tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post8581542957579815549..comments2024-03-28T02:36:36.432-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: WHERE DOES CHARITY START?Jim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-83026371377772729542015-05-29T13:16:47.596-04:002015-05-29T13:16:47.596-04:00This is really nothing new. I remember, way back i...This is really nothing new. I remember, way back in the '50's, collecting money to "save pagan babies." What exactly that meant, or where the money went, I have no idea. I think it just never occurred to us, as children who believed everything adults told us, to ask.<br /><br />I tend to be with Ramona. When I was teaching special education, first in inner city Baltimore and later in an alternate school, I provided untold pairs of sneakers, winter jackets, school supplies, and totally unglamorous but very much appreciated packages of socks, underwear and hygeine supplies.<br /><br />I still drop off things for the last school where I taught.<br /><br />Since I know how difficult it can be for a released prison inmate to re-integrate into society, especially some with no family support, I've been known to pay the first month's expenses in a specialized reentry community program for someone I think has a good chance of making it if given half an opportunity.<br /><br />Now I tend to give to charities that have a personal meaning for me. One of my daughters participates in a yearly "Penguin Plunge" for an animal shelter. A brother is active in raising money for the public library in the town where I grew up. A memorial scholarship fund was established for a sister at the university where she taught before she died.<br /><br />I don't officially tithe, but I do use 10% as a base figure for contributions. I don't especially worry about whether the contributions are tax deductible or not.KM Rockwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03973749764907859829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-85526086444544346192015-05-29T12:30:02.563-04:002015-05-29T12:30:02.563-04:00Thanks for the info, Warren. I think I'm on th...<br />Thanks for the info, Warren. I think I'm on the list of every charity out there, something that happens to those of us of a certain age, I think. I hate the charities that send their pleas with the envelopes stating in large red capital letters "Final Notice." Of course, it isn't. My friend's elderly mother fell for that and contributed to every plea for money that came into her mail box, until my friend, had her move in with her and could monitor what she was giving to. The only large organization I give to now is Doctors without Borders. I've been giving to Audubon, however now that I'm getting mail for donations to them at least twice a month, I think I'm going to stop. To me it's a waste of money to be sending all that mail with address labels, etc. I do give to local charities that have a good reputation. I never ever contribute to anyone calling on the phone. I'm going to save that link, Warren, in case I want to donate to what looks like a worthy cause that I'm not sure of.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-82298543740209973062015-05-29T12:16:43.945-04:002015-05-29T12:16:43.945-04:00Thank you for the link, Warren. I hadn't heard...Thank you for the link, Warren. I hadn't heard of Charity Navigator and I want to make sure that my donations are doing the most good. Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-34290479390474188742015-05-29T11:15:53.380-04:002015-05-29T11:15:53.380-04:00It takes a certain kind of villain to bilk people ...It takes a certain kind of villain to bilk people who are trying to help others. I hope the people running those fake "charities" are in very hot water.Shari Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425493627354028820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-20396901400934763192015-05-29T10:58:10.587-04:002015-05-29T10:58:10.587-04:00Charity Navigator is new to me but I long ago stop...Charity Navigator is new to me but I long ago stopped giving my $$ to organizations I didn't know personally. I am pretty sure my money goes to support the things I think I am paying for. <br />I don't have a lot of money and I want it to do the most good. KB Ingleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06089951663907060127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-24145716728424187542015-05-29T10:16:30.680-04:002015-05-29T10:16:30.680-04:00I had never heard of Charity Navigator, but will c...I had never heard of Charity Navigator, but will check them out. Thanks.Sandy Codyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02824301408180614516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-16135154449747793762015-05-29T09:56:03.873-04:002015-05-29T09:56:03.873-04:00Thank you very much for this link! Thank you very much for this link! Alice Duncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04617808704864502171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-38107314151477940362015-05-29T09:48:33.366-04:002015-05-29T09:48:33.366-04:00I count on Charity Navigator. We really need to ge...I count on Charity Navigator. We really need to get the message out there. Some of the worst charities have the most heart-wrenching commercials and celebrity endorsements. "Just 19 dollars a month will change a life ..." if you don't mind only 50 cents going to services!carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15985823239660829148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-42478337568563562332015-05-29T09:06:55.848-04:002015-05-29T09:06:55.848-04:00I am also familiar with Charity Navigator. It'...I am also familiar with Charity Navigator. It's a shame such a thing is necessary, but it is.<br /><br />Where does charity begin? That is a good question. Someone I know stopped donating to organizations and, each Christmas season, rather than write a big check for a tax break or to an organized charity, she writes a couple of checks to families she knows who are in financial straits. There's no tax credit, but it's direct help to people in need. It's something to think about.Ramonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00627775403015684868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-87438522157663852612015-05-29T07:09:07.691-04:002015-05-29T07:09:07.691-04:00It's no surprise, Jim, that you are ahead of m...It's no surprise, Jim, that you are ahead of me. Grace and EB, you're welcome. Thanks to my sister who told me about Charity Navigator.Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-25633341545125156682015-05-29T07:03:50.015-04:002015-05-29T07:03:50.015-04:00Thanks so much for the site address, Warren. We sc...Thanks so much for the site address, Warren. We screen our calls now hoping to eliminate having to talk to promoters. One time, we received a call from an adjacent county's police organization. I told them we lived in a different county, and they protested, saying we did not! I found out they were not the police, but promoters working out of LA, CA. Our phone exchange was grouped with Fairfax County's even though we live in Loudoun County, VA. I hate phone solicitation, but then I guess everyone does, which is why reading your blog is to everyone's benefit.E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-5669076998237236312015-05-29T06:21:11.850-04:002015-05-29T06:21:11.850-04:00Thank you of this very helpful information. So ma...Thank you of this very helpful information. So many times we blindly give money to charities that sound like they support the charitable works that we want to help. Sadly, that isn't always the case. Often I contributed to charities that called my home, the Breast Cancer Society being among them. Since getting caller ID on our phone, we are able to avoid these calls. We only answer calls that either identify the caller, or we recognize the number. No more pressure from insistent callers from charities. And for those charities that we are interested in supporting, we can now check Charity Navigator.Grace Toppinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10291304815273486038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-8775024826086140532015-05-29T05:38:49.854-04:002015-05-29T05:38:49.854-04:00Yep, I have used them for years. When my father di...Yep, I have used them for years. When my father died and I helped take over my mother’s finances, we used their resources to go through all her charitable contributions to determine which still made sense.<br /><br />~ Jim<br />Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.com