Almgiving

Theodora Elizabeth · Post by **Theodora Elizabeth** » Tue 8 June 2004 12:57 pm

This is just a question out of curiousity's sake (which is a perpetual condition with me)...

Where do you generally give the money you set aside for almsgiving during the fasting seasons? Is it some church-related charity, or a local program (food panty, homeless shelter, etc.)?

During Lent many Antiochian parishes distribute little cardboard boxes to parishioners for the "Food for Hungry" program, run by the Archdiocese. That little box is where all my change (which is quite a lot) gets put. My parish does a food drive for a local food pantry during the Nativity Fast. We collect school supplies for needy students (most of the school, in fact) at a school where a parishioner's SIL teaches. I was thinking about giving my alms this fast to the Chicago Food Depository, which serves many of the food pantries in our city, and where I have volunteered before. I'm also saving lots of money by just not eating out! That will be donated, as well, not just the money I'm saving by eating simpler.

Theodora Elizabeth

OrthodoxyOrDeath · Post by **OrthodoxyOrDeath** » Wed 9 June 2004 9:44 am

Theodora,

I am always hesitant to donate to commercial charities of any kind. Not to many people realize this, but groups like United Way may be "not for profit", but their CEO's have salaries that would sink a ship.

Our church has a "fund" (probably just a stack of money somewhere, we are not that sophisticated) so we can pool our resources. The money usually goes to the most needy around us, usually people someone knows really needs it.

Theodora Elizabeth · Post by **Theodora Elizabeth** » Wed 9 June 2004 9:59 am

OOD ~

Good point. I do know that the Greater Chicago Food Depository does have a very good reputation for NOT having big salaries. The church "fund" is a good idea. I will ask my priest if he has one, or just about his discretionary fund (which I assume does to go people in need, just ones I don't know about).

Thanks,
Theodora Elizabeth

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Wed 9 June 2004 11:39 am

St. Vincent DePaul (Roman Catholic Charity) does many good works that I think are worthy of support. My family has been helped by them a number of times, and in quite significant ways.

Ephraem · Post by **Ephraem** » Thu 10 June 2004 6:25 pm

OrthodoxyOrDeath wrote:
I am always hesitant to donate to commercial charities of any kind. Not to many people realize this, but groups like United Way may be "not for profit", but their CEO's have salaries that would sink a ship.

The directors and officers of large charities are usually given a competitive salary for executive management. For example, the CEO of the Greater Chicago Food Depository makes $92K, which is not a spartan wage, though he does oversee an organization that utilized over a 1000 volunteers and has a budget of around $47 Million. A decent salary is probably essential to attracting the kind of talent needed to skillfully manage an organization of that magnitude.
I don't know if $92K would sink a ship, but the GCFD has an extremely low overhead.

Check out: Guidestar. A national database for non-profit organizations that provides on-line information on virtually every not-for-profit org in the country (as far as I can tell). They provide detailed information on larger organizations, such as the Greater Chicago Food Depository, but always at least provide a pdf. of IRS forms even for the smaller organizations.
http://www.guidestar.org
Perhaps this will help you in evaluating particular charities.

I help administer a non-profit foundation, but in our house the alms go in the church's collection plate.

Theodora Elizabeth · Post by **Theodora Elizabeth** » Thu 10 June 2004 7:24 pm

I contacted my priest yesterday via e-mail, about his "discretionary fund." Unbeknownst to me, a lot of people are helped through the fund. So, I'm going to give my alms at the end of the fast there. I do prefer to donate to something in the parish, or will be distributed through the parish.

Theodora Elizabeth

Justin2 · Post by **Justin2** » Thu 10 June 2004 8:36 pm

OR you could just take the money along with you in the car and distribute it as you come across someone who needs it. It really depends upon the situation. I invented a little homemade "alms box" for my house during this past Great Lent, and I just throw my spare change in there when I get home at the end of the day. It's not always the same amount, but it averages out. It's not completely full yet, but it's getting there I figured I would just take the proceeds down to a Coinstar machine or something, and then either buy food for people or give it to them. My Spiritual Father has advised me to rule in favor of food or clothing, just in case the person might want to spend the money on something harmful to his or herself.
Oh, and if you want to know how to make your own low-budget alms box, just order a box of tea from the monks of Vashon Island, WA (PLUG!) and once you've finished the outstanding tea (I prefer Father Paul's Assam), saw a slot big enough for a quarter in the top of the box, and BAM! you have a little alms box. I think that this might be a good idea for kids, too, because it gives them a creative way (they can paint it or decorate it or something like that) to participate in virtuous activities. But I'll get back to you once I've tried it on mine (the first one won't be here until September ).