I'm one of those people who has used the excuse of no time or money to be charitable. Okay, let's be honest. It's a reason. I was once told the mantra in my running career that "An excuse is the skin of a lie wrapped in reason"(Coach Ernie Hornung). In my youth I had time. I volunteered at Special Olympics events, worked with autistic and down syndrome students by tutoring them, and also babysat special needs kids for very little money because their mom could afford no more (pretty much it paid weekly gas money--when it was cheap).
As an adult, I don't have time and no money to spare. I had made a decision not to go into the field of special education or therapies. I think part of me is psychic or fate is twisted with irony, but I was blessed with a special needs child of my own. It is time-consuming and costly to parent my child with therapy, and numerous doctor and specialist appointments, tests and surgeries--far away and needing lodging. We also spent money on equipment to satisfy his sensory needs at home which was a game changer. Add in 2 full-time careers for me, a day job and a budding career for the spouse, we have no time to give those who might need it. The money? We are just keeping our heads above water only able to give a few measly donations to Saint Jude's Hospital.
I want to do more. So how do I give any precious time (usually late night) to others? I decided to attempt to write for charity. Only, it is too difficult for me to accomplish on my own not having time to learn how to ebook format and all the behind-the-scenes publishing aspects. So I had to rethink things. I'm going to try to do 2 things.
1) Anthologies with local authors. This would allow me to not deal with royalties and profit. We would buy the books and sell them at events only. The authors I'm working with now want to up the price tag to make a small profit. I decided my profit will go to charity and one author already liked the idea.
2) Submit an anthology of my own short stories to a publisher. Short stories don't really make money alone, and if a publisher accepts my anthology idea, I have 2 stories completed and at least 3 more started, then I'd give my royalties to charity.
I am a realist. I know that this will not make a ton of money for charity to start with, but any money given would be beneficial. I am a fast writer who has great grammar skills from teaching it (did not say perfect). Short stories take me maybe 5 hours over a span of days. This is time I can give late at night. If each anthology I sell makes even just a dollar, I can work to make a local charity a donation.
Maybe my take is weird, but I have written since childhood for myself alone, writing books I want to read, and backed away when I learned what was expected in the mass market publishing sector. I was not willing to make my writing a business rather than an enjoyable art form of expression, not willing to sacrifice my love of writing to make more money. The money would ease my life, but I'm more concerned about children like my child, like those I tutored and cheered on in sports who have less than my child. Yes, had I sold out, I would have more to give them, but I cannot write without being true to myself. Isn't that what lesson we should teach kids, particularly our special needs ones? Be true to yourself no matter what the world, the masses, try to tell you.