🚀 go-pugleaf

I hope this doesn't turn into some kinda guilt-mongering tome, but I had a
rather unpleasant experience yesterday, and I wonder what others will think
about it. 

Once every year, there is a fund-raising event where I work. We're given a
booklet listing hundreds of different charities that we can donate to
automatically each payday. These organizations are extremely diverse; there
is everything from international children's aid societies to "Handgun Owners
of America". Some are affiliated with the United Way, some are independent.
There are local, state, national, and international agencies, all dedicated
to helping others. 

My coworkers and I can choose any of one or more places for our donations to
go. We designate how much we want to give over the year, and what percentage
of our donation goes where. Afterwards, the deductions are made automatically
each payday. It is an easy, painless way to do the right thing. 

I felt kind of selfish when filling out the form this year, because I only
donated a little more than one percent of my annual gross salary. But
marriage and the financial costs of my brilliant wife/student have made me
more cautious than I used to be. Besides, Terri and I often donate
spontaneously to other causes throughout the year. Second Harvest is one of
our favorites.

Before yesterday, I assumed that most other people did the same thing, more
or less. 

Well, yesterday at work I got a white ceramic coffee mug with the campaign's
logo on one side and the words "In Grateful Appreciation" on the other. Upon
inquiring, I was pretty shocked to find out that just 4 people out of the 85
who work with me chose to donate at all. I was told this was an improvement
over last year, when just 2 people donated. Last year, I was the single
largest contributor (figured by percentage of income) in our office. Sounds
terrific-until you find out how little I donated. Gee, ain't I great...

Statistically, my wife and I are at the low end of the middle-class income
groups in the Bay Area. We are renters. Therefore, we take the standard
deduction on our income tax each year. This means that we don't get to write
off our itemized charitable contributions. We give because we think it's the
right thing to do, not so our taxes will be lowered. 

But now, after finding out how few people at work donate, I'm wondering if
maybe I'm not doing something wrong here. What is it that keeps the "haves"
from giving to those in need, anyway? Am I just plain stupid to give away my
hard-earned bucks? After all, as Terri keeps reminding me, I'm running out of
socks that don't have holes in them. My donation would buy a lot of socks. 

If it isn't stupid, as my heart keeps telling me, then what can I do to
increase others' participation? Can anyone suggest something that someone
like me can do or say to make others want to be more charitable? 

Once again, I apologize for sending anyone on a guilt-trip. It wasn't my
intent. I'm actually just trying to gather ideas on guilt-free things I can
do to help others desire to help even more others. I guess maybe that's just
one of those "timeless" questions, huh?