I’m not one of those people that give money to the homeless, like Brian is. I’m not one of those people that give $5 or $10 in the collect at Church, like my mother does. I’m just not a money giver when it comes to charities.
In fact, I’m very selfish when it comes to giving. I need to get something out of it. If I give money to a charity raffle, I have to like the prizes. When I volunteered at hospitals, I was getting experience in a hospital environment. When I volunteered at the suicide hotline, I was satisfying an itch I had to help people who were depressed, like I was. When I volunteered to help Sweet Dee and Charlotte with their financial situation, I did it because I love spreadsheets.
In short, I am a selfish charitable giver. But I do have a very soft side for my friends.
The latest charity I’ve been helping with is Angela’s Triathlon fund raiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I donated to her cause (a mere $30 – 1% of her goal), but I’m helping her plan events that hopefully will bring a lot more in. What do I get out of it? I get to use my time for something that means something to my friend, who has given me countless hours of her patient ears to listen to all my complaints and whines.
My friendships do mean a lot to me, and if one of my friends needs something that I can provide, I’m there 100% no matter what. And that’s why I’m putting all my love to Angela’s fund raising.
So when I see that my own friends scurry away when they are asked to help out, I feel hurt that the eagerness to help is not reciprocated.
Maybe people don’t like to spend money on charities (me being Exhibit 1), but isn’t it a common trait we all share to want to help a friend?
When did “Charity” become a four-letter word?
ina