Article by John M. Daley
If you are considering “giving to charity”, you’ll discover that writing a check is an easier way to give than donating your time to community service projects. With the pace of life growing faster, most us don’t think that we time to help the less fortunate on a first hand basis. And besides, writing a check to charity has at least four advantages over performing community service.First, it can give you a better financial idea as to how much you’re helping people. While helping to build a house or delivering winter goods has financial value as well, a monetary amount lets you to know exactly how much you’ve helped. Second, charitable donations can be claimed on your tax return. Even as you give money away, you’ll be earning money. Third, charitable donations allow you choose from a variety of charitable causes. If you want to help children in Africa, you can. Going to Africa to perform community service? That’s not so easy. Fourth, charitable donations often give us a more definitive sense of having actually “contributed” to charity.So, why not just write a check instead of donating to charity by performing community service projects? There are four main reasons.Unlike making a financial contribution, when you donate to community service projects, you to see the benefits of your donation first hand. If you designate a check to be used for building houses, you probably won’t see the specific structure that your money helped to build. But when you build that house with your own two hands, you’ll have the satisfaction of seeing the results of your efforts.Another benefit of performing community service projects is that you can ensure that your donation is being used charitably. While the majority of charities are ethically sound, the “charity business” continues to be an easy way for charlatans to capitalize on the sympathies of people who care. Again, by seeing the results of your efforts first hand, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that your investment was used appropriately.A third benefit of performing community service is that it can put you in contact with the people you’re helping. If you donate your time to a community kitchen or a health clinic, you can hear the cares and concerns of the people that you help first hand. As compared to giving money, most people report that participating in community service brings a higher level of emotional satisfaction.A fourth benefit of participating in community service projects is that you can list them on your resume. With the current trend of companies looking for employees who are passionate about more than their profession, community service makes an excellent impression on companies who are involved in helping the community.Ultimately, charitable organizations need both community service workers and financial donations, meaning that, even if you’re not in the position to contribute financially, donating your time can be just as helpful to making your community a better place.
About the Author
We often think that the best way to help charities is by donating money. But performing community service is helpful as well, and it also offers many personal benefits.
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