Message #71362

[rose.winter1980]

It was drummed into me from being quite small, and even at school, that you always have to "do something for others" no matter how small that "something" is.  Most people have causes close to their heart that they prefer to support.  I also think, as a Christian, it is a part of good stewardship of money, particularly in these straitened times, to set aside an amount to give to those in greater need. If you only have 50 pence or 50 cents to give, then you give that money; if you don't have funds but have time, then you give that time to visit with that old person/help with that children's group.  And it is also a privilege and a blessing to help others.

I donate to five charities and actively do something for a couple.  I can usually stretch to sponsoring a colleague doing, say, a 5 km run for a breast cancer charity or to raise funds for sports equipment for a children's group, but that's about it.  The most we have done as a company is to wear crazy hats on April Fools Day - for a small fee - and paid a much larger fee to escape having to wear a silly hat.  That said, it is very difficult when one's employers come round effectively with a begging bowl, especially if they have cut wages. It seems almost to add insult to injury.  In such a case, I would simply say that I was very sorry but my charitable giving was fully committed and I am sure they would understand. 

There's no arguing with that response.