The seemingly endless call for charity

There is such a need, we open up our social media, read it on billboards, and see it on our television screens – people are doing it tough. Inflation, homelessness, family, and domestic violence – it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with the depth of need in our society. And as a supposed ‘first world’ country we tend to think that these issues belong to other less affluent countries.

There is the picture of the school child who doesn’t have what she needs for school, the mum and kids fleeing domestic violence and sleeping rough in their car, and the almost limitless diseases that need funding to enable more research to find a cure. The need is so great, and yet, is it possible to find a solution for so many ‘wants’?

Most of us are pensioners on a limited income. I budget very strictly and manage reasonably well. However I do have a couple of charities that I have chosen to give to, and these are all I can do. But, beware of the ‘raffle’ for a car on social media. I bought a one-off ticket for twenty dollars as it was for a good cause, and of course, I did not win it. I thought that was the end of it, but sadly no, I keep getting phone calls asking for me to donate again. I find this stressful, I can’t even get a ‘no’ in before they start their chirpy, well-rehearsed spiel. They don’t want to take no for an answer, and at times I have felt quite distressed and mean because I don’t have spare money to make a monthly commitment.

I filled in a heart health survey and the next thing I was getting calls asking me to help fund research. I was expecting a call back from a medical specialist so unwittingly answered. And once again I am subjected to how I can manage to give them money from my credit card. No way will I do that.

Anyway, the shopping centre is not even a safe place. Well-dressed young men in signature polo shirts advertising their cause stand at tables trying to catch your eye. I feel so mean as I run the gauntlet and try not to catch their earnest gaze and hear their pleas for a moment of your time – for cancer research, sick children, and more. Of course, those causes are important and close to my heart, but standing there listening to their spiel and knowing I can’t commit makes me feel sick. I hate rejecting people.

So when I leave the shopping centre I try for a quieter exit so I will not be accosted again, I realise these young people are trying to earn a few bob, and fair enough, but do they really think people in low socio-economic areas like mine actually have credit cards that they can happily commit to regular monthly contributions of only “twenty dollars”? I don’t think so.

Now I hope I don’t come across as a Scrooge, I do give, and quite happily, but the needs are overwhelming, and my funds are not endless. I’m interested to know how other people get rid of phone calls, and eye contact from charity booths. Is it really our job to support others or should our government be funding research and helping those less fortunate? I’m not sure, but I often think that it is funded research that provides much-needed medical breakthroughs, and social media ‘paying it forward’ groups (to which I belong) help others in need in our local community with food and clothing donations.

As a society, I do believe we care for others, and sincerely want the best for them, but how do we negotiate the seemingly endless call on our financial support? Big question, and I’m not sure that there is an easy answer.