Can anyone tell me if this family gets involved or contributes in any meaningful way to either their local or wider community? Do they assist in some physical capacity to help the elderly or disabled people or organisations? Do they hold fundraisers or donate a percentage of their earnings to charities Christian or non-Christian based? Do they campaign in any way for more benefits or assistance for any disadvantaged groups? Do they volunteer at any not for profit or welfare organisations? Do they spend any time helping in any way at drug and alcohol dependency programs? Have they travelled out of the US at any point to visit third world countries and used their "celebrity" to highlight the many atrocities going on outside their narrow little world? These are the types of acts and people Jesus spent time with when he walked the earth. Are these type of acts as described in the Bible not to JBs liking? Perhaps these experiences would influence the children too much and therefore diminish his role as sole leader and preacher? I've seen no evidence of anything I've described above in the episodes of this show or any mention on any websites. The old saying of actions speak louder than words (of which JB has many opinions) I think applies here.

They have made trips outside of the country with another ministry to help at a children's orphanage. I believe that they've done this three times now, though I may be wrong.
We're old by them that they do help out elsewhere, if I recall correctly, they help out at a soup kitchen. We've never seen any of this though.

Beyond that, it doesn't seem as though they're doing much. Maybe they contribute to charities - though I'd imagine they would only contribute to a Christian one. Despite the screaming protests of some here, it seems as though they have little interaction with the community around them.

I've read on another board that they do not allow filming on Tuesdays and Saturdays as these two days they do community outreach of some sort and do not want it publisized. I can't remember all the details but I think it was two separate places they help out at. I also think one of the daughters in particular is more involved than the rest of the family but can't remember exactly what I read that gave me that impression. (duggars without pity is a board that has at least one or two people either from their communinty that posts sometimes or is in a round about way related to the production company and we sometimes get "insider" info because of that - but you'd have to go back and read the archives to find those comments)

The reasons given for not filming those events were to protect peoples privacy and also to keep their "charity outreach" out of the public eye.

However, when they are on the road filming, which they frequently are, they cannot be serving their community on a regular basis as they might once have done. BTW, according to producer Sean's twitter posted on another blog, he is currently on another road trip with the Duggars filming for the show.

On the episodes where they went to El Savador, JB said that they have supported this ministry for many years. It was not their first trip either to that orphanage. Michelle said that they have gone down there many times and this time she did not go because she was pregnant. The trip was familiar to the kids. They did it before TLC.

Many Christians tithe (give 10% of their gross income) to their church or a missionary or something of that nature. If they are tithing their checks from TLC, that is a pretty good sum of money. I would guess that the Duggars tithe. Fundamentalist Christians are known for tithing.

I believe I read in their book that they put on that back room in their house to help missionaires if they need to stay there or something. That might not seem very community oriented if you are not a Christian, but to the Duggars, that is an act of service.

I have also read that they work in a soup kitchen.

Just the recent episode, they were involved in some race for some charity, weren't they? Wasn't it children? Not the biggest contribution but because they did the race, the cameras came along and the charity got a large amount of publicity. And who knows? Maybe they did donate a large portion of money to it. That would be logical.

And even helpig the Bates with their renovation was a good thing to do for someone. Yes, we know it was not well planned and we all wondered about the timing with Kelly being pregnant and we have not seen the finished project. But, you gotta admit, it was a kind thing to help a friend like that. It was thoughtful to see a need and try to help fix it.

JB is also active in politics. You might not agree with his politics but he is involved. He contributes to our political system.

I thought the same thing when I first discovered the Duggars Aussie. I believe that they do work in the community that we dont see. I don't know how much they do but they have become so well known that just adding their support to an event has to help it.

Laura

Didn't the Duggars travel to El Salvador or something to help in an orphanage?

The duggars have traveled to el Savador to help this family buying them food and were helping an orphanage there. Also when in Washington D.C. they helped in Maraians kitchen cokking on preparing food for people. The duggars are very chariatable people