helping hands
Posted by: bj
30th Oct 2008 11:46pm
If everbody who worked in Aus put $1 a week into a special bank, poverty, or special help could be there when needed
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Comments 47
wendel
I would dearly love to give more money to charities, but as a pensioner it is hard. I try my bit, but stop at overseas ones as I still believe charity begins at home.
nene
How much actually goes to the needy? Most of it up to 80-90% goes to fund the institutions. Remember the tsunami collections, how much has actually gone to the victims? Remember the saga with "Save the children fund" I have been stung and has been wary since!
Tangles37
I am on a Age Pension, you will notice I left off the "Old" of Age. I can tell you that a voucher system would not work with all people. Me for instance. I have to work out what Bills I have & what is left is what I can spend on food. Believe me that is not much. I do not use the heater with Electricity spiraling & cook two meals at a time to save power. I have just paid for my husband's funeral....are we going to get vouchers for that?? Truly there is no easy way. It is up to the person themselves what they do with their pensions. Maybe some money spent helping these people spend their pension wisely might help. I would be very happy to donate $1 a week to stop poverty, but lets look at what is causing it first.
I hope your wish or suggestion will work, because it is a step towards looking at the problem.
Tangles37
Tangles37
I am on a Age Pension, you will notice I left off the "Old" of Age. I can tell you that a voucher system would not work with all people. Me for instance. I have to work out what Bills I have & what is left is what I can spend on food. Believe me that is not much. I do not use the heater with Electricity spiraling & cook two meals at a time to save power. I have just paid for my husband's funeral....are we going to get vouchers for that?? Truly there is no easy way. It is up to the person themselves what they do with their pensions. Maybe some money spent helping these people spend their pension wisely might help. I would be very happy to donate $1 a week to stop poverty, but lets look at what is causing it first.
I hope your wish or suggestion will work, because it is a step towards looking at the problem.
Tangles37
Shez
I think that would be a great idea and the money was automatically withdrawn. If it is taken out you would hardly notice. I am all for helping everyone and everything in the world but we need to help people in Australis first.
Shez
I think that would be a great idea and the money was automatically withdrawn. If it is taken out you would hardly notice. I am all for helping everyone and everything in the world but we need to help people in Australis first.
Anonymous
I run a Charity called life without chains and I believe we can become overwhelmed with need and the cry for help that we often do nothing because we think well I can't solve this problem BUT the answer is you can't but you can dosmething evrn if it is just by helping an elderly person carry their groceries to the car, a smile its not aleays money. On the money though if you just do your bit and give to what moves you say $1 ? , and everybody in your circle did the same before long you would have $10, 100, 1,000 and so on. Break it down and concentrate on the one and you will male a difference one person, one dollar, one smile, one helping hand at a time
mlmkdavis
Great idea
reno
It is very charitable for Australians to donate and majority of Australians do donate to charity....good on them. But at some point its also to the poverished individuals (those that are young and healthy) to go beyond their capabilities and try to do what ever job they might find .... however small or big to earn . Even if it means earning only pennies for hours of work...each penny will add up to pounds and therefore wont be as draining on the Australian economy
moz
I totally agree with that and would also like to say it would hurt the govt's to donate 10 per cent of the gst to all charities,it would end up saving them a lot as well as helping those in need
Leelita
I agree that charities do a lot of good, but i also think theres a lot of misuse of the money they either receive from Govt or from monies they get from selling unwanted goods. i received a letter from dept of housing stating that the govt gives $475 per family per year in electricity vouchers. As it happened i did ask for assistance this year with my electricty bill and was given a $30 voucher...which was very much appreciated. BUT i wanted to ask about this $475 and i was told that it was UNTRUE. I have since received another letter from dept of housing stating the same thing....that there is $475 per family per year. I managed to contact a Govt authority and was told that "YES THIS IS TRUE, we give $475 in vouchers per family per year, but we do not control how they distribute these vouchers!!! SO what id like to know is WHERE are all these vouchers going? WHO is receiving MORE
PukPuk
In effect we already do that. It is called the Reserve Bank. Unfortunately it keeps getting raided by politicians for other purposes.
DeNiro
I think it's a great idea too, so long as we can choose to which charity the money goes. It would work like superannuation deductions. Your employer sends it off and records it on your payslip so that you can claim it as a tax deduction.
