Do you think it's better to donate money or time?

[terry1156]

When a disaster happens like Katrina, do you think it's better to donate money or your time? Which do you donate more of. I've always donated money in the past, but I have signed up with the red cross to take their disaster relief volunteer course so I think I will be donating more time in the future. Has anyone else taken this course?

[Bruce Wayne]

Give whatever you think is appropriate. Sometimes you may have skills that can help, sometimes you can donate posessions, sometimes money.

[shengmei]

I think donating time is better. When you are donating time, you know EXACTLY what you are donating.

[PRICEPLUS]

Time is a precious commodity. It is far more valuable in my book.

[mom-from-missouri]

Time. Let me tell you what is happening in my county right now. After Katrina hit, people sent money like crazy. It all went to the National Fund for the Red Cross and other organizations. Now, we have 40+ families from Katrina that have relocated here in my county. Our local food pantry, red cross and clothes closet cant help them because everything has been sent south. 40 families, and the food pantry only had 1 bottle of shampoo in the hair care area. When we asked for more help, and people to help distrubite items (which we no longer have) everyone replied, they already gave....some welcome we are giving these people...

[cercis]

They are both important. If you can give both, do so. If you can only do one, do it and don't feel guilty that you can't do the other.

Money is needed to buy the items to help. Time is needed to sort the items and/or to help the families safeguard their items.

[meaghanchan]

I try to donate both. I think donating your time is great, and very valuable-- I did volunteer work last year for a tutoring program, and saw the great work they did firsthand. However, in the case of something like Katrina, where I can't get down to the affected areas and donate my time, I think sending money is good too.

[Snoopy2645]

I think both are equally important but not everyone can go down to donate time for 3 weeks thats how long they are saying here anyways that they want volunteers. My dh works & goes to school we have 3 kids & a dog my grandma is very sick & I work pt I cant leave here for 3 weeks so I donated stuff I would love to go down thier & help maybe someday when I dont have so much goining on I can volunteer for more stuff ya know.

[Dingoluv4eva]

I would say Time is more valuable since it Costs money (travel etc, loss of work time ) + you give them your time.. where money well is just money..

I gave $10 so far not much, but am trying to figure out how it all works tax deductions etc... maybe i can give some more.. if i get it all back come tax time anyways.. umm, i'm a college student, so i'm strapped.

[PrincessPerky]

I think both are very important, if everyone gave time there would be no 'stuff' to be sorted/dustributed. If everyone gave money, most of it would go to paying people to sort/distribute.

[stone]

Most people think that time simply means actually being down their and helping. I think that if you are in a position where you make good money, money is very important to give. But time is something you should try to give as well, whether you are down there or not. First of all, good for you to volunteer with the red cross. I wish I had time to do that as well. But since I can't actually travel down there, I am trying to keep up with other things that I can help with from home. I recently read about the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children helping in the search for lost loved ones and children. It appears that there is no one stop place for information about these individuals so the NCMEC is likely to become the central storage. So to contact them with information you can call 1-888-544-5475 if you have anything that may help. Simply doing things like passing that number will hopefully help save lives.

It depends on what is better for each person. I live ona very limited income and I dont work. Therefore, for me personally I have more time than income.... So for me, donating time is easier than money since i have more time than money....

[dealsaver]

It all depends what you have more of.

[elcheapo]

time and money

[lisajane]

I think time is more important, in my case I don't have much money. In fact I want to make more money just so I can help out. But I would donate time, but there are no volunteer organizations close to me, that I have a particular calling for, and time is all I can afford to give. All the charities or organization run out of Toronto and are where I wish to help, but I can't, cause I can't afford to travel to help out, time is not the issue.

Money is great, but if the company isn't run right, a penny here, a penny there, never adds up to what it sounds like in the news.

[aniceguy_2]

I would say money matters more.Speaking first hand I know that money makes things happen.Volunteering is also important and if that is all your capable of then I say that is great.But we must not forget that money is what buys and/or pays for shelters and homes for those who have been displaced.If I was not in my own financial mess I would donate a few dollars at least.

[Tree0164]

I think both are equally important and we as a family do a combination of both. We have spent the last few Saturdays collecting for the food bank in conjunction with cub scouts.

A few times a year we go in to the soup kitchens in Boston and donate our time serving dinner there.

I am active in both of our school parent teacher councils-one thing we do in both schools is really stress community service whether it is collecting pennies for school uniforms for children affected by Katerina or the local food pantry. Values like that start really young.