As you may or may not of heard, the month of May technically doesn’t exist here at Concept Crucible and while we’re still getting posts written and putting them up, neither of us are entirely sure how it all is happening. The reason for this is that Headshots From The Heart is eating up most of our time and keeping us insanely busy. The event has us thinking a lot about charity and what it means to us as well as how it impacts others in our communities. So today that’s what I’m going to talk about. What does charity mean to me? How does Charity impact my life and my community?
When Jim first suggested we write about charity the conversation went something like this:
Jim: During May we should write about charity.
Dan: I don’t know how I feel about charity.
Jim: So write about that.
I’m not really sure where to start. I guess when it comes to charity I am kind of conflicted. On one hand I have a strong sense of personal accountability and responsibility. People need to be able to look out for themselves and are responsible for looking after their needs and contributing to their communities. On the other hand, I know that sometimes people are in need of assistance and that part of being in a community is helping other members when they need it. As a kid I know that we didn’t always have very much and I know that there were times when social assistance and the food bank helped to keep us going.
I think of charity as coming in a series of organizational layers. At it’s simplest, charity is the simple act of one person giving aid to another. Giving the homeless guy on the street corner a dollar or dropping off some extra food for a neighbour who has fallen on hard times. Even these two are different, in one you’re giving to a total stranger and in the other someone you know. Individuals can also give aid, usually in the form of cash donations or pledges to charitable organizations large or small, or take part in organized events like walks or runs. Furthermore people can run events or start non-profits or actual charities to raise money. Other kinds of organizations run programs right where the need is whether it be a soup kitchen downtown or a school in a remote village. Institutions like governments and churches also source and spend money in charitable ventures ranging from shelters to full fledged social security systems and public healthcare.
Most of these levels of organization offer a level of choice. You can either choose to participate or not and this is true on both sides of the equation. You can also choose your level of participation. Some people put a great value on helping others or have a lot to give while others don’t or in some cases genuinely have nothing to spare. I think this choice is important. Choosing to contribute something you have whether money, or time, or goods, is part of what makes charity meaningful. I’m not sure that forcing someone to be charitable would accomplish much of anything. This of course makes me think of government social systems which in a sense are not voluntary. We all must pay taxes and whether we like it or not some of these taxes go into helping people through social programs. Without delving into the politics of it, I think for me it boils down to this: I would rather have my tax dollars go to helping people than building bombs or paying for Conrad Black’s new fraud scheme. I think that this is still meaningful in that we have collectively chosen to have a government that works in this way.
Another thing I think I need to consider is the “why?”. Why do people give to charity or engage in charitable ventures? I’m sure there are plenty of reasons. Some people like to help other people, some people have been touched by charity in the past and like to give back. Some people are rich and like to give because they are able too, while some people like to use their donations as a tax write off. Some people like the feeling that helping others gives them, others realize that some day they too may need help and wish to “pay it forward”. Some people want that extra little bit to make their resume look better. I think that for many it’s a realization that people everywhere are basically the same and that with all the technology and wealth at our finger tips, we’re running out reasons for people to endure misery or systemic discomfort. All these reasons are valid, even the cynical ones. As for my personal reasons, I think they are a blend of several of these. I know what it’s like to be in need and I know people who have needed that extra bit of help to get back on their feet. It also feels good to help others and I know that I have a better time of it than some, and it costs me little to give back.
I also want to say a thing or two about what I think charity should try to accomplish. For me charity is more than just giving to people who are in need just for the sake of giving or because they need. It’s more about giving in such a way that they can use the charity they have received to help themselves improve their own situation. For me it’s about using abundant resources (time, goods, money) within the community to strengthen the community. You can choose to define community in several ways depending on what you are willing to contribute to, or what you feel like you’re a part of. It can be a literal community, your city, church, or neighbourhood. It could be a community on the internet, or a larger group that you are part of. Some people view their community as something as large as their nation or even humanity as a whole.
I’m not sure I feel like I have answered the question “How do I feel about charity?” as much as I have opened up another series of questions for me to ponder. I suppose any answer that opens up more questions is good, especially when the month is young and you have more posts to write. Basically I see charity as something you can choose to take part in, and that you can use to help grow the communities that you call home. For me charity is becoming a more important part of my life and through events like Headshots From The Heart I can become a valuable member of my community.
D,
