Opinion: Charity begins at home

Volunteer Chris Olsen is a storeperson for the Tauranga Community Foodbank. Photo/ George Novak

I'm dodging blizzards in Northeast Ohio. Driving circles around my hometown, doing many of the things I did when I was the same ages as my children (10 and 12): visiting family; attending the Cleveland Orchestra's Christmas concert; cutting and decorating a live tree. Shopping too much. Eating too much.

America awakens my inner glutton.

Inspired by an article in this month's Money magazine, I decided to involve my kids in a financial transaction outside the mall. The charitable kind.

I'm no philanthropist. Nearly all my regular spending is compulsory - to the bank that owns our home; IRD; to either of New Zealand's two supermarket corporations; to utility and internet service providers; plus the children's extracurricular pursuits and requisite gear. Wouldn't it be nice to pause and spend with conviction, instead of coercion?

Money magazine quotes Raising Charitable Children author Carol Weisman, who said, "We often give silently by mailing a cheque or clicking a button online, so children don't know our values and the causes we are supporting."

I pulled the 12-year-old aside after dinner to ask which causes our family should support.

Without hesitation, she said, "SPCA, because then there's more things for the animals, like toys and food."

I half-jokingly inquired if it would be okay for me to replace one of her presents with a gift to the animals.

"Yeah, that's okay." Miss 12 is not nearly as materialistic as her brother. She also favours the food bank, Hospice and a cancer charity (she failed to specify which one).

Master 11 is less than helpful when I ask to whom we could give. "American Indians, because they have no houses and live in tents."

I tell him that's not true; they mostly live in homes instead of teepees, longhouses and pueblos. Apparently, he conflated modern-day Native Americans with 19th century Indians depicted on TV. He then mentions "unwell doggies" before running upstairs to shoot pool with the rest of the family.

For less than the cost of the fitness tracker my daughter wants, or the outrageously-priced name-brand football boots my son thinks he needs, our family can still help make someone's Christmas or New Year a little heartier and happier.

I'm left to read experts' tips for raising charitable children, including: matching your kids' pocket money with donations (say, for every dollar or 20-cent piece children give, you kick in a dollar of your own); and finding volunteer opportunities the whole family can do together.

The extent of my Christmas contribution is normally a modest, last-minute electronic funds transfer to the Tauranga Community Foodbank. Tuesday, we reported the Bay of Plenty Times Christmas Appeal has so far raised $84,499 for the food bank in donations of food and cash. Last year's appeal raised $120,451.53.

For less than the cost of the fitness tracker my daughter wants, or the outrageously-priced name-brand football boots my son thinks he needs, our family can still help make someone's Christmas or New Year a little heartier and happier.

I'd like to think I could make the holidays safer, too, by donating to the Tauranga Women's Refuge.

Manager Angela Warren-Clark told the Bay of Plenty Times one in three women will suffer abuse in her lifetime. International organisation White Ribbon reports fewer than 20 per cent of those cases are reported. I remember family and friends affected by violence and ponder how my gift might be used. The refuge's website lists needed items, like disposable nappies. I could spring for a box or two by donating via bank transfer.

While individual and organisational appeals seem endless, I resist the urge to diversify our small family charity budget. Money magazine suggests playing favourites - selecting a few causes, rather than spreading contributions thin. This minimises administration costs.

They also recommend giving directly rather than through a third party: even crowdfunding site Givealittle started charging a flat 5 per cent fee on donations, as of September.

So while we could give from A to W - from Age Concern, to New Zealand's first medical cannabis charity (MCANZ), to the World Wildlife Foundation (I couldn't find a charity starting with 'Z'), for now we'll stick with two or three local groups.

One place to check whether an organisation is registered is Charities Services, part of the government's Department of Internal Affairs. Or My Droplet, which researches how charities stack up against a set of criteria.

Overall, Kiwis are a generous bunch, according to the Charities Aid Foundation World Giving Index. The 2015 report shows New Zealand fourth on the list for donating time, money or help to strangers (Myanmar was first, followed by the US and Australia).

Back in America, I'm staring at the newly-decorated Christmas tree in my dad's lounge when Miss 12 returns to whinge - her little brother is spoiling the game of pool. "He always ruins everything!"

I ask, "Can you ignore him?" They say charity begins at home.