How Do You Give Back to The Community?

Tech and cars on 11/03/2017 - 10:14

A bit of background information about me. I think I'm very lucky and blessed to be where I am and am very appreciative of all the opportunities I have been given. I am happily married, degree qualified, working in a top tier company - Life is good! I can 100% say this has all happened because of the people who have been around me in my life, supported me through my education (parents), and friends, and family.

The thing is, I've done well and taken advantage of the opportunities that I've been given, but the question is what about those who haven't been as fortunate as myself?

So here is the question - How Do You Give Back to The Community?

Any tangible and feasible advice would be appreciated.

General Discussion

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 13/03/2017 - 08:10

    give away old stuff to charity shops, pay taxes and land rates and generally try to be considerate and polite to people

  • [Deactivated] on 13/03/2017 - 08:22

    I work above and beyond my scope of work at my current location.

    Its a mix of community service and my main role as maintenance electrician.

    I help out as best i can during my hours of work but its my job that puts me in this opertunity.

  • iamw0man on 13/03/2017 - 09:39
    +1

    Budget $100p/m for charity giving. Whenever a friend is doing anything for charity like Movember, Dry July, etc, I will donate between $20-40 to their campaign. Also, am slowly getting involved in meetups for my industry (tech) in my local area and hope to 'give back' there too.

  • DiscoJango on 13/03/2017 - 09:52
    +1

    "Giving back" doesnt just have to be in the form of cash payments to someone. Volunteering is just as good. Eg: 1 weeknight a week, volunteer at a soup kitchen for the homeless or help clean up your neighborhood school on a working bee day etc

  • Shame on 13/03/2017 - 10:05

    I post and like things on social media to show my support for good causes and to let everyone know I'm a good person. Anything by Bono, Leonardo DiCaprioo, Oprah, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep, etc. I'm all in to.

    I also try to limit other people's vices for their own good. I'm against smoking, drinking, gambling, greyhound racing, sugar consumption and jaywalking.

    Some say I'm vacuous but I just ignore those haters.

    P.S. I also floss.

    • casho on 13/03/2017 - 11:35
      +2

      Would you call that pro Bono?

  • TimApple on 13/03/2017 - 10:56
    +2

    I'm thinking of being politically active. There's quite a lot of issues in this country that are very complicated and a lot of people don't really understand them. I want to help educate them and help them make better decisions when they vote. We have a really complacent government that doesn't care about the need of many people, I think if I can help change that, a lot of people will benefit from it and we'll all be a better country in the future.

    Having said that, I'm still not sure where to start. I've contacted some (smaller) political parties and asked them if I can help educating people or writing to the media. I don't know what else is best use of my time right now other than those.

  • ihbh on 13/03/2017 - 11:33
    +1

    Coach and mentor people who have initiative.

    Live sustainably so you leave the planet as you found it, and hopefully a little better, for the next generation.

    Don't try to keep up with the Jones. Save and invest, so if your situation changes, you don't become dependent on society.

    • SilentBob on 13/03/2017 - 12:29
      -4

      Yeah he should mentor people to do what he did, have everything handed to him by his parents and friends.

      That'll help a lot.

      • buckster on 13/03/2017 - 19:54

        You're still having a whinge? Good on him/her for exploring avenues to help others, what have you ever done to claim the moral high ground?

      • [Deactivated] on 15/03/2017 - 21:20

        Like those "investors with a $5m portfolio" who say "i bought my first investment property when I was 16!!!" With whos money" which bank lends $1m to 16 year olds. Again, i want to vomit when i hear this

  • ChickenTalon on 13/03/2017 - 12:46
    +6

    A few things

    • Mentoring: Personally or have done it structured through places like the School for Social Entrepreneurs (now sadly closed).
    • Cash: Only to cancer disease research or mental health. I'm very very picky regarding who I donate to before making a decision to part with $$$…..
      -I go through the last few years of financials.
      -Make sure they have ZERO connections to religion.
      -They do not use for-profit fundraisers door-2-door, cold calling and chuggers on the streets.
    • Fundraising: I do fundraising and events for a cancer research charity.
    • Volunteering: I donate ~10 to 15 days per year of my time to sit on a not-for-profit board and sub-committees.
    • Other: I'm working on getting my business to help cancer researchers where there is an opportunity, still working on this one.

