Giving Tuesday

www.bible.com/1713/mat.6.3.csb

So let the Non-profits get on the bandwagon by making the next day on the holiday calendar their own day. We’ve had Black Friday and Cyber Monday. I hear a distant chorus of “me too”‘s with Giving Tuesday. Hey you’re already in the spending mood. Why not send some money our way too and feel good about it. I’m surprised this same attitude hasn’t taken April 16th, the day after taxes are due, or the day after Mother’s Day.

Oh I suppose there will be statistics that will say Giving Tuesday will have another great year this year. People, used to spending money on themselves and their loved ones will be charitable and feel like giving to strangers too. It’s the holiday spirit after all. Everyone feels good by giving, right?

Recently my son was caught in a giving scam. He was “hired” by someone to buy gift cards for a foster family with a check of over $2000. Sounds good, right? The giver of the check insisted that those cards be bought and the numbers on the cards be given to this needy foster family as soon as possible. The check was from four states away. What could go wrong? Actually the check did. We found out it was a bad check after the dust settled. Now my son is out $2000. It comes down to certain bank rules that allow you to float a check for a certain number of days and invent money while the check is being processed. It’s a scam and a devious one, because most importantly it played on the idea of being generous to a needy family. My son wants to do good, and this was such an opportunity. Now he has another $2000 to pay back.

Let me earn you that not all causes are good. Some are out there simply to take your money. If you are not careful, many are set up today to take your good name as well. If you are not certain what makes a good donation, may I recommend your local church? Some even allow you to give online. Just be careful who you give to.

God bless you today.