We donate household stuff to Goodwill, Purple Heart, Lupus Foundation (I've got RA),NCC (National Childrens Center), and Loudoun Women's Shelter. Glasses go to Lion's, and our older phone's and computers to various women/family support groups as they need them. Cash and annual auction items go to HART (Homeless Animals Rescue Team) a group that rescues dogs and cats from high-kill shelters and disaster areas for adoption in our area (they saved our beloved Tucscon from the kill list in Abingdon so that we could adopt her) and Phoenix Landing Foundation, a parrot rescue group (many, many people buy parrots without knowing the level of effort involved in their healthy maintenance or the long lifespans of many types of parrots, so lots of those poor parrots end up in need of loving, understanding homes.) Through Reston Interfaith, we supply Thanksgiving dinner to several families each year, and though them we also adopt several families of kids for Christmas gifts each year. Through Christmas in July, we donate building materials. We also support the ASPCA, National Wildlife Fund (though their poor use of funds and grants annoys me), World Wildlife Fund, Sierra and participate in various fundraisers for various local organizations and medical research foundations during their annual drives. All in all, for us it's probably split about evenly between local and national scope for the groups we try to help suppport.

Being retired from a bank, I know how easy it is to sign up for auto repayments and how easy it is to run out of money or not know where it is going. I won't do it. Even when I subscribe to a magazine, I send a check. NO auto renewals either. I have been evaluating the charities I have been giving to and have dropped several. I will not give to United Way, because of a real bad incident that happened many years ago when DH was active in Boy Scouts. Unless it has changed, if they pledge so much, for every dollar the organization receives outside of this, they reduce the pledge. He and I really got into it with the organization. I give much more to very local groups, and certain national organizations.. I do investigate where the money is going. Since DH has passed away, I did contact several to have his name taken off the list and for some reason, some have dropped me. I will make no pledges over the phone either. And I will not contact neighbors with a sent list for me to do so.

I don't think it is selfish to help out those here at home. There is only so much time and resources and sometimes we are so busy helping others that we fail to help those who are hurting around us. Also, I sometimes feel that we hurt other countries when we go in to 'help'. We ruin their way of life and then they become dependent on us. We donate to Salvation Army and then locally. I prefer to give to a person or situation in need rather than big groups with a lot of overhead. We've been impressed by a couple of teachers who have gone out of their way to help students learn. We find out from them what would help them to do their job better and then we donate things like math and science equipment. Also, there is enough tragedy locally where someone loses a job or a house burns down. I prefer to make a significant donation to something like that rather donate to organizations where I feel my donation isn't put to the best possible use.

Hospice, Haiti Missions at Salijo's church and Ronald McDonald House. Not that I'm able to give to them all, but those are my fav. There are 2 Ronald McDonald Houses in Indianapolis. One is attached directly to Riley Hospital and is accessable for daytime napping, showers, laundry, meals and is open from 9-9. You can open the fridge or go into the pantry and take what you want. You also are able to cook your own meals if you want to. They have 6 rooms for overnight available on a daily basis if the big house doesn't have room. There are books, a fireplace and they try to make it as comfortable for the families as they can. The other RMH is across the street from the hospital and has lots more room than the one at the hospital, play rooms etc and is more geared for a family stay. Nick and Julie have been staying at the big RMH since Nov 13 and the little house at the hospital was used a lot, not only by us, but other families there, too. To donate, you really don't have to give money, but just supplying a home-cooked meal is more comforting than I can say. I can't tell you how good just plain real mashed potatoes and gravy tasted! Sorry....got a little carried away...... SharonG