Can You Spare A Dime, Brother?
Can we teach our dollars more cents?
Giving the tenth part of a dollar is "small change" especially when compared with the biblical tithe!
Sparing a dime, could you do it?
What if every American "spared a dime"?
Let's see....that would come to roughly $31.4 million dollars!
What good could we do with such a sum as that?
Well we already know the answer, because it has been done before!
A young cancer patient in Boston, Massachusetts, we will call him "Jimmy" was the inspiration for "The Jimmy Fund." Perhaps he didn't know the power of a dime when given generously by enough people. He just wanted a TV in his hospital room, so he could watch his favorite baseball team. When his interview was aired nationally, $200,000 poured in! Some TV set that would buy!
Now that "Jimmy Fund" has evolved to where the incoming donations fund research into possible cures for various forms of childhood cancers.
Did you know the story of "The March of Dimes"? It is widely credited with funding the finding of a cure for infantile paralysis, polio, the same disease which robbed President Franklin Delano Roosevelt of the use of his legs. The result was the Salk Vaccine, the "polio shot" which now protects against the disease.
"The Jimmy Fund" and "The March of Dimes' have continued by somewhat different titles to fund crucial research into cancer and preventing infant mortality. Children were the original fundraisers. They could "spare a dime" and make a difference, and even set an example and mobilize public opinion, and generosity.
Locally I am familiar with two similar fundraisers. "Pennies By The Inch" which raises significant funds each year for the children's hospital in Salt Lake City, and "Quarters For Christmas" which each year in December raises enough money to buy thousands of pairs of shoes for needy children so they can have quality footwear during the winter months."Toys For Tots" is another significant fundraiser so that our neediest American children may have a good toy or game at Christmas time.
And The Salvation Army has its annual fundraiser at that same time of the year. Their volunteers, many of whom have been helped by The Salvation Army, can be seen (and heard!) ringing bells outside stores and public facilities, standing beside the traditional red pot with its slot for our donations which fund their shelters and meals for some of the poorest of America's poor.
Can you spare a dime, brother?
Your dime, or dollars, might just cure the next dread disease, feed a hungry person a good, hot meal, put shoes on a child's bare feet, provide for hospital care for a child and a stay for their parents at a Ronald McDonald House so they can be near their sick child.
$31.4 million dollars? That's a lot of "small change" for such big changes.
_______
Copyright 2012 Demas W. Jasper All rights reserved.
Charity starts at home, but it can circle the globe, too!
- Goodwill Industries, Salvation Army, Deseret Industries: It's The Season To Donate!
The admonition to part of our substance to those with needs is especially in keeping with the holiday spirit. Read on as to what can make your holidays a little warmer for you and someone you may never meet in this life.
A cancer-stricken boy wanting a TV, to watch his favorite team, started it all.
- The Jimmy Fund - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Check out this history of "The Jimmy Fund" and the good it has done.
And children set the example for the rest of us:
- March of Dimes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
What can some children's dimes do? Well just for starters they cured polio. Here's the story of "The March of Dimes."
Comments
- Author
Hopefully the charities are cleaning up their act (not just "cleaning up!") and scandals such as United Way's are resolved in favor of those who have a need for our charity. There are private "churches" which are in need of some repentance, too, where good shepherds are sorely needed to emulate the teachings they claim to observe. Happy Holidays, everyone!
This is an 'Awesome' hub, voting you up-awesome.
I also know what Old Poolman is talking about and by the time people like the CEO of United Way TAKE WHAT THEY WANT, it is probably a dime or less that goes to the people it was meant for.
Just one reminder in case y'all didn't see it. There are compamies for major disasters like the Hurricane Sandy that allow you to make a $10.00 donation via your cell phone and these are quick, easy, and legitimate. However, it was brought out on TV that this money takes several months to filter through all the red tape to the people in need. The story I saw said that a lot of times this money came too late to be of help during the critical period. They advised that you write a check and send it to the agencies dealing with the disaster like Red Cross, Salvation Army or FEMA for immediate action.
What a beautiful reminder of how easy it is to do something good in this world. I think of how many people I know through their spare change in a jar at the end of the day and then are too lazy or trifling to cash it in. So, it sits, collecting dust. I just might start a movement among my friends to do something good with that jar. This was awesome and I thank you for writing it. Voted up, awesome, and sharing it too.
That would be a good idea, if that was offered as an option through HP. eBay allows you to donate to charity through your sales so its definitely technically possible.
I always make sure I thank Salvation Army collectors and shake their hands when I put money in their tins. I don't think that many do, as they often look a little surprised.
Great idea. I would donate all my Hub Pages earnings to the Salvation Army if I could figure out how to do it. We aren't talking a huge amount of money, but every dime helps.
That's a great idea. If we can give a small portion of our earnings to a charity by clicking a button it would be great.
- Author
Just imagine what good could be done, if everyone on HubPages gave a dime to a worthwhile charity! Maybe we could just all resolve to put some loose change in a Salvation Army pot this Christmas?
I remember taking my dime to school to put it in with the other children's dimes for the original March of Dimes. Sometimes someone would come around to our house collecting, and mom would donate a dime or two from her dime bank (remember those little tube banks that held $5.00 worth of dimes?). Now I try to keep a little extra change or small bills in my purse to put into Salvation Army kettles.
I think people are learning that charity begins at home and the big foundations are out for themselves. Good hub, Pers. I voted you up++.
The Salvation Army people are absolutely wonderful. I always make a donation the them every year.
Hi what a brilliant hub! I am a huge fan of the Salvation Army. I always give generously to their campaigns to help the very needy here in the UK.
Wonderful spirit here, voted up,
Jan
Enough ripples can add up to be a tidal wave..i believe in sharing and caring..
much enjoyed...
The world has a lot to offer. Only if more people are willing to share.
aviannovice - Your right, one of my daughters works for Olive Garden and was a recipient of help from Darden Dimes. This is a classic example how people can help one another for little out of their own pockets.
- Author
I hope this one is saleable, but anyone who wants to share it can help get the word out at this season of the year when folks tend to be in a charitable mood. Thanks everyone for your comments and support.
A beautiful and much needed work. The Olive Garden does Darden Dimes, which is a dime a week taken out of your check for employees in need, up to $600. I know it isn't much, but it sure is a lot better than nothing.
During my working career, we were shamed into having a donation to United Way deducted from our paychecks. I had no problem with this, in fact I felt good about it. Then I saw a published report listing the salaries of high level administrators of United Way. Some of these people were paid more than the President of the United States. My good feelings regarding my monthly donation faded away. A huge amount of these donations were being siphoned off before the money was distributed to worthy causes.
I still donate to worthy causes, but keep it on a more local level where my contribution actually does some good. They not only use the majority of the contributions received for the cause they stated, but very few of the organizers take even a penny for themselves. It is truly amazing what can be accomplished when locals get together and organize fund raising for worthwhile causes.
enjoyed reading this informative hub. Amazing how those dimes and pennies can grow and do great things!
The local "Guild School" in Spokane Washington does charity Physical/Occupational/Educational therapy for children with muscular and developmental disorders. They do a Penny Drive twice a year and thta is the majority of their funding for the work they do. Interesting and Useful hub.
If we each do one small thing it ads up to big things!
Mark
A few years ago a guy in a Rotary Club in the Midwest figured it would cost a few cents to immunize a child against Polio. As of now, Rotary has almost eliminated the disease.
21