Gifts for people who are hard to buy for

jazzyjools replied:

I spoke to my mother yesterday and we decided that each adult in our family will put in $5.00 and the money we collect will be spent purchasing something from Oxfam to help those less fortunate than our selves, and we will do it each year at Christmas.

jazzyjools replied:

Oxfam Australia announced its alternative gift catalogue Unwrapped had raised over $4 million, breaking all previous Christmas sales records.
We Australians are a generous lot

Ladywytch replied:

Do you research before you donate your hard earned money.  Find out how much goes abroad and how much pays for the luxury cars and offices these people use - supplied by the charity.

I have worked for this and a number of other charities over the past 25 years, I am not saying don't do it however be informed.  Oxfam is probably one of the better ones.

M

jazzyjools replied:

Interesting comments Ladywytch.  In this day and age many charities have to pay people for their services and are run as a business which unfortunately means that money is spent in many different areas and not all of it gets to the people who need it most.  But at least ultimately poorer people are being given opportunities to have food, clean water, medicine and many other things that we take for granted by the good work of the many charities world wide.  I am interested were you a volunteer or a paid employee for these charities? 

Ladywytch replied:

I was a volunteer but many weren't.  I quit when my 'boss' was supplied with a brand new commodore wagon.  Yes, it is hard to get volunteers these days and many of these 'charities' do have to be run like a business however a company car and other luxuries are, I believe unnesessary for the heirachy.

When I volunteered for the red cross years ago there was no multi story complex in the heart of the city.  they worked out of hospitals and didn't drive company cars.  Yes the Red Cross need delivery vehicles but that is it.  As for Oxfam - used to be Community Aid Abroad - it is the best of the bunch as they are still working out of a pre war ex army shed at Windsor here in Queensland and survive only because of their volunteers.  Some of these 'charities' need to be restructuredand a serious audit done.

There is now a university course - has been for about 10 years - in fundraising and of course those that have got the degree expect to be paid.  A charity and the good it does is only as strong as its volunteers because the big wigs demand their share of the coffers.  It is seriously a shame and I have gotten so disilusioned with the fundraising process over the years that I very rarely even donate to anyone but Oxfam.

Good luck, Julie, what you want to take on is rewarding and even though I see through jaded eyes I seriously respect anyone that has the time, energy and heart to take this work on.

M

plainjayne replied:

Good for you jazzyjools! My youngest child's kindy collects money to buy from that charity and I think it does great things. The whole point of having charities is to help others have the things that they need. I agree it is unfortunate that some people involved need to be paid. But at least there are people there ensuring that the charities keep going! lol My family is involved in red cross and we are proud to help out as much as we can.