Charity

[jacquelynrose]

I have always been wary of charities because I always wonder how much do the Cause of the Charity actually get this Money? How many people's pockets does the money need to go into for those "fees" before the actual Cause would get for the actual Cause?

Jacquelyn

[PrincessPerky]

About the only charities I support are product based, food banks soup kitchens and good will, generally I give them products, food and cothes and such.

[kashi]

Do a lot of research before you donate to a charity. Ask for written information from them about what they do, check out their website, talk to someone who works there, take a tour of the place if you have a chance. That will help you make your decision. I work for a non profit agency and as far as I know, donations go where they are supposed to - to help our clients. That means that your donation could be helping to buy paper for the kids to draw on, it could be helping pay for the mortgage on the building, it could be paying administrative costs to keep the place open (because many foundations don't pay for that, for some reason). You can specify exactly what you want your money to go to, if that makes you feel better (like, "to purchase crayons for the preschool kids" or "to purchase cell phones for domestic abuse victims" or whatever the place does). Make sure the charity does something you believe strongly in, and that they are stable financially and managerially. I wouldn't give money to any charity that I didn't feel was completely, 100% on the up and up.

[Armywife]

You bring up a good point about being weary about charities. After 9-11, soo many scams surfaced that I have stopped donating completely. Instead of giving any money, hubby and I do volunteer work (soup kitchens, activities, etc) and donate canned goods DIRECTLY to the charity centers.It's very sad when people resort to scamming something that shouldn't be taken advantage of

From what I understand, the main reason the media has toned down on the whole tsunami relief effort is because of "discrepancies"... i'd love to know how that happened?

[mjrube94]

I came across a website called CutOutHunger.com. Each week, they post the sale circulars from various grocery stores in your area, as well as readily available coupons for the products, so you know which items you can get free, or really discounted. All they ask is that you take a few of these practically free items and donate them to a food pantry. I find that I almost never pay more than a quarter for shampoo, deoderant, toothpaste, etc., and these items are usually needed in the pantry. I'm at the grocery store anyway, so it's no big deal to throw them in the cart, and I can store them at home until I accumulate enough to make a trip. Anyway, it makes me feel like I'm doing a great thing with very little effort.

As I like to say..."It's the least I could do. And never let it be said that I don't do the least I can do" lol!!!

[Lori63]

www.give.org gives info on where the money goes for different charities

[Armywife]

Thanks for the link regarding cutouthunger, Mjrube94... when I'm in Long Island I'll be sure to participate


Barb

[terry1156]

I pick a couple of local charities that I have done volunteer work for and believe in their cause. I also give to doctors without borders each year because I believe in their cause too.