Do You Have 'Charity Fatigue?'
From the ubiquitous red kettles to the option to round up to the nearest dollar at the register, there are many requests for consumers' charity this season.
It's rare to go through a checkout line without being asked for a donation. At PetSmart it's for animals; at Wendy's it's for adoption; at the Dollar Tree Store it's toys for military kids. And, let's not forget the jingle of the Salvation Army bell that sends many of us digging into our pockets. It's true, needs are increasing yearly. One viewpoint is that if you're out shopping anyway, parting with an extra dollar here and there likely has little affect on your wallet—and if others do the same, the sum of all the small donations can make a big difference. But how do you decide when your donations are enough? Do you have to give each time to feel like you've helped? How do you walk through the cold past that kettle and the ringer of the …
Ron Goodenow
7:24 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Sure, all the requests can be irritating....but there is another side to the story. The Rotary Club to which I belong recently collaborated with Stop and Shop, CVS and Roche Bros Supermarket to raise money for Rotary's huge international effort to eradicate polio. Our program has been supported with massive funding from governments, the Gates Foundation and international agencies and we are … more ›