No Donation???
By zralte
@zralte (4178)
India
March 31, 2011 5:34am CST
I can’t think of a fitting topic to this discussion. So I will stick with this.
All of us have come across one charity or the other trying to get funds for whatever they are doing. Yes, sometimes they can be really annoying, but sometimes it gives us a chance to do things that we haven’t had the time to do or just make us feel like we are doing a good thing. Here is what happened to me today.
I have just come back from meeting someone. On my way back, I was stopped by a red light. While I was waiting for the light to turn green, a guy approached me with saplings in his hand. He started saying that he represents one educational institute (sure enough, I can see a big board with the name of the institute on it and more people approaching different cars). They are doing a ‘Go Green’ drive in which they are selling a sapling for Rs. 10 each (approx 2 cents). The proceeds of that go to a charity helping disabled children. I happily took two saplings from him. Hey, I am doing two good deeds in one go. I am doing my bit for the environment by planting new tree ….. AND I am helping disabled kids as well. What could be better than that. So I dug in my purse, brought out Rs. 40 (all the change I had at that time) and told the gentleman to take it. He would not hear of it. He said the sapling cost Rs. 10 each and he would only take Rs. 20 from me!!! The light turned green and I had no time to convince him to take the extra money as the cars behind me started beeping furiously.
Well, that’s a first for me - A charity refusing to accept some donation.
I have a mixed feeling about that experience. On the one hand, I appreciate the young man’s honesty. He sells the saplings, not collecting people’s money. On the other hand, I have given it freely, not because he asked me.
What do you think? In my opinion, he should have taken what is offered. It is going to a good cause and the donation was not forced. He was not collecting money for himself; he was collecting for disabled kids. The more he gets, the more those poor kids will get surely. I do think that was not the time to show his honesty and integrity.
1 person likes this
6 responses
@yugasini (12893)
• Secunderabad, India
31 Mar 11
hi zralte,
congratulations that you have received sixty dollars payout from mylot,is it correct,and i have sent you a pm asking that how you got that much amount from mylot,i canot reach even ten dollars for this month,what is the secret in it. some people does not take money freely,they work and give something if they take money from you,those people are lot of confidence on them,they are not ask money from us freely,have a nice day
1 person likes this
@yugasini (12893)
• Secunderabad, India
1 Apr 11
hi zralte,
thanks for the response,i have expected that by doing tasks you have earned that much amount,i think you are the first person earned that much amount in tasks,i never tried tasks till i am not understand about tasks,i could not fulfill their requirements,you are always right some person like that,have a nice day
1 person likes this
@zralte (4178)
• India
31 Mar 11
Hi yugasini,
Thank you very much.
I have replied your pm. That payment was my largest ever and my first too. I was lucky enough to catch a few (well, lots) of SharonBucks well paid tasks.
I do appreciate that young man's integrity and honesty. He was obviously told not to take more from anyone, and he was sticking to that.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
31 Mar 11
Hi zralte 
Going by what I read, the guy seems to be an honest one and true to what he wants. It was like two saplings and they cost 20.00 INR. So why take extra. If you want to donate, you can do so by visiting the authorities of that charity and make the donation.
I think we are so very occupied with our own whims and thoughts that we dont feel the need to see beyond.
Going by what I read, the guy seems to be an honest one and true to what he wants. It was like two saplings and they cost 20.00 INR. So why take extra. If you want to donate, you can do so by visiting the authorities of that charity and make the donation.
I think we are so very occupied with our own whims and thoughts that we dont feel the need to see beyond. 1 person likes this
@zralte (4178)
• India
31 Mar 11
That's true that I could donate it to the authority.
I am only surprised that the young man didn't take it.
I have never seen or met any charity which rejects a donation, be it small or large. Wait, I have seen some charity not willing to accept a small donation.
That's why I wanted to see myLotter's reaction to this experience of mine. As usual, I'm not disappointed. You just put up a view which I did not think of. Thanks, dear.
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
1 Apr 11
Personally there could be many reasons for this. Maybe it was they needs to account for the amount of saplings they were giving out with the amount of $$ they were taking in so they could not accept other charities at this time. Like someone else has posted you need to find out where their main office is and make a donation there if you want to donate something extra and then feel better from helping as well.
1 person likes this
@zralte (4178)
• India
4 Apr 11
Yes, there could be lots of reasons. I was just surprised to see someone not accepting donations.
Like I've mentioned, there would be many people who would just take the money offered to them even if they have been told not to.
It is sort of good to experienced those kind of thing. That is, even with all the bad thing that we see all around, there are still good people in this world.
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
16 Apr 11
Hi Z!