DeNiro
bj
In my experience 'charity' is best given to the one you see who needs it. By time you donation goes thru the channels fat cats get paid to add it up and think about where it should go. Your $1 you donated leaves 10c to the charity coffers.
gordona
And i t would be even better if the government matched our contributions dollar for dollar.Imagine what we could acheive homeless of the street chrildren with warm clothes and food in their bellies.You have a noble heart my friend and i salute you.
shaper
having lived in Africa, which always needs charity on all levels. They need education , not religion either, but real education. They have so many children even though they cannot either feed them or look after them, but when questioned on this subject they say " but they will look after me when I am old" and nothing you say will deter them from this view. Monetary aid only ends up going into the wrong hands , every time and I know because I have seen it with my own eyes.
himself
we already contribute more than that with no end in sight
Anonymous
I agree. There is no one or no perticular company or organisation that would have tthe powere to do so other than the government. And could we really trust our government to put it to a use that every single australian agrees on?
GoBears
I think the idea of food stamps is a good idea but it should only be a small portion of a govt payment. Let's not forget rent and utilities still have to be paid and many are genuinely unemployed esp. in today's economic climate. Instead of food stamps it could be a Coles/Woolies etc (your choice) Gift Card of maybe $50-$100 of govt payment increased gradually as people get used to the idea. Also, this Gift Card can have the strict proviso written on it.. 'Groceries Only - No alcohol, cigarettes etc.' This way those who squander their payments on booze, cigs, drugs, pokies, gambling instead of necessities for themselves and their kids are educated alittle more to use the money wisely. It might not stop all, but if some rethink..well that's a positive.
Back on the topic of charities, I personally get alittle annoyed at some charities conducting themselves like a business (not mentioning names) with the clothes and merchandise DONATED to them by the public to help the underprivileged and selling them at a price which isn't really fair. Anyway, that's my view on things.
lubbie
Charities... I am a wee bit over donating over seas. I went through the sponser a child when my kids were little. I remember when aides bustered out in Africa. Twenty five years on it;s still the same if not worse. We helped put water wells all over and still today they struggle for fresh water.Now days I would rather donate what I can for the Animals that are near on exstinct. The flyinging doctor who rush to the aid of people in the bush. The life savers who save thousands every year.Our government props up countries like Indonesia not the Balanese the Indonesion government get regular hand outs from the Australian taxpayer. Mean while their government and leaders are a law unto themselves. The rich get richer and the poor just starve.Billions of dollars are raised every year for 3rd world countries. Who benifits ? Not the deserving. The leaders and criminal eliments in these countries benifit more than the needy. Charity begins at home and we have needy here on our soil. Save a Panda or a koala. Maybe even the Galapicus islands and those beautiful turtles that are hundred's of years old. Maybe an Arangatang. Not to near in the future they will be gone and our grand kids and their kids will be reading about them like we do the dinasors. I find that sad. Maybe it's time these aid organisations started handing out condoms and the pill when they hand out the food and water. No water no food, no economy and still they breed. Sorry if I appear to be callious but like I said I am over it. Save the animals for a year or so these people and countries have benifited from our generosity for long enough let the animals have a turn. They would probably even appreciate it.
Nelly
The recent Victorian Bushfire Appeals have demonstrated just how generous Aussies are when in comes to helping those in need. It was inspiring to see, when many of us are hurting from the GFC, the extent of what was given. I think Australians give above and beyond a dollar a week for what they perceive to be a good cause. The annoying thing is you can't help everybody and should be free to choose your own cause to support without being pestered by countless charities, aid organisations and so forth. World Vision is a case in point, though we already sponsor a child we receive countless requests asking us to give more. I wonder what would happen if the money these organisations spent on promotions, phone calls and mailings were instead spent on the very cause they were hoping to support?
mustang6000
Even that would not help. I believe that a lot of the problem is that there are so many charities and a lot them them raising funds for the same causes. I know full well that they are all well meaning and doing fantastic work, as I have worked for a few over the years in various capacities.
One possible way to maximise the support getting to those that need it, would be to have some of the charities supporting similar causes combine their resources and thus minimise overheads and maximise the efforts of all the wonderful people and organisations supporting them.
Just an idea.
solstice
I give to many charities and find that most of it goes in Administration wages and we do have food stamps in a fshion in a voucher that they can collect from Centrelink or Salvation Army and the like as they hand out loads of vouchers and food regularly, what they need is people who will work for $0 so that more can be allocated to the needy and not line their pockets with so much
frilly
I do so agree with this statement. If Charities with a common cause got together pooled their resources there would be so much more money available for each cause. The Research would be then have all the "brains" able to completely pool ideas and feed off each others ideas.
I also feel that Gov. housing should not be allowed to be sold into the private sector. If peopl;e decided they could afford to buy a house then they should be encouraged in some way, possibly a grant, to buy in the private sector leaving that Gov. house in the system.
This way there would always be Public Housing available for those who really could not afford to buy a house.
Gov. housing is not replenished fast enough that they can be lost to the people who cannot afford to buy/ The houses of course would be redecorated etc each time.
Anonymous
I beleive charity begins at home and personally I would like to see one Organisation setup that deals with all donations from the Community and the money distributed out through prioritizing down the line.
