Charity begins

As someone who has worked in public service (NHS) and for a charity(Mind) I think that I'm reasonably allowed to have a view about the things people do for charity or as a volunteer. And I have to say I have a much higher opinion of volunteers, especially those who give up their own free time to help people with mental health problems.
So I get very angry about the sort of antics that people get up to to raise money for charity, after all how useful is it to sit in a bath of baked beans (unless you're the supplier of the beans - sales and plenty of free advertising)? How does this really help other people as most of the money that your stunt raises will be swallowed up by administration. Something that helps you to feel better about yourself does not seem all that charitable to me.
And this is the point really, just because its Christmas time why should you make that extra ridiculous effort to raise money for a fashionable charity. Give up your time and give some practical help - shopping for housebound elderly folk, visiting people in care homes whose relatives have forgotten them, helping to prepare meals for the homeless - and do it through the year not just so that you feel that you've done your bit whilst sitting down with your dysfunctional family for your festive roast dinner and calorifically enhanced pudding - and definitely don't pollute the night sky with a million candlepower flashing Santa and flock of Reindeer light show.