Column: Generosity doesn't have to break the bank

Kiwis are a generous lot, famous for pulling together when times are tough.
Since the days of Telethon, we have been thanking each other very much for our kind donations and getting behind good causes with our wallets, time and energy.
The post-quake situation in Christchurch is no exception and people around the country, including Rotorua, are doing what they can to help.
More than ever before, we are bombarded by worthy causes we would love to support, but the discretionary spending pool is a little shallow right now and some areas are experiencing near-drought conditions.
Just as people are having to prioritise household spending to make ends meet, we are also having to pick and choose which organisations will receive whatever we can afford to give.
Volunteers who organise fundraising activities or collections deserve a pat on the back, but they also need to recognise you cannot drink from an empty cup.
Workmates are favoured targets for raffle tickets, charity quiz teams and casual-dress days and most people help out  when they can.
Donations are, by definition, voluntary and staff and employers should not be cajoled into giving or told how much they need to contribute.
The phrase "it's for a good cause" is often used and is generally true. But we all have a limit on what we can give and making your workmates feel bad about having to say no is not good for staff morale. Workplace fundraising needs to offer people the chance to contribute what they can, without making them choose between a public admission of poverty or giving away more money than they can afford.
Such pressure is undoubtedly unintentional, but that does not make it any less real for workmates on the receiving end. Organisers are often so involved in their cause, and believe in it so fervently, they do not appreciate the awkward position they are putting other people in. It may only be $2 or $3 a pop, but this quickly adds up.
In our article on page 9, Merepeka Raukawa-Tait suggests offering time and energy instead of money or spreading Christchurch fundraising out across the year so people can contribute as and when they can - recovery and rebuilding needs are not going to disappear overnight.
Businesses should also form a policy around individuals fundraising within the company to ensure people can contribute if they want to, but do not feel pressured if they cannot.
Julie Taylor is the business editor at The Daily Post