Community Chat

[Spurt]

---

@chrystaltree wrote:

@Twins Mom wrote:

Every week we got another full envelope from one charity including glives, dish towel, pot holder or whatever. Cutting them off. Contribution only stimulates more envelopes. Makes me so mad. 

Yes! Because they share ttheir mailing lists.  You give to one and the floodgates open up.  Almost all of the money they collect goes to salaries and administration costs.  
  

---

@chrystaltree @Twins Mom 

Charity Navigator even tells which ones share their mailing lists so you can avoid those charities 

[vermint]

My church runs a clothes closet and food pantry, it's open once a week for people to "shop" for clothes (though everything is free, it's hung up and racked by size so people can just look through for themselves). The food pantry is open by appointment only, and those seeking help are "vetted" to determine true need. The staff is all volunteer and these are available to anyone in need. We also serve other needs in the community and our demonination serves worldwide. 99% of our charitable giving goes to these programs...we know where are money is going. It's all very transparent, as it should be.

It's amazing to me that the food pantry and clothes closet is always well stocked--the items are donated almost exclusively by church members.

In the past, I've tried doing "one time" donations to various organizations. It results in an absolute flood of junk mail that goes on for years, even if I never give another dime. I no longer donate to those charities.

[ThinkingOutLoud]

I donated some items to a local homeless shelter years ago. I still get solicitation letters from them even though I moved out of the area. You'd think they'd notice the address the letter is going to is out of state.

I donated to the local food bank and was put on the mailing list for their annual funding letter. I was stunned to see how much they were spending for a fancy dinner for donors.

Needless to say, this has just reiterated why I donate to an organization with no overhead, that helps people worldwide and doesn't waste the money on soliciting or fancy dinners. 

[tends2dogs]

---

@Spurt wrote:

---

@tends2dogs wrote:

When I see the constant ads for St Judes, the Shriners, and the suffering animals (especially on the Hallmark channel), I have to think how much is that TV time costing them?  Playing on people's sympathies is pathetic, IMO.  

---

@tends2dogs 

The TV stations give  the Charity Ads free time

---

Good to know, @Spurt .  Thanks for that info........I still hate those ads. 

[JaneMarple]

I was watching Joan Rivers several years ago (not sure if it on QVC) and she said if the charity sent her a letter requesting a donation on expensive stationary, then she would ignore them and the opposite was true to her giving to other charities. I've followed this example ever since.

[Catiele]

We give to the needy in our town.  I give to St. Jude's.

[Spurt]

---

---

@tends2dogs wrote:

---

@Spurt wrote:

---

@tends2dogs wrote:

When I see the constant ads for St Judes, the Shriners, and the suffering animals (especially on the Hallmark channel), I have to think how much is that TV time costing them?  Playing on people's sympathies is pathetic, IMO.  

---

@tends2dogs 

The TV stations give  the Charity Ads free time

---

Good to know, @Spurt .  Thanks for that info........I still hate those ads. 

---

@@tends2dogs wrote:

---

@Spurt wrote:

---

@tends2dogs wrote:

When I see the constant ads for St Judes, the Shriners, and the suffering animals (especially on the Hallmark channel), I have to think how much is that TV time costing them?  Playing on people's sympathies is pathetic, IMO.  

---

@tends2dogs 

The TV stations give  the Charity Ads free time

---

Good to know, @Spurt .  Thanks for that info........I still hate those ads. :womansa

@tends2dogs 

According to one report in March 2022 billions of dollars in advertising time have been donated .Many of the ads are heartbreaking and difficult to watch

---

[jackthebear]

this may not be everyone's cup of tea, however, Amazon has Amazon Smile, where you can get donations to local groups, right now I am picking a local cat thrift shop,