What is your favorite?

[Cheyenne]

Hopefully this is a positive thread. I am getting ready to write my annual check for the United Way and it made me think. There are lots of good people on this board, probably lots of good charities we support. Which is your favorite charity that you actively support in some way, and why is it your favorite?

 

[SimplySouthern]

Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

I also support several "mentor" type groups in my area.

I'm a strong believer that if you help the children of today it will make a better tomorrow.

*insert American flag in the background and some patriotic music*

 

[Juliangel]

I give to a local batter woman's shelter and a half way house. Both area in my local area. I do not give to many large organizations because with many too much of the money goes towards the administration and not enough to the cause. I am not saying they are all like this but there are enough that I keep my money involved with local things that I can also pitch in and physically help out with.

 

[Bobtoad777]

I support my local Crisis Pregnancy centers and then all the church stuff but i know what y'all think of that.

 

[forgetunome]

anytime you give to any charity is a good thing! Hats off to all of you! Which I know kudo's is not why we do it! I give to the local burn ward at Harborview Hospital. It's one of the top burn wards on the west coast. After my husband was in an accident and spent time there and I saw the little children who the majority were burnt and disfigured by (not fire) but hot water and coffee we have given to that ever since. My husband and I both agreed that the hardest part about being there was not his being there but, watching the little children trying to be happy and play in such agony. Little bodies wrapped head to toe in guaze. It's heartwrenching! Other adults in the ward all of us agreed it was difficult to see the children. And there were so many parents who didn't have insurance coverage or not enough so...we donate to help out.

The doctors and nurses there do an awesome job!

 

[Magic Merlin]

My favorite to support is the Salvation Army. Its one of the few that I trust. Also Big Brother/Sister.

The northern California chapter of United Way has been investigated so many times due to missing funds that I will never give to them again. Plus they hav one of the highest percentages of overhead in the country.

 

[Earthmuffin]

It's not alot, but I give....

United Way, GSUSA, Salvation Army, the Church. Any kid selling something to get a computer in their classroom or books in their library.

I'd do more if I could but there's always too much month at the end of the money.

 

[Cheyenne]

The northern California chapter of United Way has been investigated so many times due to missing funds that I will never give to them again. Plus they hav one of the highest percentages of overhead in the country.

I think the Wisconsin United Way actually broke away from the National United Way for a few years awhile back due to problems at the National level. The Wisconsin United Way is well run- many of the people involved are volunteer execs from the community. I like the United Way because of the volunteers who decide which groups in the community actually receive the funds. And, my employer matches my gift dollar for dollar so I can give double what I could afford on my own.

Our Salvation Army is a good group in the community, too, and they also get my support above what I give to the United Way. I also support my college business school, my church, various health associations (heart, cancer, lung, MD, MS, etc,) one of the local hospices, a local group that puts together Thanksgiving dinners for families, and the giving tree at the local mall during the Christmas holiday.

I may have my own shopping done way in advance, but Thanksgiving weekend I spend at the mall plucking "wish cards" from the giving tree there. That is probably my true favorite charity each year. Each card on the tree belongs to someone in a hospice, homeless shelter, etc. The easy ones to fill are the requests for gift certificates at the food stores, specific books from the mall bookstore, drug store gift certificates to help pay for medicines. I grab those, but like to add some "fun" ones. Toys that kids want, purses/jewelry for women, also practical gifts of warm clothes for the winter. Buying and wrapping takes most of the weekend, but there isn't anything better than the feeling on Christmas morning knowing other families are able to have a Christmas opening those gifts. Yes, the religious significance of Christmas is more important. But I know those gifts received from the giving tree are appreciated and may be the only gifts the person gets for the holiday.

Getting off my soap box now.... anyone else?

 

[Naked Hunny]

I dont have much money to donate so every year I am an Angel. There are trees around the local mall decorated with paper angels that have a first name, with that persons story, and a few things they might need. Mots of these people are women and children at the local women in crisis or people from the Rainbow home which is an AIDS hospice. Like Cheyenne said you can fill these easily with gift certificates from food stores, drug stores, or even some clothing stores. Im thinking this year I may attatch Walmart Gift Certificates to my Angels. They can find whatever they will need at Walmart!!

 

[WitchsKat]

Well, CL and I have given to breast cancer research and AIDS Project L.A. CL's grandmother passed away from breast cancer and we have friends who are HIV positive and we have friends who have died of AIDS.

 

[Cheri]

I donate blood and plasma to the Community Blood Bank. I also donate my money and time to Habitat for Humanity which is a great organization. Then anytime a restaurant wants me to give a dollar for a sign, a kid comes to my door selling stuff for school, girl scouts selling cookies, salvation army bucket or anybody else wants me to give or buy something, I have a hard time saying no.

 

[Sammyjo]

Let's see....I actively support the Girl Scouts, 'course, I'm a troop leader...and I also support the school PTA...wish I could do more, and will someday when I am not paying the student loans anymore.

 

[Cheyenne]

Let's see....I actively support the Girl Scouts, 'course, I'm a troop leader...and I also support the school PTA...wish I could do more, and will someday when I am not paying the student loans anymore.

Sammyjo, I think you're already doing a lot. Some people give money, some people give time. Some are lucky enough to be able to give both. Neither is worth more than the other gift. I admire people who spend many hours as volunteers doing things for others. Charitable organizations couldn't survive on monetary donations alone. They need people like you and Cheri who give their time (and blood! I'd forgotten that one, it has been awhile since I've been to the blood bank to donate but I'm due to go again).

The point of the thread wasn't who donates to what, it was support. Support can be in many forms.

