When It Comes To Giving, Time is Often Worth More Than Money
Posted on June 01, 2006 by Him and tagged charity
In the PFBlog community at least, there is no shortage of people who give money to charities, churches, and other volunteer organizations. We give a paltry sum to our church every month, but I don't really feel like I'm actively giving until I see the deduction when I'm checking our account balance online. If what we're giving is some of our disposable income, are we really sacrificing anything?
In giving in this way, I feel like it is too easy. Anyone can mail off a check. Anyone can drop a few bucks into the collection plate. After that, we feel good, and can say in good faith that we're charitable.
But how many of your give up your time to these organizations as well?
We're all aware of the saying "time is money." I've written a few posts about my experiences tutoring kids who don't have the same opportunities that I've been given. This academic year I've tutored for at least 50 hours. If we apply those hours to my billable rate of $125.00/hour at my job (totally baseless and completely hypothetical, I know), that gives us this calculation of how much money that would have equaled had I just written a check:
50 hours X $125.00/hour = $6,250.00
Not only do these kids have the opportunity to get free extra help, I get the opportunity to make a lasting impression on these kids. For example, the kid who I mainly tutored emails me every week to let me know how he's doing, and I know for sure that my actions have had an effect on him. That's something that just writing a check just won't do. Also for those who are in debt like us and feel like you can't spare any money for charities, giving up your time is an excellent way to be charitable.
Part of why I am writing this is the comment left by Major, stating his dislike of the Red Cross for ignoring the victims of Hurricane Rita. I'm sorry that that happened to them. One of the reasons that happened is that they didn't have enough manpower to cover all of the needs of the Gulf Coast at the time. That's a shame considering how many capable hands we have in the U.S. We all have an extra hour a month - with that hour please consider volunteering your time in addition, or as an alternative, to giving with your paycheck.
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Trackback sent from Tired but happy on Jun 3, 2006:
Do you make donations haphazardly, or do you have a giving plan? Do you aim to give a certain percentage of your income? Or do you donate your time instead of money?
Continue reading Give much?
Archie Pauvre | Jun 4, 2006
Excellent post!
I agree with you 100 percent, and I wish more people thought so too.
You don't have to go far from home to find needy people, homeless children, people struggling to learn something to improve themselves, to make their lives better for themselves and their family, so that someday THEY TOO will have the opportunity to...
...be thousands and thousands of dollars in debt like me! Ha ha ha!
Thanks for the good writing. It's important to keep things in perspective when everything around you is telling you that it's about money.
It's not. It's about caring for people, keeping a sense of humor, and remembering that you create your life and the world you live in every day. Who knows how many days that will be?
I concur! I have spent my time tutoring and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. Supplies can be had with cash donations. Sometimes what organizations really are dedicated volunteers who are willing to sacrifice their valuable time. Often organizations like the Red Cross have high burnout because they are meeting the need in crisis situations. Because of this, they need new volunteers all the time.
Step up to the plate. Put your money where your mouth is and spend some hours volunteering.
Major | Jun 6, 2006
Sorry, didn't mean to cause a ruckus.
I applaud this post, as there is much that can be done without moeny ever being involved. I actually came close to losing my job because they would not allow me to take a temporary assignment to the Mississipi field office to help with the clean-up.
My pet project is education. And helping folks excel. A friend of mine and I are working to set-up a non-profit to assist teachers in getting supplies they need and trying to bridge the funding gap between what they truly need and the paltry pittance they get from the county. Lofty goals indeed, but we are trying.
claire | Jun 3, 2006
Thanks for this post--adding it to my recent post about bloggers' coverage of giving and tithing: Give much?
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