Would You Accept Charity?

[Jabberwocky]

Following on from the "How charitable are you?" post.

 

Would you ever accept charity? If you give to it would you feel comfortable accepting it? If you dont give to charity, would you feel guilty accepting it?

 

When my son was alive I accepted it for holidays-day trips for him and I try to give as often as i can now.

[Devine22]

Following on from the "How charitable are you?" post.

 

Would you ever accept charity? If you give to it would you feel comfortable accepting it? If you dont give to charity, would you feel guilty accepting it?

 

When my son was alive I accepted it for holidays-day trips for him and I try to give as often as i can now.

 

As long as its a bit of give and take then yes, i'm not just a taker, I like to give and receive, its only fair

[taxman]

Reminds me of a funny story.

 

There is a bloke who comes into my local pub every night. He looks at first glance like a tramp. Big coat, a bit scruffy, load of layers, plastic carrier bag etc but after the initial response to him you notice that he is clean, his clothes are clean, he doesn't smell or mutter. He has a couple of pints and a smoke, is no trouble then leaves.

 

A few weeks ago he was sat there having his pint when this couple who were drinking got up to leave. As they were leaving the bloke put some change on our mans table and said "there you go mate" patted him on the shoulder and wandered out. The regular picked up the money, looked at it quizically and pocketed it. We thought it was a bit patronising at the time to look at someone who is a bit scruffy and decide they were a charity case.

 

It was even funnier when I saw him next time in the pub reaching into his pocket and removing a wad of about fifty £20 notes

[Darbees]

Charity isn't necessarily for people who can't afford things, it provides things that wouldn't otherwise be available. In the case of the computers it's service for old people because they are old. People take advantage of things such as air ambulance and life boats (as in other thread), national parks etc because it is given to them anyway. Then afterwards maybe their conscience makes them make a donation.

[Halibut]

A few weeks ago, as I was cycling back onto our street one of my neighbours gestured to me to come over to him - I wondered if I'd done something to upset him as he said ''Don't take this the wrong way, but...'' and then went on to offer me a very good quality sofa bed, as he was moving out. I gladly accepted. Mick knew I'm on a low income at the moment, it was a genuinely thoughtful gesture which I was glad to accept.

As someone who has/does give to various charitable causes I have no problem whatsoever with accepting a little generosity from others where it's appropriate.

[Darbees]

What I mean is that charity covers a multitude of things, accepting charity could imply perhaps that some people use it when they shouldn't. Some people do but it depends what the charity is. Chuck it back at Jabberwocky and see what he meant originally.

[Guest]

...As someone who has/does give to various charitable causes I have no problem whatsoever with accepting a little generosity from others where it's appropriate.

Agreed. I wouldn't have a problem either, if I was in the position to need a bit of help. I'd donate something back when I could too.

[pinklady]

TBH i dont think many people realise just what a difference charitable organisations make to people who need it. thankfully (touch wood) ive never needed the help of any charities but have friends whos childrens lives have been made more comfortable by charitable donations. Sadly many people dont think to donate unless their own lives have been touched by some kind of illness.

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SPECIAL VEHICLE TEAM

[Swan_Vesta]

Fortunately my circumstances have always been rosy enough not to have to accept charity, however, when I was made redundant for the second time I was told to sign on and just could not do it. To my fiercely independant mind it seemed like I was getting a handout to which my old man said 'FFS, you've paid your taxes for christ knows how long - you might as well have it if it's offered'.

I was out of work for 2 weeks (which were the longest of my life!) and never took a penny.

 

There's something that sticks in my craw about accepting help be it monetary or physical, but as I say, I've been remarkably fortunate in life and have never really needed it.

[Jabberwocky]

What I mean is that charity covers a multitude of things, accepting charity could imply perhaps that some people use it when they shouldn't. Some people do but it depends what the charity is. Chuck it back at Jabberwocky and see what he meant originally.

I meant charity in any way, shape or form. From favours from strangers to accepting charity from churches and places like the joseph roundtree foundation.

 

Im asking because I know a lot of people who feel that accepting charity in any way is a sign of weakness.