 

[dancinvixen]

My husband and I annually give to two different charities. One of the charities is a military charity(KillerMuffin, you should know the one I'm talking about). The second, (Bless my hubby's heart) is the Girl Scouts. <g> I know it sounds weird, but I was a girl scout growing up, and I want my daughters to be girl scouts also.

 

[Ambrosious]

Cool, all of my time, money, and resources go to the Boy Scouts of America. It made me sad to see the way they were vilified a while back. The right to choose extends to everyone, everywhere, unless you piss off some minority. Then you have to bend to follow their ideals. I just love that<sarcasm>. Although it was nice of Congress to not take away their national charter.

 

[SpecialK]

Let's see....

Just signed up at work for the annual fundraising drive for the United Way where we designate a nominal amount to come off of each of our paychecks.

Also in the process of preparing our Operation Christmas Child boxes. (Anyone else out there put together a box for Samaritan's Purse?) The way this works is you get a shoe box and fill it with things a needy child would want/need. Toothbrush and toothpaste, some crayons, other toys, pencils and paper, socks, etc. They are gathered together by this organization called Samaritan's Purse and then distributed to children worldwide. We have been putting together these shoeboxes for a few years now. They are relatively cheap to fill if you can get things on sale and/or at the dollar stores. I know of some classroom teachers who have done this with their students. I think that's a great idea. You're never too young to learn to be charitable. And it's nice because you know the box you put together is going to make a child's Christmas that much more wonderful. (Not sure if this organization has a webpage or not.)

My university alumni association called me up the other week. It is their 35th anniversary and they were calling for donations in honour of that. The donations could be designated to support whichever part of the university we wished. Since I received financial aid in the form of scholarships, I did make a donation to the scholarship fund. It's important to give back when you can, I think.

I also volunteer my time with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

Before I started replying to this thread, I really didn't think I did much in the way of charitable activities. I'm a bit surprised at my list. I guess it is the time of the year for this kind of thing. I'm sure it's mostly coincidental, but evidently I've been very charitable this past month.

K

 

[NewEnglandBBW]

The Salvation Army ALWAYS gets my money every year,, it seems I'm dropping money in those little red pots from October thru January, and I always will. 13 years ago we had a huge house fire and lost everything, and with their help, we managed to get back on our feet.

I also give to a local family shelter, and to any school age child who comes to my door peddling for their class trips, events, etc. Little League, Pop Warner Football..

As posted previously, I too, stay away from the big organizations. Giving locally keeps more of it local.

NEBBW

Ooh, I almost forgot.. There is a local group who provides gifts to children who have a parent that is in jail. They set up Xmas trees in churches, grocery stores, etc.. You pick a tag off the tree, it gives the age of the child and what they need (usually it's a need, like a winter coat or boots). You take the tag, get the gift, and return the wrapped gift/tag on a certain day. I love this charity.

[Edited by NewEnglandBBW on 11-06-2000 at 04:15 AM]

 

[Samuari]

I support my local Crisis Pregnancy centers and then all the church stuff but i know what y'all think of that.

I suport my church strongly also Bobtoad. I onced worked for an United Way agency, and I've seen first hand the proceedures that are in place to ensure that the funds go where they are intended, so I suport them and the Childrens Miracle Network.

 

[Expertise]

I without fail make an annual donation to the Issak Walton Killam Childrens Hospital (the childreans hospital for Atlantic Canada), The Childrens Wish Foundation and the SPCA.

For kids and animals I am a soft touch.

 

[teresafannin]

I give to the United Way, but I designate my contributions to the Boy Scouts. I spent years doing Scout activities with my son & the program was great for us. He was shy & small for his age until he hit middle school. We tried all kinds of sports programs & every one of them was a disaster. He wasn't a natural athlete & rarely got to play. When we joined Cub Scouts & them moved into Boy Scouts, he was like a whole new kid. He learned to canoe, rappel, hike, & so many other outdoor activities. He had opportunities to travel to Scotland & meet kids from all over the world. We are setting up a campership program in his memory so that other kids can have some of the same experiences. Our local council has had the majority of their UW funding taken away, but so have other groups. Our UW does a very good job with the money, but the day they stop supporting Scouts is the day I stop supporting UW. I also support the Salvation Army & a local womens shelter. When my son was in school, I gave time & money to PTA, band boosters & Media Tech boosters.

 

[Latina]

Salvation Army & Good Will get our support a LOT.

Local police organization puts on a magic show each year to raise money to keep kids in sports and other activities, and off the streets and out of drugs. We buy a bunch of tickets each year and take friends and family to the magic show. The money goes to such a good cause, and we get entertained.

Husband has been long-time supporter of local burn foundation. They help kids who have been burned in fires. Not only their medical expenses, but they also run a summer camp for the kids. Other kids can be very cruel to kids who have been disfigured in fires, but as the summer camp is ALL burn victims, there is no insulting each other, and it does WONDERS for the self-esteem of these kids.

-- Latina

 

[Sonora]

I give to the local battered women's shelter through the United Way. I've currently got a huge bruise on my arm from giving blood last week.

One of the neatest things I've heard of is what my dentist and her husband do. They somehow find a family that is having a hard time and get personal info (sizes, likes, dislikes, toys desired, whatever). They will have a party and all of the guests are to bring something from the list. I don't know for sure how it works, but that's the general idea.

 

[Cyan BloodsBane]

Uhm....

I help out with the victim crisis line... and young teens in destress...(I also just finished hosting a benift concert for United way.... today...November 5, 2000) Now that was fun.