DH and I make regular contributions to the local women's shelter (for abused women) run by Gospel Rescue Mission.We usually ask what the greatest needs are and try to donate those, but food, clothing, etc. are always welcome. Last month we donated Kleenex which was specially requested and replaced their VCR (the old one was damaged beyond repair.) Once, the main request was for shampoo and soap. I don't write checks to the large organizations. I like to see where my donation goes and to whom. I know you'll find a place where the need is greatest. Thank you for caring!

CB Texas, there is one charity I love, nd I know it is doing good because you are repaid for every loan you make, even if it is $6 month.

My parents gave my sister and I were given $100 dollars at Christmas to help those in need.

The charity is Kiva, and you can look at business plans for most of them. The least you can donate is $25, and when my loan is paid I choose a new candidate within the charity. If you ever wish not to pursue any cases any longer you can withdraw all the money that is not committed to others. I love this charity!

My $100 has been repaid 10 fold, I now have over 12 cases who I have "adopted" and each payment goes to a different small business. AWESOME way to send cheer around the world.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kiva

Wow CB you are amazing. What a wonderful, generous gesture!
There was a businessman in Toronto who gave out money every year to people on the street who look like they are in need. How would you know though.

At least if someone "looks" like they could use the extra cash, judging by their clothing, it would be appreciated. Someone quite well off, wouldn't dress poorly enough that it looks like they could use the money.

Maybe you could give someone the money and suggest they use it to have a better Christmas, and if they don't need it, to pass it on to someone who does.

Look in your newspaper and see if there's a family who recently lost their job, home etc.

That's the secret to Christmas, CB. Your church pastor may be able to tell you if there is someone within your church family that is in need of help. He or she can also act as intermediary so that the recipient will not feel awkward. We have a couple of wonderful businesses that run Santa Funds at this time of year, you might look around your own community for those, ours have no overhead all dollars donated go to those they are helping.

If all else fails the Salvation Army is so low overhead, and they absolutely need the dollars to help families in need. Here they have an angel program, each angel has a family listed along with a wish list. All pertinent info is included, sizes, ages of the kids, specific needs..... A few years back there was one that needed a new stove. They wanted nothing else, just a stove. We banded together with a few other couples to get the stove, groceries to cook on it, toys and some clothing for the kids (thanks to the workers at the SA for ages and sizes). That was the best Christmas for all of us.

I have heard of people paying extra at the grocery store, of course, for the next person in line.

This made it, so they had less or none to pay when it was there turn, and you had a chance to be gone.

Same can be done at a drive through restaurant....

Moni

Check your local school. Our high school has a toy drive and they get names of children in our school. They wrap and deliver them the last day of school before the christmas break. They always need money to fill in what is needed. Our local food pantry is small and any money given is wonderful.

Search out single moms and dads in your area. They most always need help.

Myself, I love giving the money without people knowing where it comes from.. Buy some gas cards and gift cards from eating places and take to the cancer/extend place. Give them to the administration to give out as people need them.

Sadly there are so many in need now. I wish this was not happening .

Thank you for being so kind..

The Salvation Army also has an Elder Tree. Every year our motorcycle chapter adopts several of these angels and buys what we can on their wish list. It is heart breaking to read that they want toilet paper, snacks, stamps, sheets and other things that they can't afford on their meager Social Security checks. A lot of these folks live in Hud housing so you know they are really poor. If there are no angels on the tree we get with the lady who organizes it. Many folks who adopt these people only get one item on their list so we go out shopping with a list from the organizer and fill in items that are still needed.

Lots of people adopt children for this but the elderly are forgotten. It is such a good feeling to help others in need.

Bless your heart! I agree with you completely; DH and I have always found someone needy to help, rather than contribute to the administrative costs of an organized charity. (We do give to the Salvation Army routinely.)

