Monthly income turns to charity greed
Posted by: mermaid
22nd Oct 2009 11:50pm
This was met with much distaste amongst the large pool of volunteers, who questioned why? The manager shared the same view and set off to identify the need vs greed syndrome and this is what we learned.......
more than $210 billion of institutionalised ''charity'' is now part of Australia's society and is embedded in the economy rather than being an optional extra. Old-fashioned charity is just $9 billion, 4 per cent of the total or less than 3 per cent if we acknowledge governments' financial support to charities.
There are approximately 10,400 charities in Australia with almost 12,000 outlets or branches.
120,000 staff are employees vs tens of thousands of volunteers; this figure does not include volunteers who work for schools, clubs and associations. Total wages are about $3.9 billion.
Salvation Army (eastern and southern divisions only) revenue approx $650 million, smaller average less than $800,000 per year (a extraordinary figure).
Compare these figures to an average business employing staff, with a revenue of $3.8 million - or approx five times the average charity.
Reality is charities are a business and these figures are Australian, given the number of charity organisations in Australia also exist worldwide the math just does not add up.
When presenting these figures to senior management, the manager was told rising inflation restricted the charity from performing.
The result, the manager and 3/4's of the pooled volunteers left and within 2 years the charity have employed 4 managers. The days of charity truly have gone!
What are your thoughts?
Proteus
- 18th Jan 2011 10:57am
Recently I had the unenviable task of cleaning out a business premises that my late father had leased to a person who had not paid rentin many months, and had simply walked out of the business. Thinking that the sontents of the business ( secondhand clothing) would be gratefuly recieved by local charities, red cross, salvo. st. vinnies etc., I rang the charities concerned and asked if they would like to come and help themselves to the huge range of clothing left in the shop. I was totally dismayed at the response from all of them. None of them would come and collect anything, all asked if the clothing was new, and sellable etc. Only one of the charities was really interested, and when they couldn't come and collect it, I decide to deliver it all to them.......and spent many hours loading my little car up with clothing, hangers and al, an delivering it all to their premises. After the final delivery, I was told that the clothing was of no value to them at all and it or most of it had been thrown into rubbish collection (in my opinion albeit seconhand clothing, it was all clean, pretty good as far as styles went I guess and definatley sellable). During the course of my doing my bit for charity, I was talking to one of the volenteers who told me she had to pay the charity for her name badge, her protective apron and also had to provide her own morning and afternoon tea. They say charity begins at home, but I'm afraid that charity doesn't exist with the so called charities - they are a business, and donations are expected to be new or near new, and the better the quality the more they will take the goods from donors.
In this modern day of wanting the latest, the most modern fashiions etc., etc., I am more than dissallusioned at the behaviour of charites in general. I for one will not be donating anything to ANY charity from now on as they all stike me as ungrateful, greedy and in my honest opinion, not really doing anyone in need any favours. Perthaps on the other side of the coin, it is also the needy that need to have a look at themselves? Be thankful for what is offered freely.
In future, if I have any goods of any kind that I no longer need or want, I will not be danting to charity, but will either sell it on, or give ti to someone I know needs what I no longer need.
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