    Not sure much of the above actually counts as giving back. Certainly feels like I get a lot more out of it.

    • keithality on 14/03/2017 - 00:37

      Mind sharing the organisations that you picked to donate cash to?

      • ChickenTalon on 14/03/2017 - 08:13
        +2

        Sure, The Cancer Council (but no longer because of their unethical fundraising), Tour de Cure, Lifeline, The Black Dog Institute, Beyond Blue.

  • rvsure on 13/03/2017 - 13:32

    Though I have nothing against charities or no intention to undermine their work I personally don't like giving my money to charities. Only a fraction of the money goes to the cause and you wouldn't even know the people benefiting from it are actually in real need. Sometimes charities does work for the sake of existence.

    If you look around you there are lots of people in need. They may not be poor but they can be in situations where they need a helping hand. You don't need to donate money to help others even lending money for a short period when they need is also a help. Giving back to community need not be helping a child in Africa, it can start from home. Look for people in need in your family, friends or at workplace. A small act of kindness from an individual every now and then can make more people happy than a charity can do with the same money.

  • croc330 on 13/03/2017 - 13:35
    -1

    Giving Blood at the Red Cross is as tangible as it gets.

    I work with a bunch of blokes who, for whatever silly reason, don't want to join me donating blood. Weak!

    I'm no "manly man". But it doesn't hurt that the nurses at my local Red Cross are hot! Sizzling hot!

    • [Deactivated] on 14/03/2017 - 07:27
      +1

      nurses at my local Red Cross are hot! Sizzling hot!

      So do you go to donate blood in order to get an erection?

      • cwongtech on 14/03/2017 - 18:02

        Well it does get the bloodflow going downstairs.. Should increase bpm too, more volume of blood donated?

  • Hotpotcorn on 13/03/2017 - 13:47
    -1

    if u work at a high tier company, u are probably paying 50% of ur income in tax….. thats enough to give back to the community… the government uses ur tax to mostly fund welfare…… so yeh

  • donkeydoc on 13/03/2017 - 14:00

    Start your own charity!

  • tsunamisurfer on 13/03/2017 - 14:24
    +9

    I donate blood.

    The Red Cross says each donation could save 3 lives, but even if all my donations saved just one I'd be happy.

    • DisneyPrincess on 15/03/2017 - 23:22

      Plus you get a free snack afterwards!

      • tsunamisurfer on 16/03/2017 - 13:55

        Not sure how the rest of the country is but the kiosk at the Perth blood bank has diminished and diminished in offerings.

        If I go its to just wait for other people who I went with.

  • debb on 13/03/2017 - 15:47
    +1

    Lots of choices of charities from OzBargain 2016 Christmas Donations

  • El Cap on 13/03/2017 - 16:02
    +1

    I have been donating around 1k last 4 years, and planning to step up this time to make it 2k. I mostly give to charities like UNHCR, Fred Hollows etc but planning to give more to this one https://effectivealtruism.org.au/

    I'd give more but I need to support my poor relatives etc.

    I happen to think it is sheer luck that some do better than others, and the moral thing to do is to help others.

  • Leeeroy on 13/03/2017 - 16:16
    +2

    You will find lots of opportunities to volunteer on here https://www.volunteer.com.au/

  • fuzcatt on 13/03/2017 - 16:43
    +1

    If you have a skill that can be applied pro bono, many smaller community or charity groups would probably appreciate it (e.g. planning, management, cleaning, photography, etc for local soccer league etc.) And the skills can be utilised in non-conventional ways too: How can I use photography to assist my local animal welfare group -> Take more marketable images of any animals up for adoption.