I love your idea about helping those at the cancer center! Not only would they have the financial need, but I'm sure they could use an emotional boost while dealing with this awful disease. Maybe you could talk to someone in charge there, and learn if there are some who are truly needy. You could provide for meals or Christmas gifts for their children.

A century ago, I worked at the National Institutes of Health. People traveled from all over to get treatment at NIH, and they had a Patient Emergency Fund that provided financial assistance to patients and their families who were in need. For example, when a child is receiving treatment and the parents accompany him/her, the parents are possibly losing pay from not being at work; they are paying for hotels, restaurants, travel expenses, etc. Those expenses are not covered by insurance, and can strain a budget that is already strained due to the cost of cancer treatments.

The cancer center near you may already have a fund in place. Good luck, and I would be interested to know what you decide. God Bless!!

St. Louis has a 100 neediest cases program where the things you donate go directly to the family you choose... maybe your area has something similar?

Here is a link that might be useful: 100 Neediest Cases

Our church has given support to many locally run options for giving. A year ago, they were all consolidated under a single person who lets everyone know who is involved in any of the groups, when a group is doing something - by email.

I work with a group that meets monthly, with everyone bringing in cooked or baked items for meals for the home bound. We make up trays of homemade meals that can be heated in an oven in the home, and kept in a freezer - they are then delivered by driver volunteers who deliver.

Another group we have is one that collects almost-new clothing for teen-age girls that is what we call "mall worthy". Before school opens in the fall, a "store", staffed by our "salesperson" teens is held in a donated hall or empty store, where teens with "tickets" can purchase 2 or three complete outfits of their choice. Clothing is on racks, they are wrapped in tissue paper and bagged in new shopping bags - just like a real store. Tickets are given out by groups who work with low to no income teens through the schools, county social workers, and other volunteer groups.

Another group makes up baskets for the bereaved, knitted baby blankets for newborns, bakes holiday cookie trays for a nearby school for special needs children. This week, we are collecting new toys and books for the school.

I believe in giving my time, effort and money personally rather than writing a check to an organization that has administration overhead and advertising that eats up a big percentage of donations.

cbtexas, I have been trying to figure out the same thing.
How about getting a few gas cards for the folks at the cancer center?
Reading over the posts I remembered a friend of mine delivers propane. I think I will ask him him if he knows of anyone that is struggling to keep the heat on.

Our company has a chaplain. Every now and then someone is in dire straights. He has on occasion asked us to donate a few dollars to help a co-worker. We never know who the person is. It has never been abused that I know of and asking my coworkers would be last resort for me, but I am glad to help where I can.
Last year someone needed a new furnace...we got them one. and had enough left over for some oil.

For starters, you might try contacting the care facility. The Ronald McD house in our area uses volunteers to provide dinners for the families staying there. It's very organized. There may be something along those lines at the place you mention.

One year, we got all the ages of the children at the local aids hospice and bought each one: a small toy, an outfit, and filled a stocking for each with stuff like socks, little stuffed animals, etc. Obviously, when children end up on the AIDS hospice, they have a lot of needs (not just medical).

Other years, we've heard of people who were having difficult times. In one young family, the mom was dying of cancer. We annonymously dropped off a toy for the child and a bit of money to help with their incredible medical expenses. Another woman we knew had her baby prematurely, before the holidays, and because of it lost one of her jobs (I know, not fair, but these things happen). We made up a big box for the family--gifts for her and the kids, holiday treats, and a couple of gift certificates (grocery store and Target) so she could get some of the things they'd be needing. We knew the folks at her other job were putting together some stuff for the family, so we asked them to deliver ours with theirs.

Other ways to help? Folks in the local nursing homes/hospitals love visits and gifts of treats (cookies, fruit baskets, etc). Animal shelters always need food and supplies. Hospice organizations need loads of things--volunteers, as well as things like bibs, afgans, music CD's, etc.

