Teach me charities

I saw this yesterday, but was not able to reply. I don't give to charities because there are just too many abuses, and my money can and will often end up somewhere where I don't want it to. I know how much some of these professional fundraising companies make, and I will not support that under any circumstances.

There's a hospital nearby that specializes in childhood cancer. They have a department called childhood services that makes sure the kids have what they need, aside from medical care. I contact them and ask them what the kids need this year. Sometimes it's toys, sometimes is electronics, video games, etc. I know what it's like to have a child stuck in the hospital, or stuck in a room. It's a particularly satisfying way to help out. You probably have such a hospital nearby.

I've donated time lately to a food bank, probably the first on my list when it comes to donating $.

Otto Maddox wrote: In reply to 93EXCivic: The United Way is a good catch all. And it has one of the best giving to expense ratios of any charity. In interest of full disclosure, I do have United Way ties.

I have weekly donations from my pay check, and once a year they ask me to up it by $.25.

Find someone local who is dealing with MS, or cancer, or heart disease and can't work, and leave an envelope full of 20's in their mailbox. You know exactly where the dough is going then.