Just my opinion
Jen
If the taxpayers themselves nominated the charity of their choice, it goes to that charity. Those who don't nominate, divide the money on a needs basis. Don't tell me there's not a Government dept. to handle something like that. Millions of dollars each week could be put to better use than it is right now. Especially is this true when dole and pension money can be wasted on non essential items. An 'access card' for recipients of govt payments that can only be used for essential items like food, rent, clothing, fuel and medical supplies would mean that cigarettes and alcohol (for example) would need to be purchased with cash or some other method. I know some devious people would find a way around this but it would make it harder for them at least. And maybe kids who need feeding and clothing would have a better chance at getting these things than in the current the system that is open to so much abuse these days.
Chrissy
Who decides who requires special help, and how much financial assistance is needed? It's a simple answer to a complex problem which would just create further issues.
Jen
Good points bigred.
When I see so many dole recipients smoking and drinking and wasting money on take away food, having three or four filthy children in tow, it makes me want to scream! They milk the system for all it's worth and think the world owes them a living.
Mandatory classes for single parents and anyone who is having problems managing their money would teach them how to spend their limited resourse more wisely.
The hand out mentality will not help people help themselves.
Don't hand the man a fish...taech him how to fish!
A pension can only stretch so far. Those who own their own home can manage, but trying to find money for rent or even suitable rental accommodation can be a nightmare for a lot of people.
Learning how to spend and how to budget...how to prepare inexpensive but healthy food would do a whole lot more good in the community than lining up at a soup kitchen or accepting handouts from charities.
People need to have pride in themselves. So many people feel like a failure when they could be taught to feel good about themselves and accomplish so much more in their lives.
The best way to help yourself is to help others.
Even if they would volunteer to work for a charity, they would see that they can do good things for others in the community. They could then be part of the solution instead of being part of the problem.
Just my 2 cents worth.
bigred
there should not be any special help, everyone gets the dole or the pension, people should be taught how to budget,+how to cook, should be mandatory for single parents, and people on the dole. Its the pensioners I feel sorry for, how they manage is beyond me., no luxury items for them. I know of people who spend it all in a couple of days and then get help from a charity and laugh about it, because it is so easy.
Ami
Absolutly, whats a dollar a week!!!! It's the little things we can all easily do that can make such a big difference when needed.
bj
In my experience 'charity' is best given to the one you see who needs it. By time you donation goes thru the channels fat cats get paid to add it up and think about where it should go. Your $1 you donated leaves 10c to the charity coffers.
Jen
Charities do a wonderful job but I am not happy with charities who pay collectors to solicit funds. If someone gets paid to do charity work, then it ceases to be a charity, doesn't it? I am also miffed when some charities spend copious amounts of money in their attempts to make money. When does a charity cross the line to become a business? Wouldn't a better system be to give people an option to donate to a charity of their choice (maybe that $1) each week as a mandatory arrangement? Who would miss a$1? And charities would not have to waste money chasing money....just my 2 cents worth.
s
I agree. But people who have been helped by charities in the past. When they get back on their feet so the phase goes should give back to those charities who have helped them.
keith
Why be concerned about paid charity collectors? They are the low and visible end of the charity scale. Most major charities are businesses and their operations are controlled by managers who are paid business-like salaries. We should not be too concerned about this, provided the management ensures that their costs are only a small proportion of the funds raised and used for charitable purposes. However, currently Australian law does not require charities to disclose how much they raise and how those funds are spent. One would hope that most charities commit a large proportion of their funds to their stated purposes but there will besome that essentially operate to pay their management.
keith
Jen, it is not how the charity earns its money but how it uses its surplus that determines whether it is a charity or not. Charities devote that surplus to their particular causes whereas businesses pass profits to their owners. Collectors, paid a wage or on commission, are in the same position as the paid managers of most charities or the paid nurses who carry out the nursing functions of many charities for the ill or old.. One of the problems with charitable donations in Australia is that charities are not requiredto disclose how much of their income is devotedto charitable purposes and how much is spent on administration and fundraising. Some charities have low administration charges whereas it is probable that some spend more on administration than they are able to devote to their purported charitable purpose.
seranita
brilliant.I give whenever I can and donate worthwhile goods for resale or to be given to those in need.I am always on the lookout for anything that can help.There are many different types of opp shops around now and they have some VERY good stuff in them.That is where I go first if i need to buy anything. In a local bank here there is a biasket for donations of food or toiletries for the local community in need.What a goos idea.They used to have a bin in Safeway at Southland but stopped it because they said people were stealing items out of it and they even did not look as if they were in need either.Maybe they need to have a sign and leave the actual bin behind the service desk.
gigle
Becareful what you wish for.........the government might decide it is mandatory to take a dollar from every working Australian!
