I only donate to small local charities like sharing and caring. I don't like to give to charities that have a lot of over head. I understand that with big charities what is left for the needy is often well under 50%.The directors of large charities make large salaries.I work hard for my money so when i give some away i want it to be used to help someone. When Joan Siglin was alive she did a good job running several local charities.I like the saying that charity starts at home. There are a lot of family's locally that need help.I cant see giving to a charity that uses the money some where other then locally.You need to be careful when giving money over the Internet,watch out for the scams.

I sort of agree with that. When you give to local groups the money stays where you can see it at work. Sometimes I give to bigger groups, because there are issues that really need to be addressed on a national level, but most of the time I keep it close to home.

We always donate personally.  We will do the gift tree thing, buy a meal for a family, donate food to the food barrels, this the school had a couple of different things that we donated too.  I know it is hard this time of year, but "time" and a friendly face goes a long way.  We went to a "Retirement" home last year to help and I wanted to show my son that it wasn't just kids that need some extra caring this time of year.  He ended up reading (his idea) The Night Before Christmas to a group of people. He was a hit.   I was so damn proud, and yes I cried again.  He actually received a card from a lady from there.  We missed a Santa Party thing at the mall to go.  My son made me cry again on the way home by saying that he liked going to the home because some of the people's grand-kids couldn't see them this year and he liked to fill in.  He said he could see Santa some other time.  Needless to say I thought my heart was going to bust out.  The only problem was he wanted to know why they were there and not with their families.  That was hard to explain, but he did ok.  I agree with bigdog, it starts at home.  But it is hard to trust or decided who needs it the most. 

There are so many charaties and organizations looking for donations it's hard to know who to give to and who to exclude.  Unfortunately, we can't give to everyone, wouldn't it be nice if we could :) I don;t have a lot of extra money in my pocket especially during the holiday season but when I do find I have extra cash I don;t like to donate to a large charity knowing most of that will get tied up in red tape and only a small portion will actually be donated. I prefer to keep that xtra few dollars in my pocket and when I see someone that is homeless and in need of a good meal, I'd prefer to go buy them a hot meal and give it to them. I never give cash to the homeless as I don;t want it to support a drug/alcohol habit but if I can put some warm food in someones belly then I am happy. That always puts a smile on my face and a smile and a few kind words to someone down on thier luck can go a long way.

Nami

 - www.nami.org
3715 Columbus St, Bakersfield -(661) 868-7176

Nami is a great organization to support. If you have need of a support group or any help with getting meds etc. for you or a loved one with mental illness, they will help you. Remember that a large pehttp://www.tehachapinews.co... src="images/spacer.gif" />rcentage of the Homeless and hungry are mentally ill.
http://www.namikerncounty.c...
Nami Kern County Chapter
P.O. BOX 9144
bAKERSFIELD CA 93389-9144

Smokey a few years ago me and a Friend where driving through Mojave and there was a guy that didn't look to good holding a sigh that said 'why lie i need a beer'. I like honesty and i pulled over and me and my Friend gave the bum a few bucks for his beer. I don't mind giving a couple of dollars to a bum on a street corner. I look at it as the bum is doing the best he can besides beer is very nutritious:)

That is awesome Bigdog! I've seen a few guys with signs like that and it's funny, thier honesty pays off it seems. I've always had a softspot for homeless people ever since I was a child. I know a lot of people say it's thier own fault, you lie in the bed you make.........which is true, but my heart cant help but go out to them when thier bed is often a cold concrete slab or piece of grass at the park. I can't see someone on the street and not think they are someones child, possibly someones parent, a brother or sister.......and it makes me wonder where thier family is and why they ended up the way they did, I dont know how some people can just look the other way, snub thier nose, and not have any empathy at all.

Smokey along with Alcohol and drug addiction i think there's a lot of mental illness that contributes to a large portion of the homeless. I remember when i was a kid there was this homeless guy named Neil that would show up at my dads church every once and a while for the church service.Neil  had  a long white beard and hair and well he was homeless so he smelled. People would sit away from him because he smelled and i think to because he was a homeless. My dad always allowed Neil to attend to service even though some didn't want him there. One day i ask my dad about Neil and he told me that Neil was once a engineer and made lots of money and had a wife and kids.Neil did not drink or use drugs.He just one day gave up on life and started living on the streets. Neil had money coming in in a retirement but never drew off of it.. So when i see a homeless name i often think of Neil, Mental Illness had to part a role in Neils life.