    If you're looking for something that gives you quick, direct results (for those good feels) then perhaps you need front line work like volunteering for soup kitchens that feed the hungry or even State Emergency Service (SES) where you will can meet the people you are helping.

    For the best result in your instance, trying to match a skill with front line work could mean you fill a difficult-to-fill position whilst also being able to meet the people you are helping and see the difference.

  • AddNinja on 13/03/2017 - 17:29
    +4

    If you want a direct connection with those you are helping, I second tutoring. Many public libraries run free tuition sessions for disadvantaged students. Around here, it will be housing tenement recent immigrants - usually African high schoolers.

    These student are usually bright, but have little English literacy or numeracy. If you commit to a year of weekly meetings, you can see a massive improvement in their abilities, which is appreciated by them and heartening to see. As it takes place in the library, it is a supervised in a public place so many of the possible pitfalls of tuition are avoided.

    Anyway, I've always been impressed by my students and you don't get time wasters, because why would they come? If your local library doesn't have a program like this in place, you could ask them to implement one as heaps of libraries do.

    I'm keen to know what you choose to do - and ignore the people who think you're an idiot. You are either making them feel guilty and they're striking out, or they are simply not generous people. It's your time - you can do with it what you want.

    • Tech and cars on 13/03/2017 - 21:43
      +3

      Brilliant, thank you. This is more aligned to what I'm thinking. Will investigate further and will let you know.

  • sillyguy on 13/03/2017 - 19:41
    -1

    Donation and charity work are private matters and should not be discussed/bragged about. People can be broke and still support the community with all they can. You do not have go be well off to "give back".

    Not sure what you are trying to achieve here Op.

    • Tech and cars on 13/03/2017 - 21:34
      +2

      It's an anonymous forum. How is this bragging!?? I'm really trying to find out what's effective before jumping in. Seeing what others have done, and then jumping in.

      Do you have any idea how much money goes to places like world vision, etc.. and only 20 c out of the $1 actually gets there.. (slight exaggeration, but you get my point) - they send so much spam and spend so much on marketing. So people giving generic answers like donate, volunteer etc.. it's not what I was looking for.

      I don't see it as any different as people asking - what car should I buy - my budget is $20k.

      I'd like to know what people do and from there go about doing what I think is best.

      Give too little info - then all the people ask - what's your background OP etc.. Give too much - and then it's you're bragging… seriously. we are just screwed either way.

    • AddNinja on 13/03/2017 - 21:55

      You realise this is anonymous right?
      (Sorry - beaten to it!)

    • MessyG on 14/03/2017 - 18:22
      +1

      I think the OP was just describing their motivation for wanting to give back which is just as valid as "I'm broke but I'm motivated to give back because x". And I don't think they necessarily need to be private, it's good to discuss them because it raises awareness and discussion can bring improvement to how the person gives back.

  • lethalmoney on 13/03/2017 - 21:31

    i work in the community for a government salary.. enough said.

  • grang on 13/03/2017 - 21:43
    +4

    I am on a similar drive

    This cartoon made me think deeply

    https://brightside.me/article/what-you-should-think-about-be…

  • Happyvalley on 13/03/2017 - 21:47
    +1

    You can also think of helping the poor communities out of Australia who because of their extreme poverty will appreciate every single penny or material thing that falls in their hands. For instance, you may set aside some dollars and start buying USED primary and Secondary school English Language text books in Australia and later ship the books to poor African countries (like Tanzania - where I am writing from) who are struggling to study in English but as strange as it sounds there are no enough English language books.

