To donate Lakeland and a number of other cities in Florida and around the country have many registered charities. Globally, there are millions others. This means there is no reason for anyone to wait before giving. The tendency has been to wait for a disaster to be highlighted by the media, and then contribute to it. There are many effective charities operating with little media spotlight.

Giving, whatever the method, holds a number of benefits for both individuals and corporations. For organizations, it is an opportunity to enhance their corporate image. Firms that give to charity, or engage in charitable activities, are more likely to be seen in a positive light by the public. In essence, this creates a positive halo effect around the company and its products.

The contrary is also true. Giving to charity has positive tax consequences. Most countries around the world allow any amount given to charity to be deducted from taxes. The deduction does just apply to monetary gifts, but to material ones too. An old adage says that in life, one cannot avoid death and taxes, but that does not seem to hold true constantly, at least for the latter.

Openhanded also provides a company to give back to the community. While there are many selfish reasons why firm’s give, this is one of the more altruistic ones. There are thousands of schools, hospitals, boreholes, and other projects that would never have existed without the generosity of corporations, and which are making a difference in many lives.

For individuals, there is several added benefits. It is an opportunity to clean out the closet. People inadvertently end up with a lot of things which they never needed, or no longer make use of. An old adage says that one man’s meat is another man’s poison; what one person doesn’t need may be a lifesaver for someone else. This also reduces the problem of waste. It is also an opportunity to make space for new, and hopefully more necessary things.

One of the most powerful motivators for giving is that it feels good. Whatever form that takes, whether its just a verbal encouragement, a material or monetary gift, it allows people to see beyond themselves. An old tale speaks of a person who always complained to his Maker about not having shoes, until God showed him a physically challenged individual who had no feet.

Individuals constantly practice giving as a way of honoring people the memory of dear departed ones. A famous example of this is the Nobel Prize, which Alfred Nobel started in his own memory as a way of encouraging positive innovation. A famous quote has it that when life gives someone a lemon, they should not complain, but make lemonade out of it.

There are those who fear to donate Lakeland because they see their efforts as being too small, a drop in the ocean. They should not forget that the ocean is made up of billions of tiny drops. Had those given up, there would be no oceans, seas, rivers and lakes, and therefore no life. There are others who fear that their contributions will be wasted; however, modern charities are not only transparent, but also highly efficient.

The homepage at www.salvationarmyfamilystoretampa.org provides details about how to donate Lakeland locals need to learn. For more info, click on the links at http://www.salvationarmyfamilystoretampa.org today.