Charity work and volunteering

Paul Gomez90 said:I don't even know... I'm just sitting here waiting for them to transfer the funds. Although, from what I can see, people don't really give a damn about humanitarian work anyway... so, honestly, it probably won't even matter where the money ends up in the end.😢

steelskipper5 said:First off—when things go south and a crisis hits—people’s primary instinct is survival, plain and simple. Second, if you bring up a topic in the wrong corner of the internet, don't expect anyone to care much about it.

Paul Gomez90 said:well, we're looking for the right spot... if you have a suggestion, speak up—though I feel like more people show up here than at those random local meetups...

When things get rough, helping others is what keeps me sane—it makes me feel better... and it doesn't always mean opening your wallet... sometimes it's just about actions, or even just kind words...

For instance, if I'm broke, I can still hit "like" on two specific pages so my friends see them in their feeds. Maybe someone who actually has the cash will see it and step up... I'm basically just acting as a middleman for the help...one click and you've technically done something charitable... though it's not exactly breaking a sweat......

Chloe Hughes15 said:This really rubbed me the wrong way.
I am certain you meant well—truly—but surely you realize that mindless clicking just inflates some arbitrary metric (one that doesn't actually translate to cold, hard cash) does absolutely nothing for people in need. All you’re achieving there is a little bit of self-absolution. It’s essentially saying, "Well, I don't have the money, and I certainly don't have the time to volunteer for an NGO, so I'll just 'like' a page. Easy! And look at me, doing my part!" Well, I highly doubt a digital thumbs-up is going to put food on a hungry child's plate. That is a completely different matter when dealing with specialized sites like www.thehungersite.com, those so-called click-to-donate
platforms. Why sit around waiting for someone else to take the initiative? You start with yourself and set an example for others. Don't be a performative humanitarian.

Take a look at the threads over on the Parenting forum (yes, >, I am shamelessly promoting Parenting), specifically one titled "Let's Outfit a Child's Room Together," which was started by a user named Satori.

Where should I even move this thread now? 🤔

Chloe Hughes15 said:So, where am I supposed to take this thread now? 🤔

Paul Gomez90 said:I’ve already explained this, but here we go again... if I can't do something myself, but I know people who might be able to, at least I can let them know... and I don't see anything wrong with that.
Basically, if I don't pass information along, I haven't done anything—but with one single click, I've shared it and maybe actually done some good. It's just one person helping another; in my mind, it's worth the cost of one click... isn't it?

Why wait for someone else to take action? Why shouldn't I start with myself? That's exactly what this is—taking initiative and spreading word about something I want more people to hear about... and I hope at least one person steps up to help (and since you're being so nitpicky 😉 I've supported both of these causes in multiple ways, both financially and otherwise)... and not just these two...

For example, I might not have the cash, but I hit the "like" button on these two pages, which lets my friends see it, and maybe someone who *can* help will see it too... I'm just the middleman for the aid... humanitarian action via a single click... couldn't be easier...

And I help for selfish reasons, because helping someone makes me feel indescribably good...

Chloe Hughes15 said:Spreading information isn't inherently bad—not by a long shot—but you have to question the actual efficacy when the platform in question is Facebook. Once that plea for help gets lost in a digital sea of "Which Hollywood star do you look like?" quizzes and endless fluff, it becomes useless.
I’m trying to point out that this kind of approach often veers dangerously close to being a form of spam
—think along the lines of those viral chain emails or those questionable online petitions begging for aid for sick children.

I was merely reacting to your specific wording

Look, I don't know you personally; my conclusions are drawn strictly from what you post here. If you actually engage in tangible work beyond just clicking buttons on a screen, then more power to you.

I get it. Often, the most dedicated altruists turn out to be the biggest egoists. 😉

Chloe Hughes15 said:The forum might be a slightly better venue than Facebook, but honestly—the way you framed your post—it doesn't exactly scream "motivation" ("I can't do it, maybe someone else will step up").
I brought up Patagonia as an example because their female leadership really stepped up and inspired dozens of people.
Maybe put a little more thought into the marketing side of your approach... 🙂

Chloe Hughes15 said:Look, this forum might be a better place to hang out than Facebook, but honestly? The way you phrased your post just doesn't sound very motivating—it’s more like, "I can't do it, so I guess someone else will have to."
I mentioned Patagonia as an example because their female leadership really stepped up and inspired dozens of people.
Maybe try putting a little more thought into your marketing approach... 🙂

steelskipper5 said:… which might actually work—if one bothers to define the scope a bit more strictly.
For instance, maybe something regarding support for deaf basketball players could be posted over in the sport section.

Paul Gomez90 said:👍 actually sounds like a killer idea... though I might end up splitting the thread—which is fine, I guess—but yeah, it's a great thought and I'll probably just go for it......

wanderinggardener57 said:Hello everyone—though there aren't many of you here at the moment. 🙂

Personally, I volunteer; I’ve spent quite a bit of my time working with various non-profit organizations.
Furthermore, I manage two groups on Facebook, and both have reached successful conclusions—funds were raised, and the medical procedures went exceptionally well. 🙂 🙂

However, I cannot bring myself to agree with those comments suggesting that merely clicking "like" is sufficient—because every single one of us can, at the very least, $3.25 contribute. For instance, gathering 1,000 people into one group is no small feat—and if everyone contributes just a little $3.25, well... you do the math.

And don't try telling me—"it's a recession, I don't have anything to spare." If you have money, you have money; we all have something.
It stands to reason that anyone with an internet connection is paying at least $17 per month—so, if you have $17... then you also have $3.25.

Nothing irritates me more than reading someone write, "I'm too embarrassed to donate $3.25," or some other such nonsense. If you find it foolish or whatever—then go ahead and gather five friends, let them each give $3.25, and make the payment together.

There are plenty of opportunities out there, so please, help however and however much you can!👍

Paul Gomez90 said:👍 even though some people truly can't manage to even $3.25 contribute. I’d also argue that people are just plain exhausted by charity requests lately; there’s this growing aversion to giving money away, even if it’s just a single dollar. I think the absolute dealbreaker is transparency—people need to see exactly how their money was utilized. That, in my opinion, is the most critical factor.

As for the part where I say "I like..." well, I’m sticking to my guns here... though perhaps I should try to clarify my point a bit better...

Imagine you're selling a car. I don't have the cash to buy it myself, so I won't go around telling anyone else that you're selling it. In the end, you won't sell the car because nobody will ever know it's on the market.

Now, imagine you're selling that same car. I still can't afford it, but I tell all my friends that you're looking to sell. Suddenly, someone is bound to pick it up, simply because those friends will keep spreading the word to their own circles.

I honestly think it's a mistake to underestimate the sheer power of information and its circulation. Even the top marketing experts will tell you that word-of-mouth is arguably the most potent marketing tool out there.

wanderinggardener57 said:That’s true—we need to get the word out... posting links to our profiles, inviting people to join the group, all that. But that just isn't enough, and that's precisely the crux of the matter!

And I'll say it again: if you have an internet connection, you have access to $3.25 which can be sent to a child who might be, say, ill 😉