  • j05h on 13/03/2017 - 22:13
    +1

    Rotary is a great option. It has multiple benefits- for yourself and the community. I saw they were doing great stuff in the community and my parents were previously involved. I'm only 19 and the other members are all a lot older than me - but I have gained lots from it. Not only have I made connections and friends across NSW, I have had some great experiences being able to give back.
    Yes- there is the monetary side of it where you pay your membership fees (which go straight to various causes). But, we plan and carry out lots of projects. Currently, we are doing a project to improve our local park to improve facilities for the townspeople in partnership with our community centre. We are also doing another project providing sewing machines and water to a village in Myanmar.
    In the general community - we volunteer at our community markets and other local events like fun-runs and cycle-thons. We have also provided laptops to our local high school library, scholarships for students in financial hardship and we run the fantastic Youth Exchange program in our community (among many others).
    Then, there is the Rotary Foundation, which coordinates the big projects like 'End Polio Now'. 95% of money donated to the Rotary Foundation goes directly to the cause, higher than any other charity. And on the subject of Polio- a mere 37 cases were reported worldwide in 2016, down from about 450,000 in 1988.
    Basically, not only to you get to contribute to your local community and the wider world through volunteering and monetary contribution, you also get to meet some great people and make some great friends.

  • [Deactivated] on 14/03/2017 - 00:26

    I contribute pointless comments to an online community called 'OzBargain'.

    My primary aim is to bring some joy to the otherwise miserable squalid lives of members who aren't me.

    Fortunately this does not cost me any money as i'm just a poor boy from a poor family.

  • maximum on 14/03/2017 - 02:48
    +4

    If it's time you have there is a volunteer organisation called the pyjama foundation volunteers who spend 1 hour per week reading with foster children. This is a really results based tangible way to give back.
    Teaching a child to read and giving them someone who believes in them is priceless and relatively easy.
    http://www.thepyjamafoundation.com/volunteer/
    It is so easy for these kids to get left behind in simply surviving.

    If it's money you can offer there is an organisation called share the dignity they collect sanitary product to distribute to homeless women and also women in the bush etc who can't afford them. I just buy pads and tampons when they are half price and store them up. The collect them in April and October. This combines my love of a good deal with helping others.

  • ArjaytheGuy on 14/03/2017 - 07:22
    +3

    I recently started volunteering with the SES. it's interesting (sometimes challenging) but a good way to serve your community.

  • jaimex2 on 14/03/2017 - 10:25

    Unless you are chasing tax breaks, giving charities money is a terrible way to give back.

    Seriously, just bulk buy a ton of non-perishable food and ship it to a place in need.
    or Volunteer at your community center to skill people up with a trade you know.

  • JetLi on 14/03/2017 - 11:07

    plenty of worthy charities/not for profits to choose from, can even help out your local school or sporting group…that should be enough to keep you busy.

  • knr21 on 14/03/2017 - 12:06
    +2

    You say you like photography, why not donate you time at charity events. Now this maybe more emotional kind of job but put your name down at the local hospital for photography for when parents have still born and would like to have photos or family times with sick children/adults etc.
    Go to one of the schools (public) approach the principal and say you want to sponsor one of the kids who they know the family are having financial difficulty and pay for excursions/uniform/school supplies. You may not have direct contact for privacy but know that you are helping a kid not have have to worry about school

  • newboz on 14/03/2017 - 14:06
    +2

    Very interesting discussion. OP, please share what you have decided on, you could inspire other ppl like me to do the same.

  • Anujk on 14/03/2017 - 14:14
    +1

    Very interesting discussion indeed. Volunteering is a good way to give back and it also feels very satisfying . Great thoughts OP.

    P.S The world need more people like You OP specially when the 'Nintendo switch' post receive 2wice the attention then this post 😛
    Jk

    • MessyG on 14/03/2017 - 18:23
      +1

      I take offense, I am giving both threads equal attention :P ;)

    • [Deactivated] on 14/03/2017 - 21:16
      +1

      There's a 'Nintendo switch' post?
      WTF am i doing here??

  • happydude on 14/03/2017 - 15:19
    +2

    Volunteer Surf Life Saver - 15 years.

    Would recommend.

  • OldSchoolHarry on 14/03/2017 - 20:30
    +1

    Set up a scholarship at a uni or high school.

