Charity advice

[Martinus]

So, this is probably going to be dimissed by many as another attention whoring thread, since I am a narcissistic sociopath and whatnot, but I have been thinking recently about getting my hands a bit dirty with something charitable. I am actually thinking of something more than just writing a check, and would like to actually dedicate some of my time (say 1-2 hours a week or so) to helping others.

Has anyone been doing (or knows someone who is doing something similar) and can give some tips? I am really just looking for an inspiration or an idea. And I fully recognise that I may end up giving up after I try and get bored...

[Brazen]

Do you have the equivalent of the Cats Protection League? Avoids all that dealing with humans nonsense.

More seriously, do something that means something to you, like something a friend or relative had to deal with. It'll stop you quitting too soon.

Or something like Good Gym where you get a workout too. https://www.goodgym.org/how_it_works

[derspiess]

http://www.trump.com/charities/

[celedhring]

What's worked for me is finding ways to leverage my skills to do charitable stuff. I.e., I have helped writing copy for charity campaigns and such, helping them promote what they do, participated in storytelling sessions for underprivileged children, etc... I find it pretty fulfilling.

You were an M&A lawyer, right? Not sure how we could apply your knowledge in this area...  Help Doctors Without Borders take over the Red Cross?

[Barrister]

If you want something relatively 'easy', but that can make a marked difference in people's lives, start donating blood on a regular basis.  It takes an hour or two every two months.

If you're willing to do something that isn't remotely sexy, but also makes a tremendous difference, go investigate volunteering at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen.  It's not cute cats or orphans, but rather mostly a bunch of smelly older men, but talk about people who need help.

[Savonarola]

If you're literally looking to get your hands dirty, and don't mind working with tools or outside then Habitat for Humanity is a good place to start.

[Valmy]

There is a serious housing shortage with Poland having the lowest rate in Europe of number of homes for its population (1000:360), according to the national statistics. The deficit of housing units is between 600,000 and 1.5 million.

What the hell Poland? You would think all your plumbers and doctors leaving for the UK would have cleared up some homes.

[derspiess]

If you want something relatively 'easy', but that can make a marked difference in people's lives, start donating blood on a regular basis.  It takes an hour or two every two months.

Ehm, he may not be able to.

[Zanza]

Work pro bono as a lawyer for some poor minority or so. 

[Barrister]

If you want something relatively 'easy', but that can make a marked difference in people's lives, start donating blood on a regular basis.  It takes an hour or two every two months.

Ehm, he may not be able to.

Fuck.  Didn't even think of that.

Although according to wiki, he can!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Poland

[derspiess]

Another vestige of straight privilege (free cookies and soda) taken away

[The Brain]

If you really want to help people use your professional skills (such as they are) to help a worthy cause. Don't find yourself handing out soup to the homeless or something like that, any Pole can do that stuff.

[Barrister]

If you really want to help people use your professional skills (such as they are) to help a worthy cause. Don't find yourself handing out soup to the homeless or something like that, any Pole can do that stuff.

I ratehr suspect that poor Poles don't need the help of a M&A lawyer.

And while anybody can hand out soup to the homeless, very few people actually do so.

[The Brain]

If you really want to help people use your professional skills (such as they are) to help a worthy cause. Don't find yourself handing out soup to the homeless or something like that, any Pole can do that stuff.

I ratehr suspect that poor Poles don't need the help of a M&A lawyer.

And while anybody can hand out soup to the homeless, very few people actually do so.

I was giving him the benefit of the doubt, he might know stuff about other parts of law as well.

If he wants soup to be handed out I rather suspect that Mart'd be better off working those hours as a lawyer and pay X number of Poles to do the handing. Unless it's all about how Mart feels and not about helping others in which case my advice is void as I said.

[Martinus]

If you want something relatively 'easy', but that can make a marked difference in people's lives, start donating blood on a regular basis.  It takes an hour or two every two months.

Ehm, he may not be able to.

Fuck.  Didn't even think of that.

Although according to wiki, he can!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Poland

Actually, I had hepatitis (the non-bad type) so I can't either way.