I like the freedom of choice to choose the charity I support and wholeheartedly lend my support and money to assist.
tommy
I definitely agree that we should be given a choice in the charity we choose to support. I would actually like to see more charities offering people the option to actually do something rather than buy a wristband. Events such as Movember and the Oxfam Trailwalker are execllent fundraisers because they encourage people to get out and represent a charity rather than just handing out cash, and they also raise awareness for said charities.
Events such as these are also very efficient fundraisers, they attract both public and corporate donations in a quantity and timeframe that would otherwise be unfeasible.
magpie1
Often what charities need is people to help and beome involved, not just money
matalemu
Yes definitely! I work for a charity (Legacy). Our club has plenty of money to help widows and children, but what we desperately need is volunteers! Most of our volunteers are over 60 and often due to illness they can't help at events or attend meetings. We changed our constitution so that the quorum for a general meeting was only seven.....but last meeting we still couldn't get a quorum.
Often people say "I don't have enough time"...but that is just an excuse, most charities will be happy to accept as much or as little time as you can offer.......even if you can only give an hour once a month, or a four hour block once a year.
Keep your money, we need your TIME!
lesans
Australians on average plow hundreds upon thousands of dollars per year in to charities, and causes not only in Australia but overseas. Our poverty, homeless etc is still crying out for more help financially even with the state of our economic crisis we still find ways of giving. What's the answer? i don't know maybe we need more resourses, maybe our government needs to contribute more funding for the resourses, all i know is that since i was a kid charities have ben recieving money and ***istance yet we are still seeing suffering. One thing is i think there needs to be more government housing to get families back on their feet, children off the streets, with more safe houses set up across the country, we need to get a system similar to america with food stamps, certificates if we dont already do it, to allow parents struggling to feed their families, and maybe fuel vouchers would also help these people, give them a kick start eaze pressure, and help them to start seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you... Lila
ianhnz
Very good points, you make. NZ is falling further and further behind. If we could, wife and I would goto Aussie, as we have family there. Time will tell. Thanks for sharing, Ian.
Natacha
I think food stamps have to be traded for essentials only, so that may help, and I'm not so sure about government support being easy for kids to get in all cases.
If you want a life with a real future, you're in high school, university or TAFE. You can only apply for Youth Allowance, which is very difficult to obtain compared to Newstart. In order to get Youth Allowance, your parents have to earn below a very low wage, or you have be considered independent. You either have to wait until you're 25 and then there's a different allowance you have to apply to (Austudy, I think), get married, have a dependent child or earn a certain amount of money to be 'independent'. With the way many young people are paid very little for the work they do, many of them have to put off their studies for at least a year, and it was hard to find more work in a recession.
Now the parental income sounds reasonable, but just because one or both of your parents earn a high wage does not mean you are financially supported. Some parents even play favourites, giving a large allowance to one child and telling the other to go on Amazon for their textbooks. If these parents do not want to admit there is a family breakdown, and do not want to have witnesses or a social worker involved, the unfavourite is screwed.
I personally had problems getting support when I had to live out of home and my parents were out of the country. In order to get rent assistance, I had to have Youth Allowance or Newstart first, which I still couldn't get because of my parental income, even though their own support was very sporadic at best. See, they were primarily supporting themselves because my father was working and my mother was hoping to divorce my father and wanted a holiday to do so. She got the holiday, not the divorce. I was struggling to find work and would have become homeless if it wasn't for understanding friends.
So basically, as long as you have no dreams and ambitions and you can prove your parents are screwed-up, Centrelink is happy to pay you to live outside of home. I think more youth hostels and drop-in-centres are needed, because there are kids with stupid parents, and they need a place to go. Even if they are stupid themselves, it's better they're at a centre than on the streets.
jules 1
I totally agree with what you are saying. I feel the Goverment should be helping the people of Australia that are living on the streets, & famlies that are really struggling. So much help is given to people that are coming over here from other countries, yet there are so many Aussies that need help, but not getting it, ... I just can't see where it's all coming from. Charity begins at home.!!
Julie :)
jgb
Not a bad idea, but the main problem is that many 'underprivileged' people waste money on alcohol, cigs, etc , instead of buying essentials.
Regarding getting the kids off the streets, you are fighting a losing battle against civil libbies and government who enact stupid laws which claim that kids have rights to be stupid and parents cannot stop them. As a matter of fact the govt gives money to kids to live on the streets, go figure!
jatz50
Thats a great idea.....yes we should have those food stamps here also. We always see in filmes that America has them, so why not here? I actually think the Government should be paid less and give it back to the people that need it more. Gets to me how past Prime Ministers are given so much money. They don't need all that money for them to survive.