A quiet week for charity mailshots last week as i had only 4.
Breadline Africa
This charity works in South Africa to train & educate children & young people. Justb a standrad letter describing what they do and asking for money. It is a charity i support – although not rgeularly nor exclusively – so i will keep the (non-freepost) envelope for future use. Enclosed was a small flat stone bead to illustrate what one of their trainees does ie to make beads and jewellery. I will sew the bead onto an old denim jacket i wear, so a nice ‘gift’ to receive.
World Emergency Relief
Read this more carefully than i normally would because of becoming a blogger. The charity’s aim is to feed hungry children and one could not argue with that goal. However, i give to several such charities so will not be adding yet another, And to be honest i was put off by the religious overtones and that the letter was signed by a ‘Reverend’. I am not always put off if a charity was set up by a religious grouping/denomination but i do have issues with the church in Africa and it’s attitudes to homosexuality and condom use. So the envelope was recycled with the letter.
Cats Protection League
A UK-based charity the purpose of which is encompassed by it’s name. As a cat-lover i have long sent the occasional donation to this charity but am erconsidering that now. Cats are not an endangered species and there are an awful lot of them out there, decimating urban, suburban and country wildlife (birds & small mammals). And breeding. And we – ie western cat-owners – are feeding them on meat and fish products, the production of which may be a drain on the world’s resources better used in other ways. While i would not see a cat badly treated, and hate to hear of mistreated cats (or indeed other pets), maybe the best way to prevent that would be to give money to charities working with underprivileged children & young people in this country.
On top of which, i had 2 mailshots from this charity last week. If the CPL cannot organise it’s mailing department so as not to waste resources mailing one person twice then it makes me wonder if they are organised well enough to make optimum use of any money donated by myself and others?
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Note that all mailshots were in envelopes with cellophane windows. As it is my understanding that this substance cannot be recycled it is very irritating that it is used at all, and doubly maddening as i have to spend time tearing out said window before i am able to recycle the paper component.