Why I Do Not Give To Most Charities

No, that's not something I want to do.

Why I Don’t Give to Most Charities

 

By Elton Camp

 

Solicitations to make donations I usually decline

It may be your favorite charity, but it isn’t mine

 

And when the request for money comes by phone

Whether or not it is legitimate cannot be known

 

And for the solicitor standing outside of Wal-Mart

I come there to save, so with my money won’t part

 

To the universities where I earned degrees before

I used to contribute, but decided to do it no more

 

Because every year they insist my gift should increase

Their letters and late evening phone calls never cease

 

What about my being retired do they fail to understand

I live comfortably, but no longer have extra in my hand

 

Many causes are just as worthy as they possibly can be

But if I give, they then must sell my name to two or three

 

Dare to give a charity a donation and it sets them aflame

It’s as if, to my money, they now think they have a claim

 

Charitable giving is, from now on, going to be my call alone

To those who ask, it is “No” whether by mail or on the phone