Like many others, I believe in giving directly to those who need help, rather than going through organizations that have high operational costs, and occasionally questionable ethics. But there's never any shortage of people who are in need and who will appreciate a little extra help this or any other time of year.

We have a giving tree at church. You select a card from the tree and buy what the person requests, wrap the gift and bring it back to the tree with the tag on the outside of the gift. Some hospitals also have these giving trees set up in their lobbies. The gifts are for the needy in the community.

Nice to see a fellow Harley owner here! Our HOG group adopts a few veterans each year. We take them toiletries, home baked goods (check with the nursing staff first), socks, reading materials, things like that. So many of them have no family nearby, it is a way to help those who have helped us. And in many cases they have nothing.

I really like the idea of checking with a propane supplier, in my case it would be oil. But I bet they are not permitted to release any information, it would have to be anonymous on both ends. But my heart would smile.

We prefer to research charities that provide *vital* needs, and who screen for true need.

You have to read a charity's annual report. See what percentage of the budget goes to those in need and what's salaries and overhead. (You run a business. You know what to look for!) Don't fall for 'Non-profit'. That only means the whole budget is used; you can find some amazing salaries, perks and rent kick-backs within a non-profit.

We do not contribute small amounts here and there. We do not fund 'fuzzy', feel-good causes like Christmas toys or blankets for animals. We concentrate on three main charities. We don't fund national organizations; we give locally. 'Our' charities provide food, housing and medical/hospice care to people with verified need.

I've learned to look carefully about where donations go.

When I joined the board of our communty-based VNA it provided excellent home care and ran a free well-baby clinic. However, Mrs. Gotrocks paid the same pittance for care after her facelift as someone bedridden and scraping by on Social Security. We instituted a sliding fee scale. Also, there were separate VNA's in each of four communities in the same township -- each paying a supervisor, staff, rent and other overhead. Three supervisors and three landlords had to be edged out, but we combined into one VNA. (We became so organized that the local 'non-profit' hospital saw a business opportunity and started their own home health care division. No more community-based VNA.)

A tenant of mine with a good union job once told me he always volunteered to deliver Thanksgiving turkeys to the needy. He said he had a year's supply in his freezer.

I want my dollar stretched by a reputable, penny-pinching charity serving vital human needs of individuals who are truly in need.

I give to our local Salvation Army, which is really hands-on with helping local families.

Another great way to keep your money local is to donate to your local food bank. Every dollar donated there can mean $10 of food available.

If you're looking for low or no overhead costs... I would suggest contacting a church in a low income neighborhood. They service many needy families in their area (and I don't think the families always have to be members in their church --they just have to have need). A lot are single moms, or families where mom and dad are out of work, etc...

We adopt families around here, have giving trees, toy drives, collect full meals, canned goods, etc... (Most things go through our church). The neediest cases are good but those are usually read by the masses so if you want to hit someone that nobody knows about, I would stick with churches. Just go through your own church or call a poorer church directly. You don't need to be religious yourself. It's really just the poor turn to churches when they are in need and what the gov. doesn't provide for them, the churches try to.

I guess it depends on your neighborhood, but generally I don't think you can tell much by how people dress when they go shopping. The wealthier stay at homes moms aroung here go in sweats and no makeup - they don't need your money. If you want to go that route, I would stay in the parking lot and see the kind of cars people are driving or find someone walking home with their groceries.

And, I don't know about your area but the food banks in many areas are low. You may just want to dump a bunch of food at one of those.

Michelle, I also like Kiva. Your post made me check my acct and I had enough credit to make another loan. Thank-you.

Why not ask administrators at the family residence at the cancer center? They always know where the best use would be.

Here's what I did one particularly fortunate year. I stuck the bill in an envelope and went to the local college parking lot and drove around looking for the most beat-up shitboxes and put the envelope on the windshield. You can't believe the reactions I got!

I'd contact the police department, fire department or the schools. They all come in contact with people in real need.

xminion, so tell us some of the reactions you got. Sounds interesting.