The wording of the question “What DID it have … ” seems to presume that the economic slowdown is a thing of the past. I think it is just beginning and we won’t feel the real effects for many months to come. We have two local charities that we support, one of them had their annual Ball last saturday night, which I was very involved in, and yes, we saw an impact. Corporate sponsorship was down, ticket sales were down and auction bidding was down. An expensive piece of jewelry at the live auction went for under value, whereas last year the bidding was so high we agreed to sell two of them ! Overall we did pretty good though, but there was a real sense that people were watching their pennies … with the exception of 4 tickets to a Yankee/Red Sox game at Fenway Park that sold for $2800 !!! There ARE priorities !!

There is so much need and have my areas of charitable interest where focus efforts. If there are horse lovers who can take in a homeless horse, locals unable to feed them have turned in 16 horses to the Monterey SPCA. They are available for Free to $1000. Here’s more information in this week’s Carmel Pine Cone. Click on the second link: http://www.pineconearchive.com/downloads090130.htm

I believe that the total number of dollars may have been less this year — though we are always generous and give throughout the year. My own ties - being on the board of United Way - have, over the years, given me far more understanding that the needs are not only ever-present, but in many charities increase considerably as an economy goes down. But the fears raised in the Fall months particularly - and now even more so - tell most of us that we might have to be more careful of our own finances. However, having had such inside looks at the financial workings of a mulititude of charitable organizations over the years, Salvation Army rises high in my heart always. . and I find it not hard to open my pocketbook wide for them. And, in a small town in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana, lies a poverty-stricken town whose school board uses none of its funds raised for “expenses” but carefully chooses the children in its midst that have never seen anything but hand-me-down clothes in their young lives. These little children are taken - for the first time in their lives - to the world outside their tiny town at Christmas time. A teacher accompanies each child to the first discount store they have seen. Each child gets to choose new clothes from the skin out, try them on, model them for their teacher, and buy a goodly amount. THEN, a certain amount that is held back is given the child to choose a holiday gift for each member of the family — the first time for presents in their lives. WalMart - in on this - adds deep discounts to make this day in the life of a disadvantaged child the best of his life. Back at school, the teachers are prepared to help the child wrap the gifts for the family. If you can imagine what you are doing for a single child and his entire family on this day of days - and have had the opportunity to see this bus trip in progress - it touches and breaks the heart. If anything, our contribution has gone considerably up this year of years. It has hit home, we understand what it means to this small beginning in a child’s understand and his life —- and no matter the economy, our gift to a young child will come first each and every year no matter what. That is how we live our lives and that is our promise.

I usually give mid year and year end. Kind of check out what is in the budget and if it was a good year, I can give more, if not then I give less. It was much less this year, and I didn’t give to as many. I don’t know if I will be able to give at mid year, but if I do, I will divide it up among more. I figure they will appreciate anything even if it is only $5.00. Giving is giving. To me, the statement in the bible - “What do you have in your house?” doesn’t mean what do you have that makes you rich, but what can you let go of and give away?

There is a link in the article below to a list of the charitable foundations that have been impacted by that SOB Bernie Madoff … a criminal shame , and he still sits in his 5 mil penthouse, a free man, unbelievable. http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/madoff-and-americas-poorer-f…

In my house, our charitable giving is pretty much of actions we can take when we see the need. All we have available most of the time, is ourselves. My daughter is a server, and somedays works 10 hours or more to take care of her boys. Today an elderly man tried to pay his bill and the card got denied, so she paid the tab out of her tips, and figured at another location he will probably find out his card is short of funds, just not at lunch. Were more spontaneous in our giving, sometimes money, and a lot of times just seeing a need and adjusting to help.

We have the charities we regularly support, but get so many requests from other very legitimate charities on an almost daily basis that I am starting to feel guilty about not giving to them all. By the same token, I get hardened by the ones who repeatedly call us for donations, and then get quite arrogant when you refuse to send them money.

Lizzie .. how true, enough with the repeat calls or mailings!!!

My main efforts are local. I give all I can and then some to the Salvation Army because they helped us during the war when the Red Cross did n’t. So I always remember that. I also strongly support the house for battered women. Often little items (if you can’t give big) help them. When I see nice toiletry items on sale I buy them in bunches and bring them to the shelter. It is like Santa showed up. These women come there with the clothing on their back. A nice shampoo is very welcome. The other side of the coin (no pun intended) are the calls we get from Police organizations. I must get them once a month. Enough already I can’t keep up with that guilt trip.