The dispenser of the ‘Reddies’ has an open brief with some small caveats as follows:

They can choose a recipient/s based on a personal area of interest or an area that they believe most needs help. They must then research this area and find the people of greatest need. It’s then incumbent on them to do sufficient homework to understand the issues faced by the potential beneficiary, the genuineness of their need and be comfortable that the funds will be acquitted as intended. This activity serves two purposes:

1. It allows the member to become better informed about the social issues that led to this beneficiary’s plight. That increased understanding of the social issues surrounding the need can then be fed back to our members in the report, improving our collective understanding of this sector.

2. It ensures the integrity of the donation, so we are helping those in genuine need and the money is being applied as intended.

Sometimes the potential recipients are found by accident, though a chance encounter, a conversation, some sort of serendipity. But in all cases the broader social issues need to be considered and ‘reported back on.

1. You can’t just give it to a registered charity to dispense as it sees fit. This would see some of our funds spent on charity overheads, when we want 100% of the money to go to the individuals. This would also ‘rob’ the members of the education and satisfaction they receive from closer interface with the issues and/or the recipient.

2. You can’t just give it away to someone who looks needy. You need to ensure that the money is spent on the things they say will be lifechanging for them (e.g., new clothes to get a job, an appliance to let them cook meals etc). It is far better to help buy the items directly than just give cash which may be rerouted to sate non-genuine needs or pressured to satisfy the needs of other people.

We encourage everyone to be constantly aware of avoiding any potential dangers by only meeting in public places (preferably with a colleague), never divulging personal contact information, never taking cash to a meeting (put it on your credit card and pay for goods on recipients behalf on the card) so you have a record of the transaction (which you’re expected to include in your STM report to colleagues).

Registered charities are often a good source of introductions. Case workers know who in the community is in need. Just explain you are looking to find a worthy recipient (or group) and ask them to set up a coffee to understand their plight and needs so you can assess their worthiness and trust to use the goods or services we pay for as intended. It is critical to avoid them feeling like a ‘charity case’ or a supplicant. Those getting involved in this kind of ‘giving’ will realise soon enough, if they don’t know it already, that there is an incredibly fine line between ‘good times’ and ‘bad times’.

Once you have fulfilled the need of the beneficiary, your job is done. This is not meant to be a life’s work where you start to take long term responsibility for the person. It is ‘transactional’. Just ‘drop in, drop off and drop out’.

The beneficiary owes you and your colleagues nothing, not even a thank you, so don’t go begging for it or be unhappy if you don’t get it. You will have made this contribution in return for nothing more than the satisfaction that you have positively impacted someone less fortunate than yourselves.

The purpose of giving should not be for self-aggrandisement. This type of action runs completely contrary to the ethos of ‘quiet giving’ and also causes resentment and disharmony for your group. If you can’t be involved without bragging about it then STM may not be for you.

Very soon after delivering on the beneficiary’s needs we suggest that you quickly prepare a report (one or two pages with any supporting images). Explain why you chose this area and this person/s, how you found them, what they needed and what you delivered and their reaction. This should be prepared respecting the privacy of the recipient so names and places can be changed to protect their privacy. You should give the written report to your group leader for inclusion in your local STM records.

You might also like to email a copy to us at stm.sydney.com,au and if we find it inspiring, may add it to this website to provide ideas and motivation to others.