According to some, New Hampshire residents are stingy when it comes to charity. I say Bologna!
First, there is the fact that we have no sales or income tax. That, alone, means a lot of us can't itemize and have to use the standard exemption instead.
Second, a lot of us don't keep track of our charitable donations. I don't write down, for future reference, our gifts to the Red Cross (and the extra for hurricane relief), to the Salvation Army, to the local firestation (which is volunteer and is always in need of personal safety equipment), to the Audubon Society, to the VFW, etc etc.
Third, I certainly don't keep track of clothes and other items that I give to charities.
Fourth, I don't keep track of other charitable spending, like bying pre-made bags of food at the local grocery store, which goes to area food pantries. Or the grocery store gift certificates that I got from work for Thanksgiving, which I donated to food pantry.
Fifth, I don't keep track of the time, or gas, or personal spending in helping others out. We certainly didn't keep track of our spending when WS was on the fire department, nor when we helped out our neighbvor after his house fire. When NH had the flooding earlier this year, the Red Cross set up shelters. They went unused because family, friends, and strangers opened up their homes to families needing shelter, clothing and food. Whole houses were washed awya, but the people were not left wanting. Then, volunteers helped clean up debris and rebuild roads - donating equipment, time, gas and food to the cause.
Sixth, the study only presents spending, someone has to DO. New Hampshire has one of the highest volunteer rates in the nation.
Oh yeah, and
This annual report is not intended "to make anybody feel good or feel bad."
Is plain crap - there is no other reason to present the "study" if that were the case.
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