Begging has become normal now.

Chet said:
I was solicited to join Next Door but I did not. It seems like a good idea at first but there is always a catch and they have your address and whatnot.

Maybe I'm a Scrooge, but those commercials seeking to feed hungry children get to me. Don't they have parents?
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@Chet, When I see commercials on TV with starving children, I wonder why did they drive all the way out there to film them and not bring enough food to feed them while they are there? Do they empty their pockets when they see their condition?
I wonder what percentage goes to the TV ads and monitering of expenses and how much money (or food) actually gets to the children?
 

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Begging has become normal now.
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Begging has been around at least as long as human societies, there are just new begging tools and venues(apps and websites)

Here's a link for some Biblical commentary about begging: openbible.info

Short and to the point:
Proverbs 19:17
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.
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I don't belong to Next Door because I want to limit the personal information I give out, especially online. The only charity I still give money to, and have for over thirty years, is a local shelter for abused women and children. I donate unwanted clothes and household goods to Green Door, Purple Heart, and similar organizations. That's it.

Bella ✌️
 

Bella said:
I don't belong to Next Door because I want to limit the personal information I give out, especially online. The only charity I still give money to, and have for over thirty years, is a local shelter for abused women and children. I donate unwanted clothes and household goods to Green Door, Purple Heart, and similar organizations. That's it.

Bella ✌️
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I gave no personal info on the Next door app... except my address.. but you have to give that to get the code to allow you to activate the app.. but I didn't even give my real name
 
hollydolly said:
I gave no personal info on the Next door app... except my address.. but you have to give that to get the code to allow you to activate the app.. but I didn't even give my real name
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Just a note of caution: they could probably determine your real name from your address if they wanted to.

I don't give out any personal information unless it's absolutely necessary, and NextDoor membership isn't something I'd consider necessary, for me, anyway. I have to admit, though, that I never heard of it before this thread appeared. Some people might like it.
 
hollydolly said:
I gave no personal info on the Next door app... except my address.. but you have to give that to get the code to allow you to activate the app.. but I didn't even give my real name
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SeniorBen said:
Just a note of caution: they could probably determine your real name from your address if they wanted to.
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It's easy to find out who lives where or who owns a property. This site is for the US and it's free. > https://rehold.com/

There are plenty of other sites that charge a small fee for that information. ;)

Bella ✌️
 
SeniorBen said:
Just a note of caution: they could probably determine your real name from your address if they wanted to.

I don't give out any personal information unless it's absolutely necessary, and NextDoor membership isn't something I'd consider necessary, for me, anyway. I have to admit, though, that I never heard of it before this thread appeared. Some people might like it.
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Nope.. they couldn't...
 
Bella said:
I don't belong to Next Door because I want to limit the personal information I give out, especially online. The only charity I still give money to, and have for over thirty years, is a local shelter for abused women and children. I donate unwanted clothes and household goods to Green Door, Purple Heart, and similar organizations. That's it.

Bella ✌️
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I feel the same way. I don't have a cell phone so that makes it a lot easier. I don't join any mass media sites, or have any subscriptions. I don't want to get involved in the extremely complex technology scams that abound and are increasing daily. The simpler the better.

I was always skeptical of those big organizations days ago like the United Way. Remember what happened to that most famous of charitable organizations.

William Aramony, who built the United Way of America into an empire of charitable giving during his 20 years as its president but was jailed in 1995 for defrauding the organization of more than $1 million, died Nov. 11 at his home in Alexandria. He was 84.
 
I gave $25 to a childrens hospital last Christmas. So now that I’ve given once I repeatedly get another request in mail for more money along with tablets and envelope labels. It seems like the mailing and incentives in envelope will soon cost more than I donated. I feel cheap by not donating more. Does that make any sense?
 
StillLearning said:
I gave $25 to a childrens hospital last Christmas. So now that I’ve given once I repeatedly get another request in mail for more money along with tablets and envelope labels. It seems like the mailing and incentives in envelope will soon cost more than I donated. I feel cheap by not donating more. Does that make any sense?
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I'm experiencing the same problem. I get loads of mail from charities asking for money. Someone even emailed me from a university that I had donated some money a while back asking why not increase my donation? It's getting ridiculous.
 
