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The older I get, the faster time seems to fly by. March 2019, roared in like a lion and, as I write this, it’s looking over its shoulder and snarling a little bit. March may not go out like a lamb and April will be three days old when this column in The Times hits the stands. Like every other month of the year, April has an awareness factor attached to it. Check it out. April has been called the cruelest month, but it’s also the poetry month, the earth month, the oral health month, the cancer awareness month, the jazz appreciation month, the mathematics awareness month, the child abuse prevention month, the volunteer month, the sexual assault awareness month and the autism awareness month. That’s a lot of awareness for one month.
In years gone by, while working for another publication, I would have had to drive, or cycle, from one awareness event to the other, photographing smiling people who were holding a massive cheques, and who wanted everyone to know “their cause” was “the cause”. Occasionally, I found myself writing a cheque for a cause or two. In those days, I was committed to oodles of causes, often donating more than I made on “the cause” photoshoot. I’ve cut myself some slack since those days. I don’t donate to as many charities as I used to. I’d love to have enough money to give to all of the good causes but I don’t. So I’ve decided to pick the charities that resonate within my life, locally. It’s interesting to note, not one person has ever asked me for money, or a write-up, about mathematics, poetry or jazz appreciation. Go figure.
Over the years I found I felt much better about charitable donations if I were giving to local “causes”. Now I pick one or two causes that touch my heart and try to make sure the money I donate is used to advantage right here in the County. I have become a firm believer in choosing smaller, local, charities first. I think that the big charities often spend too much on bureaucracy, marketing, glossy advertising campaigns and salaries resulting in not nearly enough being used to solve the problems for which they are named. I live in this small community and find comfort in “giving local”. It’s a good feeling to see the donations in action. I actually know how my donation impacts the place where I live. In most cases, I’m confident that I know how my donation is being utilized. It seems small, local, community-type charities have fewer employees (if any at all). Quite often local charities use public service announcements, social media, handmade posters and word of mouth to get their cause in front of potential donors. If a local charity does have staff, it’s usually someone from the community and someone who is accessible. I like the feeling of knowing who’s running the organization and, if I wanted to, I could speak to them directly, or even volunteer to help. Another perk of local giving is local charities often incorporate fundraising events that help build good community relationships, and they’re fun.
Aside from all of that, our local charities know what the people in our neighbourhoods need. In the long run, a donation to a local charity is a hand-up, more than a hand-out, without the big organization waste. Think about it next time you feel the urge to donate to a big, national/global charity. Do you know how your money is going to be spent? How much of your money is actually getting to those in need? Wouldn’t your hard- earned dollars do a world of good right here, in your own neighbourhood?
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