Posted on 11/23/2013 10:49:46 AM PST by rickmichaels
Canada’s charitable sector just got a boost from on high. This Monday Governor General David Johnston announced the launch of My Giving Moment, a web-based campaign seeking to convince Canadians to increase their charitable contributions.
“Big or small, every gesture counts,” his excellency said in a press release. “I hope this campaign will encourage Canadians to find their own giving moments and pass them on to others—whether in time, talent or money.” A lengthy list of well-known corporate partners signed on to the campaign as well, including the major banks, Home Hardware, Tim Hortons, Target Canada and Procter & Gamble.
All this is, of course, a noble and well-intentioned effort. And Maclean’s wishes the Governor General good fortune with the project, the first initiative to be funded through his newly created Rideau Hall Foundation charitable organization.
But as worthy as it may be to spend time and effort encouraging Canadians to have more “giving moments,” it might be equally worthwhile to ask the charitable and corporate sectors to consider which of their practices tend to discourage Canadians from having such moments. Perhaps eliminating some of these irritations would stimulate even greater generosity.
An example: The My Giving Moments website features a rotating list of ways Canadians could increase their philanthropic effort. “Add it up!” reads one suggestion. “The next time a store asks if you’d like to add a dollar to your bill in support of an international development charity, do it.”
The habit of retail stores button-holing customers at the checkout for charitable donations of a dollar or two is, in our estimation, the most annoying and least persuasive example of philanthropy in Canada today. Regardless of whether it is done in support of international, national or local programs, the cash register charity holdup is a terrible idea.
First, the practice relies heavily on public humiliation for success. We’ve all felt the looming dread that comes from standing in a lengthy lineup knowing that when we reach the front the sales clerk will ask us if we want to add a dollar to our bill. Many of us end up saying yes, if only out of fear we’ll look like skinflints in front of our peers. Or slow down the line.
The same goes for charities that stake out beer stores and attempt to separate customers from their empties by appealing equally to the sentiments of generosity and shame. This is no way to build a greater spirit of charity among Canadians.
Further, it is charity without contemplation. There’s no time to make a reasoned decision about whether a particular cause is deserving of your donation in the few seconds before your sale is rung up. The store has already done the deciding for you. Encouraging this sort of uncontemplative charitable behaviour runs counter to the expressed goals of My Giving Moment, that emphasize a greater personal connection to the act of giving.
If a grocery store, coffee shop or postal outlet feels a particular charity is especially deserving of funds, let them make their own donation. Some stores have even taken to asking whether customers would like to round up their bill and donate the difference to charity. Okay. But if this is such a worthy way to give, how about rounding the bill down and giving that amount to charity.
Finally, it reduces transparency and risks making charities lazy by having businesses do the difficult work of finding and convincing potential donors for them. And as for the stores themselves, while they may think they’re basking in the reflected glory of good works, they’re also making shopping an even more unpleasant experience. Whether this results in a net gain or not is debatable.
None of the above should be taken as a discouragement to charitable giving or volunteerism. We encourage all Canadians to think about the many advantages they enjoy and make every effort to give back to those less fortunate, through donations of time or money, at home and abroad. And in ways that are personally meaningful. (We note with particular interest that Nigel Wright, Stephen Harper’s former chief of staff who either resigned or was “dismissed” for reimbursing Sen. Mike Duffy’s expense claims, has been spending his time in the political wilderness working at an Ottawa inner-city soup kitchen.)
Charities unquestionably make Canada a better place to live. But charities and business can do their part to improve the charitable experience. Ending the cash-register charity holdup would be a very good place to start.
I hate this. Last one was at Kroger for SGK. I point blank said to the cashier “I wouldn’t donate a penny to SGK; they sponsor abortions.”
FINALLY! Somebody writing about this. It has been my pet peeve for years. That’s how long it’s been happening. It frosts me to no end. It’s meant to embarrass you into giving. I give to the charities that I want when I want. not when I’m buy a loaf of bread and some milk.
