When is donating other than money to a charity worthless? When would it be considered less than Godly? Shouldn’t we always donate the best?
Donating goods to a charity is an alternative to giving money. The charity can then sell the donated item and use the cash within their ministry. For example, you can donate a piece of furniture you no longer want or your car that you choose not to sell. Donating goods is also tax deductible, which is why so many of us do it.
But for all charities, the goods should be in good condition, gently used as they like to say in the trade. Yet, one of the fullest dumpsters in town is the one associated with the Task Force, Castle Rock’s local thrift store and food bank. This is because what is being donated is not worthy of being sold.
Most of you probably receive the monthly phone call from groups like ARC or the Vietnam Veterans Association stating they are going to have a truck in your area to pick up any items you want to donate. Now, if you have ever taken them up on their offer, you may have discovered that they won’t always take what you are willing to give up. That’s because they only want items they can sell and if the item is in poor condition, they won’t take it. At times, this is aggravating because now we have to arrange to have it hauled away by our garbage company, but isn’t this the way it should have been in the first place.
And many churches have had to create policies for doing the same thing as these charities. Ministry leaders have been turning away items that people are willing to donate because the item is junk. Prior to these policies, donations like this moved the burden of disposing of the item from the donor (and I use this term loosely) onto the church.
The passage in Malachi really speaks to what is happening at too many charities and churches in our towns, states and country. Too many of us are stretching the notion of what is gently used just so that we can claim a tax deduction for what is truly our garbage. And yes, this is a harsh statement but it is true and I have to admit I have done this in the past.
Yet, as you mature as a Christian, you have to put off the old self and seek to improve your actions. You have to stop doing things that aren’t becoming of your new self. You should not lie to yourself by saying “someone can still use this” and admit that the item has exhausted its useful life and needs to be dumped. And I won’t mention how wrong donating something that is really garbage just so that you can claim a deduction on your taxes – okay I just did; it’s wrong and shouldn’t be done.
Bottom line: If you wouldn’t want to give it your best friend or your mother, then it probably belongs in the trash.
Now for the truly gently used items that are worth donating to a charity, you can in good conscience know that you are doing a good thing. The organization will put it to good use for the ministry that they are engaged in. After all, this is why you have chosen to donate to them; you want to support their efforts.
When you donate a non-cash item, you will want to receive a receipt for your donation. The charity will typically describe what is being donated (if the item is difficult or complex to describe, you will want to have this description prepared for them) but they won’t place a value on the item; this is for you to do, which is based upon what you know the fair market value of the item is – but be careful as this too is a slippery slope.
Lastly, I encourage you to shop in the thrift stores in your area. The items you purchase are not only at bargain prices but the cash you spend helps the charity perform its mission and pay its bills. For example, the Task Force uses cash from its thrift store to buy perishable foods that it supplies are part of its food bank.
So, the next time you want to buy a book for your next vacation or some clothes you want to use for painting the house, think about your local thrift store – you are not only being frugal but you are supporting a good charity!
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