Dont get me started on United Way! At two places I worked we were coerced to donate so the company would meet its “quota”. And Sierra Club. I bought one of their calendars as a gift last Xmas and now I get constant emails and other stuff.
Ive often wondered about all those paper, printing and mailing costs too.
 
Seems to me that the Biblical quote addresses giving, not begging. There’s a big difference. The problem is how can one tell who is in genuine need, and who is a scammer.
 
Years ago I chose a charity to donate to with the plan of quietly keeping it up. I told them if I received any solicitation for more from them or selling of my name, they’d never see another red cent from me. I put an extra vowel in my name. I now have lots of red cents.
 
I ditched Next Door because it was boring. There were only 2,000 people in my "town" (lots of farms) and no real town - all it had was a post office. It would have been fairly easy to find out who was begging/asking for help, and whether it was legit. I never saw anyone begging. Mostly lost pets and wanting referrals for people to do work like appliance repair. Our go-to guy had the nerve to retire!
 
Gaer said:
@Chet, When I commercials on TV with starving children, I wonder why did they drive all the way out there to film them and not bring enough food to feed them while they are there? Do they empty their pockets when they see their condition?
I wonder what percentage goes to the TV ads and monitering of expenses and how much money (or food) actually gets to the children?
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Hold onto your socks... I "adopted" a kid through the Save The Children Fund. I sent $25/mo, got the kids name and a picture, we even exchanged monthly letters...he drew pictures in crayon. He was 8. His mother wrote me once, too.

I did that until my kid's family moved to a neighboring country (in Africa), and Save The Children quickly offered me another kid, but *something told me* to look into them further.

17%, Gaer. 17% of all the money STC Fund was taking in actually went toward food, clothes, shoes, schools and doctors for the children. The rest was paid to "organizers". And it turns out (at least at the time; 2003) that's typical of those types of charities.
 
StillLearning said:
I gave $25 to a childrens hospital last Christmas. So now that I’ve given once I repeatedly get another request in mail for more money along with tablets and envelope labels. It seems like the mailing and incentives in envelope will soon cost more than I donated. I feel cheap by not donating more. Does that make any sense?
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Sure it makes sense, and that's why they keep sending you reminders, getting people to give is hard work. lol

Most major charities publish their financials, before contributing you should always check how much of the contributions go to the cause vs. marketing and administrative cost. As for direct contributions to individuals I'm always hesitant because of all the scams. I have a tendency to give help to those that don't ask but I know are struggling.
 
oldaunt said:
I donate to our local Humane Society and womens shelter, because I can buy things they need and deliver them. No problem knowing where the money went.
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I use to donate all my used stuff to Goodwill but the last few years have been taking that stuff to a local homeless shelter. The shelter is staffed by volunteers and any donated items are given free to the local needy. I like that.
 
I;ve always thought a bit much to be asking for "medical"
expense money when the person is still in the hospital, I mean
c'mon, you have no idea what the costs will be....I have in the past helped a couple people on next door, but with much caution, and some investigating....also use next door to hire
someone for chores outside I can no longer do.....
 
Bella said:
I don't belong to Next Door because I want to limit the personal information I give out, especially online. The only charity I still give money to, and have for over thirty years, is a local shelter for abused women and children. I donate unwanted clothes and household goods to Green Door, Purple Heart, and similar organizations. That's it.

Bella ✌️
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Same here! Abused women and children! They didn't have any "safe houses" to get away from abusing husbands when I needed it and I'm so glad they do now!
 
Around my "neck of the woods", there are 2 types of really annoying beggars:

1. Young people, 25 - 35 standing at major stop lights with cardboard signs basically saying, "Anything Helps." There is a flood of "Help Wanted" and "Hiring" signs all over the city.

2. WalMart keeps begging for my loonies everytime I shop there. I always tell them to ask someone from the Walton Family as they have a lot of money.
 

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