Good grief!

I will have to get some instruction on how to use the elliptical. I haven't
used one of these before. 

Yet the lack of funds from most of us at this time of the year (unless you're sitting pretty on top of an inheritance or something like that) certainly doesn't seem to stop the endless tide of charity requests from hitting our in-boxes and mail boxes. And the kicker is that many of these organizations/causes are ones that I would really like to support. I just can't right now.

Heifer International is one of my favorite charities because it
helps people become independent and self-sustaining through
the gift of small animal care. Just a gift of some chickens, ducks, or
a goat can be life-changing for a family. 

I choose my charities carefully and try to make sure my money gets used in a way I approve of and targets as many people as possible. I'm really rather boring in charity choices - Public Radio, Public Television, the Art Institute and a few occasional donations to other types of organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, the Human Rights Council and Heifer Organization. But if I gave the $20, $10, $5 or even $1 each time I was asked, my barely-black bank account would be blinking a bright, neon red.

There are so many animal rights charities out there, it's hard
to choose just a single one for a donation. The
ASPCA is high on my list, but so is the Humane Society. 

So I'm sorry, charity of pro-choice, charity of animal rights and charity of LGBT rights. As much as I might want to support you with funding, that's simply not going to happen. At least not at this time. Does that mean you're off my list forever? Of course not. But you're not going to be one of my monthly donations, and you might not even make my annual donation list. But when I am feeling flush and I am looking for a place to spend a bit to help others, I'll be revisiting your websites and re-examining what you are doing with your funding. If I think it will help people stand on their own two feet, or help those who have no voice like animals, I'll probably send a donation to assist your efforts.

Whether actual or cyber, I'm getting buried alive by junk
mail, many requesting donations. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! 

And after I've done so, my in-box will once again be assaulted by a never-ending stream of solicitations. *sigh* It almost makes me want to stop donating to charities all together. Enjoy your Tuesday!