Gifts from Catholic Organizations

[kayla_veronica]

Lately I’ve been receiving gifts (a personalized rosary and case, a wooden Sacred Heart Cross, a Guardian Angel Medal, personalized Holy card) from Catholic orgs I’ve never heard of. The letter asks for financial help and then usually says something like “Keep this gift as a reminder of your generosity/charity.” I can’t help but feeling guilt in getting these as I cannot afford to send them anything. I don’t even know how they got my info. What would you do? I thought about giving them away but two of them are personalized and I don’t know any one else with my name. I wouldn’t feel as bad if it were one or two but I’ve gotten four in the last month.

[Mithrandylan]

Aside from donating to them later (which, I might add, should only be done after thoroughly researching them) why not pray extra for the groups?  You could even see what programs they support and say extra prayers with the intention that their goals are met and that they can help people in accordance to His will.

[joe17]

Kayla,
   If you do not have a use for them, then donate them to someone that could use them.  Do not feel obligated to send something if you do not want to.  You did not ask for these things.  They use this as a way to solicit donations, true enough, but you are not obliged.  If you do give to an organisation, I would check them out first, even if they have the word Catholic on their letterhead, even if it is from an order.
  As for them getting your name/address, well, many of these places share their info.  They probably got it from a place that you have dealt with before, or perhaps bought a list that had your name on it.
   Years ago, when a "conservative" journal that was started to promote the "reform of the reform", with a few of the big names in the NO Catholic celebrity world behind it, asking for proper translations and reverent celebrations of the NO, I signed up at the commencement of their publishing.
  Lo and behold, after a little while, I got two publications of this newspaper, obviously the second one being a mistake.  The second one added a dijgit to my address, so, instead of 45 Main St the address was 456 Main St.  A little while after this, I start getting mail from another NO organisation with the 456 Main st address, the wrong one.  I never had anything to do with this other organisation.
  A little long, but just wanted to show that some of these groups do whatever to get a donation.  
  When I get some things like what you say,  I occasionally write a note back saying no thanks, especially when it is pushing some NO nonsense.  Regardless, saying a prayer for the people/organisation is a charitable thing that can be done at no cost.
  Just my thoughts.

  Joe
  

[jovan66102]

Aside from donating to them later (which, I might add, should only be done after thoroughly researching them) why not pray extra for the groups?  You could even see what programs they support and say extra prayers with the intention that their goals are met and that they can help people in accordance to His will.

Excellent advice and basically what I do.

[Su]

Lately I’ve been receiving gifts (a personalized rosary and case, a wooden Sacred Heart Cross, a Guardian Angel Medal, personalized Holy card) from Catholic orgs I’ve never heard of. The letter asks for financial help and then usually says something like “Keep this gift as a reminder of your generosity/charity.”

That is sneaky behaviour.

I can’t help but feeling guilt in getting these as I cannot afford to send them anything.

Any time a person is willing to give in order to get, there is no reason to assume they are in need. Don't feel guilt.

Whatever you receive for free is not materially worth anything and only valuable as a sacramental if blessed.

I don’t even know how they got my info.

One organisation must have obtained it and spread it around.

What would you do?

I'd put the stuff in my "stuff to give away/donate" box and chuck the letter. If it persists, I may contact them to tell them to cease sending me stuff.

I thought about giving them away but two of them are personalized and I don’t know any one else with my name. I wouldn’t feel as bad if it were one or two but I’ve gotten four in the last month.

You are exactly the sort of person they are targeting. They hit every spot...you feel guilty for not sending things, you feel attached to what they sent you, etc.

If you do not want to keep it, dismantle it and discard it.

If you do not want to throw them out, and if rosaries have your name on them, you can send them to me and I'd remove that piece and put in a replacement and donate the rosary to people in need. Or you could remove it and send me the remainder and I'd make a full rosary out of the pieces.

[Su]

Aside from donating to them later (which, I might add, should only be done after thoroughly researching them)

I find it better, when one has financial limits, to give to those in need directly. Giving to an organisation may not be that cost effective, especially those with significant mailings.

In particular, one's parish is almost always the best bet.

[Fontevrault]

I agree.  I have a problem with organizations who spend a lot of money on flashy full color mailings and gifts.  I am more likely to respond to a simple letter printed in black and white.  I don't want my donation going into more malings; I am trying to help someone.

I generally take those gifts sent to me and pass them on to others.

[kayla_veronica]

Thanks for the responses, guys, I appreciate the advice!

[jovan66102]

In particular, one's parish is almost always the best bet.

Depends a lot on one's parish. I've belonged to parishes that I wouldn't donate a penny to. The precept is to contribute to the support of our pastors, not to our local parish. In those cases I've sent the money directly to Rome.

[Su]

In particular, one's parish is almost always the best bet.

Depends a lot on one's parish. I've belonged to parishes that I wouldn't donate a penny to. The precept is to contribute to the support of our pastors, not to our local parish. In those cases I've sent the money directly to Rome.

When I was posting that, I considered this, but I was thinking of the ideal. In an ideal world, the parish is the best bet to be the user and distributor of donations.