How much do you give to charity?

[bippit]

Just that, really. Wondering what is normal?

I average 5hrs/wk, DH 3hrs/wk (both community things). We add stuff to the foodbank collect points when we remember, but that is less frequently than we should purely down to my crap memory. I rush around the supermarket, then only remember when I pass the box after paying. They could do with putting it nearer where the entrance/exit crosses so you get a reminder on the way in. We also give a cash donation to the food bank each year a month before Xmas, do the odd sports-based sponsored event (max 1 a year each inc. DCs), plus attend a number of Macmillan coffee morning-type events.

3-4 hours a week. I donate stuff to charity shops and have a good look around them when I have time, but rarely buy anything, money's tight and sales/budget stores are much cheaper.

I cancelled regular payments to places as our own family expenses went up and I just couldn't do it but we do support our kids school and donate as and when we can afford too to various causes like the local foodbank,
We also send stuff to charity shops and buy things from them too

Mainly just donate at Christmas, but will donate to food bank when passing

Utter nonsense.

Trussell Trust food banks give out food parcels to people who present with vouchers. They typically give them a cup of tea and snack while they’re waiting, signpost to other services and have a chat.

They do not evangelise.

They are typically hosted by churches - of all flavours - and many of the volunteers are Christians - but also many are not.

Absolutely.

In my voluntary capacity, I refer some of our service users to food banks, usually Trussell Trust ones. I can categorically state that there is no evangelising whatsoever, nor anything expected from their beneficiaries in return.

I'm atheist and would be the first to complain if there was.

Yes, many TT food banks are attached to churches, but that's because churches general have halls that are available, usually at no cost, and they want to help. Good luck finding any other community places that are happy to accommodate a food bank several times a week.

When I'm looking for food banks and there isn't a TT one near our service user, the alternatives are also often at churches. And it's because church congregations feel a commitment to help others. Whether or not you respect their faith, it's a fact that most charitable organisations have their foundation in religious groups, as ours does. We're not a religious group at all, but our founders a couple of decades ago were a bishop and a local vicar, and our original volunteers found mainly from local churches. If you look back at the origin of many well known charitable organisations you'll find the same, even though they're secular now.

Though I'm atheist, I have great respect for the Trussells in building such a massive and vital organisation. Their religion is of no importance to me, but their service is.

Dh chooses a charity every month and gives them £100. I give money directly to homeless people, I try to give at least £5 a week - often forget to bring cash out with me.

Well said @PuzzledObserver and @saraclara