The FG Charitable Bragging Thread

Post by **spot** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:35 am

It seems to me that there's no thread yet dedicated to members dropping a note of what they've done solely for the good of the world without hope of reward, so here it is.

Have you behaved with charity? Is the world better for some act of yours, however small or trivial, which you had no incentive to perform other than that it was the right thing to do? Tell us about it. Generate a glow in the hearts of the rest of the membership. Be recognised for the saint you really are.

Let's hope this thread can grow into a beautiful collection of inspiring little steps toward good citizenship.

Post by **spot** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 9:14 am

Oh... I have one. Shall I start then?

I proof-checked some webpages. Not with any agreement of the owner, just because it's better to have the web clean and accurate than to have mistakes perpetuated.

It was a fan-site for Tottenham Hotspur and there on one page for 1967 was a scoreline which was inaccurate. I was sure it was wrong, I remember watching the game. I knew the result of the 1967 FA Cup Final obviously wasn't a draw, it was Tottenham Hotspur beat Chelsea by two goals to one, Robertson just before half time from a free kick landing plum in front of him off a rebound and then in the second half a throw-in headed to Robertson, headed to Saul on the penalty spot and the most beautiful swivel shot you ever saw into the corner of the net past Peter Bonetti's despairing dive. Two nil and even the goal clawed back did nothing to save Chelsea's bacon.

Did I leave the 1:1 scoreline there on the fan site (My Eyes Have Seen The Glory Dot Com, it was - great little place)? No, I didn't, I emailed the webmaster pointing out the fluff and he emailed me back thanking me for the trouble I'd taken, and now the Internet's just that little bit cleaner. It's like taking a cloth and polishing Greavsie's medallion so it shines the way it ought to.

It was a quiet deed of charity which I'm more than happy to give to the world as inspiration.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 10:39 am

Before I was hired by the "San Diego Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association" I did Volunteer work for them for 10 years.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 10:40 am

Carla, we know you love the glory but this is to showcase spocks wonderfulness. :p

Celtic Thunder · Post by **Celtic Thunder** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:04 am

ok my bit is about my peace of mind...............i give to beggars in the street.

one lady said her car broke down i gave her £5..........for my benefit not hers i would worry if something happened to her.

Post by **spot** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:15 am

Nomad;908239 wrote: Carla, we know you love the glory but this is to showcase spocks wonderfulness. :p

Down, boy. Carla and Celtic Thunder put far more into society than they take from it. I'm really hoping this thread takes off. How about one of your experiences to help it along?

Dewey2Me1MoThyme · Post by **Dewey2Me1MoThyme** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:23 am

I was a first responder at a vehichle / pedestrian accident once, does that count?

I played banjo several thymes at the local nursing and vets homes in my home town, and also at the boys and Girls club.

I adopted 2 rescued schnauzers.

Need mo?

Trunk Monkey · Post by **Trunk Monkey** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:51 am

As some of you know, I am a part-time animal control officer and I "speak" for the neglected and abused pets through the legal system. I have adopted several and if I could take them all, I would. I raised enough money through fines and my own salary to build a much need addition to our local animal shelter. Since the new addition has been added, I helped pass a "no kill" policy at this shelter. Each and every animal there will live out their life now without neglect or abuse or the fear they will never have the opportunity to play another day.

I surf the net for free samples. I pick and choose what samples I am requesting for a reason. I have a huge basket and when it's full, I take it to my local senior citizens home here in town. I let them pick what they want from the basket and believe me, it's like Christmas for them when they see me coming. I got enough pedometers (all free) that the seniors now walk and compete with each other as to who walked the farthest that day. They win a prize from the "freebie" basket of their choice. The smiles and laughter you get just can't be explained here in words.

I have not posted this to brag since I think I have no right to do so. I do these things from my heart and because they are the right thing to do.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:53 am

Volunteered nearly 4 months working with the Katrina evacuees.

Post by **spot** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 12:12 pm

Trunk Monkey;908399 wrote: I helped pass a "no kill" policy at this shelter.Now that's worth a lot of time and effort, I'm impressed. The idea that volunteer shelters can exist without one is distressing.

Accountable;908403 wrote: Volunteered nearly 4 months working with the Katrina evacuees.Have you felt tempted to write an article anywhere about your experiences? I'm sure the moment will arrive when you decide you should.

theia · Post by **theia** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 12:23 pm

Accountable;908403 wrote: Volunteered nearly 4 months working with the Katrina evacuees.