The cash register don’t annoy me as much as those who wait outside the store, or the worst of the worst those who wait at red lights.
At least the squeegie men in NYC cleaned your windows
They’re doing this at our local Albertson’s market. “Would you like to contribute a dollar to local hungry family for Thanksgiving dinner” or something along those lines. I always say no because I resent their methods.
When I tell ‘em no, I let them know that since Amerika voted to go the socialist route, they voted to let government handle all this stuff.
“it is the luck to help, which rewards those who commit themselves to this socialist state.
our great welfare system is more than just charity; because we do not say to rich people: please, give something to these poor people! We rather say: German people, help yourself! Everyone should help, no matter how rich or poor he is. Each of us should always think that there is always someone who is in a worse situation than I am, and this one I want to help as my comrade!
and if one says: “yes but do I have to sacrifice a lot?” That is the glory of giving! When you sacrifice you can walk through your national community with your head held high.
Our belief in Germany is unshakeable! and our will is overwhelming! and when will and belief combine so ardently, then the heavens will not deny you.”
-Adolf Hitler 1937 Speech for the Winter Relief Fund
Almost as bad as telling me how much I saved.
Add: It was also required to choose, for a cash purchase.
I refuse to shop at Rite Aid inpart because of this type of crap continually going on. The other main reason is because they contributed heavily to the last Maobama presidential campaign.
Just about everywhere I go they do this. I really hate it and always say no. I’m tired of not even being able to go to the grocery store without somebody begging for money. With the amount we pay in taxes, I’m pretty sure we’re supporting many families already.
Compound that with ‘charities’ where most of the donations go to pay huge salaries, etc.
For too many of those ‘charities’, their ‘charity’ goes to themselves.
Sorry, I just have to disagree. Our Salvation Army bell-ringers get their big bump in donations during Christmas, and IMO SA is the best charity out there.
Secondly, in most cities and towns, kids are not allowed to go door to door anymore selling cubscout / boyscout popcorn (they need a soliciting license and ID, most 3rd graders do not have ID). They are forced to stand by the door of grocery stores.
Those are both good causes.
My Shriner group still sells Vidalia onions out of parking lots, but we do not go near doors of stores. We have plenty who come to us.
The one that does piss me off, is the firefighters with the boot, collecting money in the middle of traffic. They will guilt you to no end, stand in front of cars, and just muck things up.
That used to be fine in the days of volunteer firefighters, but now I don’t get it.
I was reading one of Kart’s prepper threads yesterday about the ten things most preppers don’t prepare for.
Item ONE - I kid you not, item ONE was something about getting and arranging preps for “the needy ones” or however they said it.
Every single night on TV news, guaranteed, there will be a three minute segment sob-story about some dude who’s “special needs” van was stolen, or something similar.
Sometimes, in fact often, multiple stories.
Now this may sound harsh, but if there’s a problem, I might share stuff. But NOT with someone who cannot contribute to getting things going again.
NOT with someone who is going to be so dependent all they can do is drain the time and energy and effort from others that should be going towards straight survival.
Life’s a beach, and then you dry!
The clerk will laugh, the bagger laughs, the next-in-line laughs. No further questions, no ill will, no embarassment, no fumbling around for an answer......and I know when I leave they suddenly will all feel vaguely confused though they can't quite put a finger on why.
It works every time....try it!
Leni
Good for you!
“Almost as bad as telling me how much I saved.”
lol, yes, THAT ONE.
My Walmart is 20% cheaper than our neighborhood Jewel Foods, but at Jewel, I always get a “how much you SAVED!” on the receipt. Saved? Over what? Over what you might have charged me? Over what it costs to buy the same products in California? What is the baseline for this? What is this savings compared to?
I most likely will borrow that from you Leni.
A diplomatic answer, where no ill will is distributed and no guilt as well.
Great answer.
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