THECHARITYSTORIES

There are relatively few charitable persons among the primary characters in Carl Barks' duck universe but a few stand out; the helpful nephews (especially when they act as Junior Woodchucks), the good-natured Gyro Gearloose, and Daisy Duck who often seems to make a living by working in charitable organisations. But for this page it has been much more challenging - and interesting! - to focus on two other characters whom you would normally not connect with distinct charitable feelings, namely Donald Duck and Scrooge McDuck.
You will notice that, in general, Donald's perception of charity is more fortuitous and sincere, while Scrooge's is more businesslike and premeditated. Their difference in attitude greatly contributes to our perception of the two ducks' characters.

Below you are presented to 5 types of charitable actions from each character and they span from the most well-intended to the most reluctant. Common for all of the examples is that they present Donald and Scrooge in roles in which they are not normally seen.

HEARTFELT CHARITY

WDCS124 'The Un-collector' - 1951

Synopsis:
Donald is forced to act as a collector for Scrooge but the old miser lives to regret that...

Comments:
Donald's psyche is somewhat different from Scrooge's in the affairs of money. He gives away more money than he collects...
Donald's big heart also comes into play in WDCS063 'The Lost Dollar Bill' where he stops at nothing to give a little girl her money back, and in WDCS196 'The Snow Princess' where he fights to win prize money for two needy children.

BENEVOLENT CHARITY

WDCS203 'The Dandy Lion' - 1957

Synopsis:
The nephews are hired as messengers and they have to deliver a certain package within twenty minutes. But a lion stands in the way!!!

Comments:
Although it can seriously damage his health Donald offers to help his nephews who will be out of job if the package is not delivered.
This was by far not the only time Donald helped out with little thought for the consequences; WDCS238 'The Dog-sitter' and WDCS282 Bubbleweight Champ are examples.

FORCED CHARITY

WDCS147 'Freeloading Thanksgiving' - 1952

Synopsis:
Through Daisy's Good Neighbor Club Donald volunteers to offer a needy person a meal. It turns out to be Gladstone!

Comments:
In this story we experience Gladstone at his nastiest. Not only does he join the club under false pretence, but he is pounding Donald into the ground by demanding ever-increasing service from him! Poor, righteous Donald feels compelled to comply...

RESERVATION CHARITY

WDCS227 'Tree Trapped' - 1959

Synopsis:
The nephews ask Donald to pretend to get lost in the woods so they can find him as part of a JW exercise. Donald decides to make things really difficult!

Comments:
Donald only consents to the task, because he can gain something for himself - a grand prize.
In WDCS034 'Deeds Indeed' and WDCS229 The Good Deeds Donald was also scheming; he went around doing good deeds only because his nephews asked him to.

PREMEDITATED CHARITY

FC0062 Frozen Gold - 1945

Synopsis:
Donald is hired to fly medicine up north in his new plane. A couple of bandits are interested in the trip as well but for quite another reason...

Comments:
Donald is making the charitable trip knowing very well that he will come out a heroic figure.
He repeated the same type of self-promoting feat in WDCS114 'Medicine to Codfish Cove' in which he delivered medicine on skis to an isolated village.

BENEVOLENT CHARITY

WDCS172 'A Wavy Christmas' - 1955

Synopsis:
Scrooge forces Donald and the nephews on a trip in his submarine to find a sunken treasure. On Christmas Eve! That is most unbearable for the kids...

Comments:
Scrooge has no thought for either Christmas or his nephews' feelings, but after his own great wish has come through, he spares no expense getting the kids elaborate presents.
In CP02 You Can't Guess Scrooge also caved in to a miserable family member, when he bought Donald a new car for Christmas instead of the one that broke down repeatedly throughout the story.

SACRIFICIAL CHARITY

FC0456 Back to the Klondike - 1953

Synopsis:
Scrooge is having trouble with his bad memory but after a visit to the doctor he recalls a huge gold nugget he once left behind in Alaska.

Comments:
After having met Glittering Goldie as a withered old spinster Scrooge feels sorry for her and he deliberately lets her find his buried nugget.
In U$59 North of the Yukon Scrooge even renounced his entire fortune in order to save one of his sled dogs, Barko, from a certain death. And in U$29 Island in the Sky Scrooge voluntarily used a vast amount of money to help an entire asteroid of space Indians.

UNINTENTIONAL CHARITY

WDCS268 Christmas Cheers - 1963

Synopsis:
Scrooge comes up with a plan to haul huge gold nuggets by painting them to look like regular rocks that are going to be used to pave the streets of Duckburg.

Comments:
The nuggets and the rocks get mixed up and the streets are paved with Scrooge's gold!
In U$47 The Thrifty Spendthrift Scrooge is severely unlucky, too, when he is hypnotized into buying numerous expensive Christmas gifts for a dog that he does not even know!

AGENDA CHARITY

U$27 His Handy Andy - 1959

Synopsis:
Scrooge participates in the annual yacht race - not as a competitor - he has his eye on more than the prize money...

Comments:
Scrooge follows the saying One Good Turn Deserves Another when he is wheeling and dealing with competitors in dire straits.
Scrooge also seemed very charitable in U$54 The Billion Dollar Safari when he announced a grand prize of one billion dollar to the individual who could take up the seemingly impossible task of finding a speckled elephant with a square trunk...

CALCULATING CHARITY

WDCS138 'Statues Galore' - 1952

Synopsis:
Scrooge and the wealthy Maharajah of Howduyustan are competing to build the most expensive statue of Duckburg's founder, Cornelius Coot.

Comments:
Scrooge erects several elaborate statues in order to save face with the Duckburgians who see him as an incurable tightwad. This was also the case in CP9 Christmas in Duckburg where he felt compelled to present the town with a huge Christmas tree.
On a smaller scale Scrooge taught Donald about supply and demand when he in WDCS130 'The Rare Coin' gave away a whole sack of rare coins to his nephew, who did not realize that they became almost worthless on account of their sheer number.