That's because you are who you are...our lovely, lovely Acc :-6

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 12:32 pm

Volunteer animal rescuer for nine official years, a lifetime aside from that.

I help people learn to read.

I donate money to various charities when I am able.

I am an ear for people who have mental illnesses.

Post by **spot** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 1:02 pm

RedGlitter;908439 wrote: I help people learn to read.Did you get into that accidentally? It's a great talent to be so patient. I knew someone who couldn't read, a few years back, he was certain that it was a skill he'd never needed and he didn't miss it. I don't think he was being defensive when he said that, he sounded like he meant it. Neither his dad nor his grandfather had been able to either and they'd been London businessmen in the same trade all those years, running their own company.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:59 pm

I dont have children.

Many believe the global impact of no little Nomads is epochally significant .

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 1:25 am

spot;908449 wrote: Did you get into that accidentally? It's a great talent to be so patient. I knew someone who couldn't read, a few years back, he was certain that it was a skill he'd never needed and he didn't miss it. I don't think he was being defensive when he said that, he sounded like he meant it. Neither his dad nor his grandfather had been able to either and they'd been London businessmen in the same trade all those years, running their own company.

It's amazing sometimes how people who are not literate will create ways of getting around without anyone knowing about it. I currently have a good friend who can do just about anything asked of her, and do it well...but I found out about two months ago that this woman who is 26, cannot read past the third grade level. If I hadn't been told I may never have known just by being around her. But anyway, yes, it was pretty much an accident I guess you could say. I was always an avid reader in school, and in the second grade I was reading at college level. My teachers used me to help the slower kids learn to read and it just sort of stuck. People learned that they could come to me for help without being made fun of. That makes me happy.

I like this thread idea. I know we're taught not to talk about good deeds we do and for the most part I respect that but how else would we get to learn about the neat things people have done if they didn't tell us? So thank you.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 6:09 am

spot;908422 wrote: Have you felt tempted to write an article anywhere about your experiences? I'm sure the moment will arrive when you decide you should.Not beyond the thread here. I guess it might be a self-esteem issue, but I don't see what I did as overly special. If I'd had a job I wouldn't have gone at all. It made me feel uselful. That's the main thing I remember.

Post by **spot** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 6:16 am

Accountable;908909 wrote: Not beyond the thread here. I guess it might be a self-esteem issue, but I don't see what I did as overly special. If I'd had a job I wouldn't have gone at all. It made me feel uselful. That's the main thing I remember.

I'd have said rather that it would be documenting a major societal breakdown from a valuable and rare perspective. Besides, it would allow you to thread your recollections together while they're still coherent so that you can continue to reflect on them as you get older.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 6:26 am

I look for opportunities to be useful. Not because Im Mother Theresa but for almost selfish reasons.

It makes me feel whole to live outside myself if only briefly.

The things I do are usually small things but the reward is I get to feel worthy for awhile.

So when Im out and about I keep my eyes open for the chance to be randomly helpful.

I dont see the point in naming things but I do think it makes us all better when we help eachother.

Post by **spot** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 6:31 am

Nomad;908915 wrote: I dont see the point in naming things but I do think it makes us all better when we help eachother.I'll do it for you, how's that. Nomad surreptitiously clears litter from his local park while nobody else is around, he's an example of civic responsibility.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:26 am

spot;908913 wrote: I'd have said rather that it would be documenting a major societal breakdown from a valuable and rare perspective. Besides, it would allow you to thread your recollections together while they're still coherent so that you can continue to reflect on them as you get older.
What happened in San Antonio was an affirmation of the American tradition of helping your fellow man. It was as uplifting an experience as any I've had. Quite the opposite of "societal breakdown"

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:27 am

Nomad;908915 wrote: I look for opportunities to be useful. Not because Im Mother Theresa but for almost selfish reasons.

It makes me feel whole to live outside myself if only briefly.

The things I do are usually small things but the reward is I get to feel worthy for awhile.

So when Im out and about I keep my eyes open for the chance to be randomly helpful.

I dont see the point in naming things but I do think it makes us all better when we help eachother.
:yh_clap Exactly!

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:46 am

I think the people on this site have come together because they're so alike, and I feel that everyone here is a nice person. Everyone comes across as kind, honest, upstanding and truthful, so I feel most people will have done/given something because thats just the kind of folks we all are.

