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I don't usually talk about my charitable giving, mostly because I'm embarrassed I don't do enough of it, but also because I remain Catholic enough to retain the idea that you shouldn't be blowing your trumpet about giving - even though, of course, it normalises the practice. 1/?
However! While these are weird and shitty times for all of us, they are immeasurably shittier for those with less. During the last recession, I ended up training for English teaching, a job that is pandemic-proof. 2/?
I don't claim any particular foresight for this, because I'm lucky enough to have a vocation for teaching. But nevertheless, it puts me in a position where I'm not rich, but I'm definitely financially stable, and I'm incredibly grateful for it. 3/?
So, I have income, and I know how much, coming in every two weeks, and I know roughly how much I spend on petrol and dining out and out-of-my-house entertainment, and I'm now spending that money by giving it to organisations who really need it. 4/?
Journalism: I was already supporting E-Tangata, The Spinoff, and Chloe Ann-King's Patreon, and I'm planning to give more come next pay day. (Ann-King, in particular, has always fought incredibly hard for hospitality workers, who are reeling).
Christchurch City Mission: They're looking after people who are hungry and inadequately housed, which is a huge problem - how do you stay home when there's no home? https://citymission.org.nz
Student Volunteer Army are matching high-risk people, particularly elderly people, with healthy, younger people to get their groceries. https://sva.org.nz/
Women's Refuge: Even in a pandemic, the safest thing for many women to do is walk out the door, away from a violent partner. Safe houses are full, and they're using motels - you can imagine that the cost rises sharply with social distancing https://womensrefuge.org.nz/
Qtopia is supporting LGBTQ+ youth in Canterbury, who are far less likely to have stable homes where they feel safe. https://www.qtopia.org.nz/donate/
Finally - I know that in ordinary times, it's far better to have a scheduled, regular payment to charitable organisations, so that they can plan and budget, based on that money. But these aren't ordinary times, and I feel that a lot of budgets are stretching.
Honestly, I'm not even stretching my budget to help. I'm giving money I would normally spend elsewhere, and won't, knowing that I'm incredibly unlikely to lose my income. I'm so lucky. If you're also lucky, maybe you can help too.
