[MissLadyBunny]

Do you consider yourself a person of charity?
Do you come in aid of others different from in time of need?
Do you give people your last piece of bread or save it for yourself?

Its something we see every time the holidays come around. Salvation army donations. All Children donations believe it or not people have protest against this organizations because they ask for hand outs. Walmarts have stop supporting All Children Hospital because customers have complain when ask for donations. I wonder if this is a guilt trip or simply customers are being fed up with helping others who are in need. Last year alone each store was able to donate $100,000 to both charities. I don't understand why they should stop now because I few customers refuse to donate. This is a matter of choice but these customers want nothing to do with these charities. Is it the corporation best decision to stop founding these charities or are these people out of line to protest against them?

[lumierie]

I do consider myself a person of "charity" . Just last year me and my friends put up a corporation just for this. We employ the services of people who got laid off, profits goes to funding free classes for under privileged kids.

IMO, I do not think corporations should stop asking for donations just because their customers don't like it. However, in the case that you presented there might be something more than meets the eye so to speak. I don't know really, but here are some my "musings":

1. Maybe customers feel that Corporations should donate out of their own pocket and not from the pocket of the customers. Corporations earns a lot, a little deduction from their profit wouldn't hurt.
2. Maybe it's in the way how the corporations ask for donations.
3. Maybe the corporations just want to satisfy their customer above anything else. After all they're the reason why they're still running.

[HaplessChild]

When I go to Petsmart I donate a dollar to a shelter. When I go to Safeway I donate a dollar to prostate cancer research. Seriously, one dollar more, to go from $15 to $16 is not a big deal to me or to the orgs that need it but it adds up for both of us.

That being said, I work for a non-profit. The trends seems to be that our biggest givers don't give any less during economic stress. It's the small doners that stop all together.

[MissLadyBunny]

I feel that according to walmart consider it self a "family Store." Their image to the world is that they are a store for the community but since walmart is no longer family owned became a corporation . Starting to lose it "family" image more and more. Now it doesn't want to support charities. I feel those small donations are extremely important. People don't care they simply don't care. Nonprofit organization have it worse but they can still fight to get government grants. Specially those for drug and rehabilitation programs are being cut or shut down.Bridges of America is one of them who are constantly seeking out support from the community. In order to survive they need donations from people and government grants. The only other way they can find support is the people who are involve in the program. Inmates who are on work release pay a small fee of 20%. The company is place under investigation due to over dipping in accounts while inmates attend their program. Bridges of America once was a nonprofit organization that was family own but corporation took over. I can't stand corporation it is a heartless business but customers or the everyday citizen is just as heartless and cruel. In time in need we should give are fellow man a helping hand...not chop it off.

[JJM]

I do consider myself a person of charity. I donate year-round to many causes, may it be AIDS/HIV funding, MS, clothing drives, furniture for the needy, my time at women's shelters, food drives, donating blood, tutoring programs, animal welfare, or whatnot. I believe giving and sharing is an everyday thing.

I think it's a choice people have to make; give or not give. Just because 10 people disagree on giving to a charity doesn't mean it's not worth giving to. Every little bit counts.

When I had my food drive for the Humane Society through my clinic, I had about 20 people who donated out of a few hundred who came and went or knew of it, but it didn't make me quit my drive. In 2 mos. time I was able to raise 200 lbs. of food and pet supplies. It was well worth my effort because in the end, at least 100 little kitties and doggies went to sleep on a full belly.