Why Charity is So Important

As people grow older, the importance of being kind, neighborly and considerate of others in society becomes all the more apparent, especially as people settle down and have children of their own. Everywhere we go, we are exposed to not just the good that surrounds us, the but negatives too; as new life is brought into the world, another family loses someone close to them; as one family buy a home, another is found homeless. More often than not, the best way to combat the negatives in life is to do all that you can to help counteract them with your own positive contributions.

Giving to charity is so much more than just donating clothes to the local thrift shop, however. Charity is a selfless extension of love, compassion and kindness that can do infinite good for all involved – including the person who is giving. While charitable giving first and foremost can help improve and save lives around the world, it also helps the person who is giving their charity feel good, too.

Why do we give to charity?

In today’s digital age, it can be difficult to escape the harsh realities that many people around the world face on a daily basis.

Giving to a charity is proven to make you feel happy, knowing that you have contributed to those in need, whether directly or indirectly. Moreover, this feel-good factor is not short-lived; the knowledge that we have shared our own money, possessions, and even time with those who are less fortunate than ourselves is something that we can do time and time again. It is also a learning experience – the good deeds we fulfil now are setting the bar for the next generation; positive examples of charity giving is a great way of instilling good morals and generosity for many years to come.

How can we give to charity?

For many, giving to charity means dropping off unwanted clothes, shoes, toys and household items to a used-goods store. But there are so many other ways we can give to charity:

• Donate your time – volunteer at a local retirement home to visit and spend time with the residents there; many don’t have close family or friends and life can get pretty lonely when you don’t have visitors

• Donate your time – volunteer at a local second-hand store to organise and sell donations that have been dropped off or at a local soup kitchen

• Find a charity to fund raise for – there may be a charity that is close to your heart looking for willing people to take part in challenges that you can raise vital funds for all while raising awareness for the cause

• Fundraising – encourage children to get involved in charity by throwing a bake sale at school or holding a raffle

While for many, charity is a great way of giving back to those in need, for many others around the world it is a way of life. Giving to charity is a huge part of Islam, for example, and Muslims are obligated to donate a percentage of their wealth (known as zakat) to those in need. A zakat calculator is used to determine exactly how much they have to donate every year. 

There are many other people that are dedicated to charity work, fundraising and doing what they can to help improve not just the local community but those around the world, too. From international humanitarian aid, through to regular donations to a local charity, every little helps.

Giving to charity is important because there are always going to be those who are less fortunate who could do with a helping hand; whether this is through one-off or regular monetary donations, food banks, those in poverty or suffering from abhorrent conflict in their home country, helping those in need can help alleviate their pain and suffering. After all, a little kindness goes a long way.