Charity - it's part of our everyday life

For some people, giving is a matter of policy. It's on our minds now because Christmas is a traditional time for generosity, not only to family members but to people in need.
Christmas is also a time when New Zealand life heats up to fever pitch. So it shouldn't be surprising that research shows people's giving steps up a bit now, while their volunteer hours trend slightly down.
Research shows that 28 per cent of adults did some voluntary work in the last quarter of 2009, compared to 30 per cent for the first quarter of this year. The typical number of volunteer hours given each month rose from eight in the pre-Christmas period to 10 in the new year.
In the last three months of 2009, 41 per cent of adults gave money away, with the typical amount $40 for each month. In the first three months this year, 40 per cent of people gave money, with a typical give of $35 a month - a 12 per cent decrease on the pre-Christmas figure.
Most of us put our hands in our pockets and give without thinking too much about it. For other people it's a core part of their lives, and the subject of much thought.
One of those people is Philanthropy New Zealand chief executive Robyn Scott.
She said her family liked to give to effective organisations, and to organisations working in areas with which they had a personal connection. Generally, their giving was toward people and justice.
They sponsor a child overseas, and give to the City Mission, Downtown Community Ministry and Refugees as Survivors.
She makes regular donations directly from her pay, with the advantage that tax is deducted immediately.
They don't give a set percentage of their income, but she said others did. One United States organisation aims to get wealthy people to donate 25 per cent - the average US citizen gives about 1 per cent.
Mrs Scott also gives on impulse.
She tended to favour New Zealand causes. New Zealand dollars went further in Third World countries, she said, but the money could also go astray through corruption.
She has vowed never to donate money over the phone again, because as much as 80 per cent goes to telemarketing companies.
She'll give to street appeals and donates groceries to the local food bank.
She said text giving was becoming part of New Zealand culture. In one example an injured sportsman benefited from $74,000 - raised by 24,000 people each making $3 text donations.
The leader of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, Peter Cheyne, said he and his wife put aside 10 per cent of their income to give away. Most of it went to Christian organisations and welfare agencies. They tended to favour New Zealand causes, but also gave to World Vision and the TearFund.
He will sometimes donate money over the phone, but doesn't like being rung up.
He has a cellphone and uses it for texting, but has never texted a donation.
He will give to street appeals, depending on what they are.
"We kind of like to target our giving and prioritise some things over others."
They don't put grocery items in the food bank bin when they go shopping, but do the equivalent by giving away food parcels through the church.
The Rt Rev Cheyne said giving was a crucial part of Christmas and ought to reflect God's generosity.
"We ought to be very open-handed with what we've got.
"There's plenty of need around.
"We want to be wise about what we give, but we certainly want to give."
Lani Evans, 30, has a passion for young people and a passion for giving.
She works at Volunteer Otago and donates regularly to the youth organisation Regeneration and to her workplace through her payroll.
She's also part of two "giving circles", one international and one national.
"It's a group of people who get together.
"Everyone brings along some money and an idea of something they would like to change in the world."
The group talks about the various ideas, chooses which is most important and donates to the organisation or individual that embodies it.
Ms Evans volunteers her time as a trustee for two youth organisations, and chairs two others. She's part of a community garden and New Zealand's Generosity Hub, which strategises ways to make Kiwis more generous.
She likes the idea of giving 10 per cent of her income away.
"I can still live on the rest."
She sometimes gives money to overseas causes, but prefers to work locally.
"I like being able to see the impact of that I gave right here, right now.
"There are 190 nonprofit organisations in our local area and you can see the gaps."
She does text donations, gives to street appeals and does "random acts of kindness", but doesn't like being rung and asked to donate to causes.
"I feel like I'm really proactive about it. I can go out there and find things."