I think you both were right. The guy would have been asked or instructed to collect the money only for 'saplings' he sold.May be he would have been asked to render proper 'account' for the sold saplings, therefore, he would not have accepted extra money from you. What you could have done was you would have bought 4 saplings for Rs.40 and would have gifted two to any of your neighbour or friend. You should not feel otherwise because you genuinely wanted to help that guy, however, it was 'he' who did not accept your money.
I think you both were right. The guy would have been asked or instructed to collect the money only for 'saplings' he sold.May be he would have been asked to render proper 'account' for the sold saplings, therefore, he would not have accepted extra money from you. What you could have done was you would have bought 4 saplings for Rs.40 and would have gifted two to any of your neighbour or friend. You should not feel otherwise because you genuinely wanted to help that guy, however, it was 'he' who did not accept your money.@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
17 Apr 11
Hi Zralte!
Oh I see! I did not know that he had only two saplings, else you would have bought all.
It is good to hear that those saplings are growing in front of your eyes. I agree with you that you will have to keep those plants/saplings out of reach from your daughter because the little angel does not know that if she plucks, it could be damaging.
Deepak
PS - Did you get my second PM?
It is good to hear that those saplings are growing in front of your eyes. I agree with you that you will have to keep those plants/saplings out of reach from your daughter because the little angel does not know that if she plucks, it could be damaging.
Deepak
PS - Did you get my second PM?@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
18 Apr 11
Boxbe is useful and you should get registered yourself there. Unwanted mails could be troublesome and waste lots of our time.
dpk
PS - I have replied to your mail.
@zralte (4178)
• India
17 Apr 11
Hi Deepak, unfortunately he was holding only two in his hands...
Had he got ten, i would have bought them all.
My saplings are growing nicely, by the way, even with me thinking I don't have a green thumb. Now, I'm just hoping my daughter would not pluck all the leaves. She is at a stage where she thinks every flower and leaf in her reach needs to be plucked...
Had he got ten, i would have bought them all.
My saplings are growing nicely, by the way, even with me thinking I don't have a green thumb. Now, I'm just hoping my daughter would not pluck all the leaves. She is at a stage where she thinks every flower and leaf in her reach needs to be plucked...
@allknowing (137775)
• India
6 Apr 11
Each of us as individuals have several opportunities to do direct charity rather than get connected with the kind you have just mentioned and not get that feeling that you have done something good. We are all expected to give away something of what we have got to those who are in need and this can be done directly. I have a trust which takes care of this. No money is given to NGOs but individuals who need it, may be to pursue studies, some health care, etc. We do ask for credentials and documents before this money is given and that too the payment is made by cheque and a tab kept on the progress of that person who has received the amount.
@allknowing (137775)
• India
8 Apr 11
I am not putting you to shame zralte but just suggesting to see how the money that we dole out to charity gets utilised correctly. We all know of these NGOs who get loads of money but one never knows how it is spent. Giving directly no matter how small the amount, one gets the satisfaction that it has been used for the purpose it is meant. Many of these NGOs are mere facades.
@zralte (4178)
• India
8 Apr 11
Don't take it any other way but my way of admiring what you are doing. I think it is great.
I'm sure you are right. I know a few NGOs who are not actually doing anything and the head of those are using it as a means to getting money from the government. From time to time, they do a bit of drive like the way I mentioned and helped out may be a few. The majority goes into their own pocket.
No wonder most people are cynical of the so called NGOs.
I'm sure you are right. I know a few NGOs who are not actually doing anything and the head of those are using it as a means to getting money from the government. From time to time, they do a bit of drive like the way I mentioned and helped out may be a few. The majority goes into their own pocket.
No wonder most people are cynical of the so called NGOs.
That is indeed a good thing. I don't have enough money to do what you are doing, but I find it admirable.
@Beaufly (991)
• United States
31 Mar 11
Wow, this is interesting. I live in the US and I have never heard of a charity not accepting any amount of money. It seems that young man was being honest and just did not want to have any extra cash (or maybe he was told not to collect extra or ask for extra, even though he did not ask you....you never know). i think our focus should be on the giving and leave out all of the other extraneous stuff. You gave, you did your part and that is what is important.
@zralte (4178)
• India
31 Mar 11
Thanks for your response.
Like I have mentioned, I have never experienced it either. That is why I am trying to find out other Lotter's perception of that.
I am sure you are right: that he was told not to accept any other payment other than the cost of the saplings. I admire his integrity and honesty. I am sure some other persons would take it, regardless of how small or what they have been told; and keep it for themselves.
I am glad I had the opportunity to help though - in twofolds, no less