  • drillvoice on 14/03/2017 - 22:49
    +1

    Another thought - I know various people who work in the development sector and it's important to point out that while development organisations do have to spend money on staff and administration, this is crucial to being able to use aid effectively. It helps them to leverage donations best to be spending money on measuring what is effective and making sure they are being helpful. This is way more effective and valuable in the long-term than just sending baked beans to Kuala Lumpur. It does make sense to be discerning with who you give money too, but just judging them by "percentage spent on admin" is not fair.

  • bighead on 15/03/2017 - 08:03

    If you have the time and motivation, ADF Reserves.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/03/2017 - 21:12

    Youd be lucky to see more than 30% of charity donations go to the cause.

    I wish someone would set up a sceme where tjey ACTUALLY buy food/equipment and DELIVER it to the source and PROVE it by posting actual receipts or spreadsheets of said results.

    There are such schemes in Europe which pist photos of the actual handovers etc and thus can be PROVEN. If such existed I and many people would jump at the chance of ACTUAL charity, not the smoke and mirrors we are fed now.

    I am sick of "charities" which build multi million dollar buildongs and pay million dollar salaries to executives. I want to vomit.

    • [Deactivated] on 15/03/2017 - 22:24

      I'd prefer a sceme where tjey pist photos of buildongs.
      I love buildongs.

    • Darkpulsar on 15/03/2017 - 23:04

      No doubt there are some dodgy charities, but the big names (MSF, Oxfam, Unicef for instance) do give 70%+ to the cause. There's a lot of misinformation in this thread, and charities post their financial records each year if you actually want to know where the money goes.

  • 2ndeffort on 17/03/2017 - 17:55

    Volunteer to be a coach or an organiser for junior sports. I've been involved for years with a local Soccer Club and every year poor little kids that just want to play sport are turned away, not because the club doesn't want to have them, not because the government is doing anything, not because the insurance companies, big banks, CIA, Donald Trump or anyone else is getting in the way, just because you cant have 25 kids in a team rotating through 11 spots on the field. You need to cap the number of kids in a team or none of them get a decent turn playing in the game. The answer if you have too many kids is to start a second team but we never get enough parents, siblings or whatever putting their hands up to be a coach, team manager etc. The end result is that some poor kids are turned away.

    Nobody expects a potential coach or team manager to be the Alex Ferguson or Jose Mourinho of the Under 10's, just somebody that can hopefully teach the kids to be respectful of each other, good sportspeople and get a general understanding of the game. The club runs courses etc to train coaches. I've done it a number of times, currently being asked again but my kids are now young adults and I want to spend time with them rather than other people's kids on a weekend. From my experience it can be a very rewarding experience. I now see some great young talents running around that I remember as little 5 year olds crying and playing in the mud instead of chasing the ball!

  • Tech and cars on 23/03/2017 - 10:36

    Thank you all for the suggestions and the input.

    After much discussion and thought I'll be doing the following:

    -I found out my company has a group of people who meet monthly, including a few partners and help with various charities/fundraising activities. From looking at it - I think most people are in it very half lightly and don't take on a large workload from it. I think if I spend a lot of time with this group, there are a lot of influential people that can be directly affected into making very big positive changes in our community. So my intention is to spend a large portion of consistent time here.

    -Helping friends by giving time to review their CV's/Cover Letter's - helping them with employment. Also general advisory on how to get settled in the country and get the best out of their experience in Australia. (Introduce them to OzB lolol)I know a lot of people from international backgrounds and I think it would be good if I could do my best to help them get settled. I know these people would help others as well and it would be a follow on/domino effect.

    -other things you can/I can do everyday : see people on the street asking for help. Don't ignore. Go down to 7/11 buy some food, coffee etc - talk to them.

    -I am thinking of buying a few USB (iPod/micro USB Cables) and setting up a charity tin - donate the money to RSPCA ( who doesn't love puppies)/a different monthly charity - a lot of people forget to charge their phone. It will work based on honesty. I'll leave the cables in a common area in the office and send an email to all those, that you can borrow it for the day, but please put the cable back when you are done. When you do borrow - put a gold coin donation in. It will be interesting to see how this goes.

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