I do things because money has always been tight and I haven't been always able to 'give' things, moneywise. When my children were small I was always involved with their schools and nurseries, with helping out and fund-raising. Trying to give back a little of the time and effort that the teachers and helpers gave to my children. At one school I produced a magazine which was full of kids' birthdays for that month, jokes, competitions, recipes, pictures to colour in, etc. I typed it all up and the other half drew all the cartoons for it. The school let me print it off and I sold it to parents and in the local church for 20p a copy. I made nearly £1000 for school funds from it.

A couple of years ago I worked for Parentline Plus, which was a voluntary helpline that parents could phone for help when they were at their wits end with their kids. When I started I thought it would be people wanting help to get their kids to do their homework, but in reality it was kids taking drugs, drinking, sleeping around and parents in floods of tears who just couldn't cope. It was an eyeopener but I loved it. I've always loved doing things which make me feel I've helped in someway, helped the world to become a better place. It sounds bigheaded but in reality I have very low self-esteem and have always felt a failure. (Thanks to my mother spending years telling me so!) I think if I can't afford to help with money then at least I can help with something physically.

My other half used to laugh and asked what sh*t I'd walhed in because I would always have little old ladies coming up to me and asking me for help (crossing the road, reaching things down from high shelves in supermarkets, etc), he said they were like flies on sh*t around me. Now I laugh because it's rubbed off and they always ask him now too. They say we have a kind face (each) and they hope we wont mind them asking for help. Bless them!

We also give a little money from our wages each month to charities. Its not a huge amount but what we can spare. We give to Great Ormand Street and to the NSPCC because our kids were both extremely ill as babies and would not have survived without hospital help. We've miscarried 3 babies and want to help those babies who need extra help. We also give to Barnardo's to help the homeless. We haven't been homless, Thank God, but its been a struggle. We also give to a rabbit protection society for all the badly treated and discarded bunnies who have such terrible lives. There's an advert on tv at the moment for a dogs protection society that just breaks your heart when you see it. I'd like to give to them too but I think a lot of people support cat and dog societies and I just can't afford to support them all. I'd like to help worldvision and children in Africa to have clean water and an education and perhaps I can when I get back to full-time work. But for now we just do the best with what we have.

It breaks my heart to see programmes on TV like 'Millionaire daughters' where these overpampered girlies are sucking up to daddy and bleeding him dry. One girl got a top-of-the-range car for her birthday and her sister got one too just because she begged daddy for one. Then you change channels and see children dying in Africa from disease, starvation and draught! How can such a world exist? Why isn't life fairer? Why can't people enjoy what they have and have what they need plus a little?

minks · Post by **minks** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 9:34 am

Gosh

I have been a girl guide leader in the past

I volunteerd at Hull school as a teachers aid (these kids are deemed high risk, kids with severe ADHD, severe anger management issues, come from the streets, come from other schools who pushed them out) Their risk is high when it comes to failure.

I also volunteered in a "parallel" teaching program that taught the children and parents how to break the cycle of abuse, disrespect and failed life style in an area of the city where this cycle has never ended.

I am currently awaiting a meeting with the Mentor program people who may finally have a mentee for me... a 14 year old girl who has been removed from her home for reasons I do not know of yet. I will be spending 3.-6 hours a week with her just to have another adult role model in her life. I have taken 2 days of training for this and have 2 courses left to take, first aid and CPR as well as suicide prevention.

I think once the winter comes I may look into another volunteer position through this group I do like their ideals.

I have always done volunteer work with kids.

I also want to look into a program that used to exist here called PALS where you volunteer your time and your pets time and visit shut in's, usually seniors, I think it would be a good thing to do with my daughters little dog.

Oiy I forgot I also worked for the local immigration society, I went into peoples homes, who had come to canada on refugee status and helped them figure out a lot of day to day things, helped with their english skills, helped them understand our money, shopping, bus routes, winter weather it was very rewarding but sadly due to the war in Afghanastan, it was strongly suggested by my family that I bow out of the program after 2 years.... it was because the man of the family I was involved with was in an extremely high position in the government there and my family was deathly afraid of something happening to me. He and his family fled Afghanastan because his life was in such danger.

Thanks spot for letting us have a bit of a brag here

Imladris · Post by **Imladris** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 11:34 am

Volunteer police officer for 15 years.

School governor and town councillor, I make my living from the people in my town so it's fair to give my time back.

I have sponsored two children until lack of funds meant I couldn't.

Have always tried to help if I can e.g. at a fatal accident by Stonehenge many years ago, recently when a local drunk fell down some outside steps. CPR once on a friend but sadly he still died.

I think partly I do stuff because I'm a nosy so and so that can't resist having a look - then you get involved!