Joan L — I commend you on your work with the United Way.  Over the years some of the agencies with the United Way had some probems.  However, the people we know who work and volunteer for this organization have done incredible things for this area.  Over the years, we have volunteered with United Way and the outpouring in this community is outstanding.  The sponsorships from the business community is gratifying.  If you served on the board in your city I can’t help but think that it was well staffed and the monies were well spent. 

My husband is a sports nut.  There is a former Quaterback with the Florida Gators - Danny Wurfell - who lives and has a mission in NO in the 9th ward.  When Katrina came they lost everything.  Both with his mission/school and his home.  We have contributed and visited Danny’s mission in NO and it is amazing what he has done with underprivileged children.  He played with the NO Saints for several years before he retired and became a minister.  He now has several players from the Saints who volunteer their time with the kids.  To see those big guys playing sports with the kids is just amazing.

I volunteer time with Catholic Chairities - we give clothing and small household goods to the Vietnam Veterans and donate monies to the USO for our servicemen and women.  The letters of thanks we receive brings tears to my eyes.  I request that you contact the USO for holiday gifts and donations for our servicemen and women.  Thanksgiving and especially Christmas can be very lonely for those guys and gals.

I was so touched by your last sentence "Is there anything more important than giving of yourself to others?"  And, I so agree that giving of oneself is definitely "a matter of the heart". 

Thank you again for your work with the United Way!

To Joan and all others who contribute time, talent and/or $$ to their favorite charities a big kudos! Way too often we only hear the complaints but rest assured many, many people are grateful.

Belinda,  thanks for that little jog down memory lane.  I remember the penny drives also.  When you’re a little kid, it makes you feel good and proud to help other little kids—or so we thought.

Rather than throwing my money in a big anonymous pot, never sure how it’s being used, I choose a few smaller groups or charities where I can see the difference my donations make.  I also support women’s shelters and crisis nurseries.  I load up my car with supplies, drive to their buildings and unload.  I can see where and how things are used.  But, nothing beats hanging out in those places and talking to the moms, dads, kids about their struggles and hopefully giving them a bit of hope that life will get better.

Not to make this political, but I find it interesting that one of my favorite charities has cut back services because one of their most successful campaigns was usurped by Cash for Clunkers—they’ve lost 40% of their donations as a result of people not donating their used cars.  I guess it’s all trickle down when families are strapped.  Sad to see though.

Many of these "international organizations" are very reputable, Orbis International for one which I have supported for many years and given my time to, and many are not. Just as the problems of the "new poor" are not being solved with a phone call to 211 and a referral to a Untied Way agency, the problems in many of these countries is not going to be solved with a $50 donation to sponsors a child for a year. 

If you really want to help a child you can help children in this country by supporting a wonderful national organization called Teach for America that utilizes recent college graduates to go into both urgan and rural schools to teach in schools where students have traditinoally "underperformed" and their success rate is astounding They don’t teach so much as they motivate the children.  We ask "where can we do the most good?"  With our children. All of our children. They are our future. 

Most charities line the pockets of their well-to-do directors first, and save the crumbs for the masses. But even that little piece of cheese would be removed Grinch-style, if they could get away with it.

Ouch, James!  A bit bitter and cynical for 7:30am, wasn’t it? 

You have chosen some good charities - St. Jude’s, local food pantries… And your pet peeves are similar to mine - the obscure, yet nefarious religious groups and I get weekly calls from various police and firemen’s groups that I can’t verify. But, to say that "Most" charities line their pockets first?  I’d have to disagree. 

There are thousands of unknown, legitimate, non-profit, 501(c)3 charities operating in our country everyday with multitudes of unsung heroes giving time, money, heart, and soul to help others.  Some may be helping to cure disease or to help a patient and their family, some are looking out for animals, some are teaching children the arts, some might be helping the homeless, others still may be helping to reeducate adults after long periods of unempoyment or perhaps they are helping people build new lives after a disaster.  Charities are as diverse as need and concern.  Yes, there are a few charities that operate unscrupulously, but for every one that does, there are at least a hundred more that are honest.  Those are the ones that are struggling to make ends meet each year.  Those are the ones whose staff and volunteers are working 80-100 hour weeks to comply with regulations, to help all they can and frankly to keep the doors open. These are the ones that need our help, but are less visible - I know, because I’ve worked those 100 hour weeks and I’ve worked along side of some of the most compassionate people I’ve ever known.

I know it’s easy to dismiss a large cross-section because of bad press, but it would be like saying all CEOs are evil, or all cops are bad, but the truth is, some CEOs are greedy, a few cops turn bad, and a few charities give the rest a bad name.