Do you think it's appropriate?

Question

for a church to send people out onto a busy intersection with buckets to collect money for needy families?

Would you give money to them? Or would you tithe through your own church or make a personal donation yourself to your ocal welcome house?

I saw this the other day, and a very "homey" looking woman came up to my car and knocked on my window to ask for money, showing me her labeled bucket.

My church doesn't do this type of thing, and I've never heard of one that does. Usually we collect and give as a church through fundraisers or personal donations.

Answer 1

Yes, I've seen this, although not connected with a church per se.

Where I live, groups of teens stand on tiny medians on busy streets collecting for cheer-leading squads & choir groups.
(I'm talking about major intersections, near the Interstate!)
Everytime I see this I get sooo pissed off!
Whoever leads these groups should be shot! It's horrible to put children in such a dangerous place to collect funds. Often there's only one adult and they are seperated from the kids by 3 or 4 lanes of traffic.

I never give to them. If they were standing outside the supermarket, yes. I refuse to give them anything when they stand in the road because it will encourage them to do it more.

Answer 2

in some parts of the country this is pretty standard for all groups not just churches. Twice a year here the fire dept. stands out there and collects in their boots, policeman in their hats, etc...
Some churches have small congregations and this is the easiest most profitable way to collect. I say if the money is going to a worthy cause then they should do what they have to. Now if it was going to give the minister a raise then no. But to feed families, why not.

Answer 3

If it was a church they are very misguided, I mean how do you know it is a church and not someone working a con?
I would not donate money to some one asking on a corner, unless they had a red bucket with a bell and it is the holiday season.

Answer 4

I see things like this a lot, mostly in the poorer section of town where families have buckets collecting money for a funeral when a loved one had passed.
I used to give, but once a guy asked for money for his young dead sons' funeral then he showed me a picture of him and his son and it was at least 20 years old judging the style of thier clothes and hair.
How low can you go....

Answer 5

Anyone can print a label off and stick it to a bucket. If I'm giving donations, I'll do it through a reliable source.

Answer 6

I would be leary. I give to my church tithes and offerings. The offering I give go to help families in need. No I dont think that is appropiate.

Answer 7

I donate directly to the organization. I don't trust random people with buckets that happen to say the name of some church.

I find that tactic to be pretty unsafe and overly intrusive.

Answer 8

I do not feel it is appropriate. When other groups do that in my area, they make announcements for a week or so in the paper, on the TV, and over the radio stations stating who will be doing it (ie the firefighters raising money for, etc) and what hours they will be there...otherwise how is fraud controlled....

Answer 9

i always put into the poor box(the charity box in shops) to help the st vincent de paul or the peru missions or the guide dogs.

If the church is collecting you know the money is going to be used rightly.

Answer 10

Hey, that's a good idea to make some money. All you need is a couple of friends and some buckets!