It's that time of year again: What charities do you give to?

[nidena]

I refuse to shop on amazon but, when forced to do so, I try to remember to use the "smile" link for the one or two non-profits I know are on there.

I think one non-profit that I'll be adding for 2022 is the "Friends of Fort Harrison State Park".  They do activities for folx at the park and have weekly cleanups--so many dog-poop-leaving and trash-leaving people in the park --and they work to combat that.

[movingforward]

I give to the local Meals on Wheels throughout the year, but give extra in December when I receive my bonus. I do the same for the local humane society.

I also give Kiva loans

[Deleted]

Nov 23, 2021 23:34:42 GMT -5 stillmovingforward said:

I do kiva loans also! It was a great way to get my kids involved when they were little and helped them see how other people lived.

I REALLY like that idea.  I give my granddaughters cash so they can learn to make choices and manage money- some for themselves, some set aside, some given away.  I bet the 7-year old, who's very interested in numbers and geography, would love this.  Hopefully I can see them soon after (please, God) she and DS get through their respective cases of COVID, which appear to be mild. 

[jerseygirl]

I ‘support’ 2 little girls in the Philapines but really don’t know if the money goes to their family or into a general fund. But charity is well rated so it’s helping some children
Also to local food bank and to our church weekly

Wounded Warriors, Salvation Army, St Judes and a small Catholic Church in Hawaii that has mostly native Hawaiian and poor folks
For each of them I’ve been sending $1000 via CC in December. Mildly annoying that people who give only a small monthly donation get gifts like a nice blanket etc. but we get nada. Just lots of mail from other charities!
This year I did send an RMD directly to WW. So the money doesn’t show up on 1099 and lowers our AGI. Next year plan to do this for all of them
I’m also on board of a charity and regularly give donation in addition to time.
I like the idea of Kiva loans, will look that up
I’m very happy we can do this. Growing up only donations were weekly small church collections. Family didn’t have concept of donating, guess they were just happy to not need charity. When our kids were little we also didn’t think about teaching them donating. We were focused on trying to pay for private schools and college.
Boys went to a HS that did stress obligation to help those less fortunate so I guess we learned from that!

[azucena]

We have two kids 'adopted' thru compassion international in mexico the same ages as our daughters. Covid shut down letters to/from them but we have been following covid news. We send extra for bdays and Christmas and their letters after are filled with excitement about the necessities they received like underwear which is a great lesson for my kids.

[mollyanna58]

Food bank and Toys for Tots.

The animal rescue I volunteer with is collecting donations for a local organization that helps abused women and children.  I ordered several items from their wish lists, and will be buying diapers as well.

[daisylu]

Nov 24, 2021 11:05:14 GMT -5 azucena said:

We have two kids 'adopted' thru compassion international in mexico the same ages as our daughters. Covid shut down letters to/from them but we have been following covid news. We send extra for bdays and Christmas and their letters after are filled with excitement about the necessities they received like underwear which is a great lesson for my kids.

I stopped paying for my kids clothes when they started working. I used to always tell them that if they did not make a Christmas list they get underwear and socks. DS's(20YO) list this year is socks and underwear. 

[nidena]

Nov 24, 2021 11:02:37 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

I ‘support’ 2 little girls in the Philapines but really don’t know if the money goes to their family or into a general fund. But charity is well rated so it’s helping some children
Also to local food bank and to our church weekly

Wounded Warriors, Salvation Army, St Judes and a small Catholic Church in Hawaii that has mostly native Hawaiian and poor folks
For each of them I’ve been sending $1000 via CC in December. Mildly annoying that people who give only a small monthly donation get gifts like a nice blanket etc. but we get nada. Just lots of mail from other charities!
This year I did send an RMD directly to WW. So the money doesn’t show up on 1099 and lowers our AGI. Next year plan to do this for all of them
I’m also on board of a charity and regularly give donation in addition to time.
I like the idea of Kiva loans, will look that up
I’m very happy we can do this. Growing up only donations were weekly small church collections. Family didn’t have concept of donating, guess they were just happy to not need charity. When our kids were little we also didn’t think about teaching them donating. We were focused on trying to pay for private schools and college.
Boys went to a HS that did stress obligation to help those less fortunate so I guess we learned from that!

Ugh.  You just reminded me that I need to prep RMD paperwork for a couple clients.  The forms are so long and each RMD requires a separate form. 

[Miss Tequila]

I mainly contribute to things that are near and dear to my heart.  There are a few local charities/programs that help special needs children to which I contribute.  We have a local charity that raises money for breast cancer treatment funding and I added that to my list this year.  

This year, I want to find a local family that is truly in need and fund their Christmas.  Buying their Christmas dinner and then some presents.  I know that people in need have bigger needs than Christmas, but the thought of a child not having a real Christmas upsets me.  The hard part is that I want to make the selection myself.  I want it to be a family that is down and out but unrelated to drugs or crime (in other words, it can't be someone just getting out of prison).  Maybe I can contact a woman's shelter for a woman and her children that just found housing and are really struggling.  I don't want this to be one of my good thoughts that i never follow through on so I need to get moving on this.  

[jerseygirl]

The little girls we sponsor is also through Compassion international. Nice to know that you actually get letters from your little Mexican girls azucana!! I’ll start sending letters to our little girls now that you confirm the girls actually receive gifts etc!!

[Miss Tequila]

Nov 24, 2021 11:05:14 GMT -5 azucena said:

We have two kids 'adopted' thru compassion international in mexico the same ages as our daughters. Covid shut down letters to/from them but we have been following covid news. We send extra for bdays and Christmas and their letters after are filled with excitement about the necessities they received like underwear which is a great lesson for my kids.

I’ve never heard of that charity. I will have to look into it. That sounds rewarding for everyone

[azucena]

Nov 24, 2021 12:42:12 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

The little girls we sponsor is also through Compassion international. Nice to know that you actually get letters from your little Mexican girls azucana!! I’ll start sending letters to our little girls now that you confirm the girls actually receive gifts etc!!

We started at 6 yo and our older one is now 13. We get an updated pic about every other yr. She responds directly to our letter esp if we ask questions. It's fun to see their Spanish as I'm fairly fluent. It's definitely made an impression on our kids.

[zibazinski]

I’m donating diapers. I usually just write checks to DH’s temple , Heifer International, Humane Society, but local agencies like the Tampa Theater have been collecting diapers for babies/toddlers because welfare doesn’t help with that. Been decades since diapers for me but there have been stories about how much they are needed. So I hit up Costco for them and drop them off to whatever place is collecting at the moment.

[Deleted]

I see that my PO Box has a mailing from the foundation supporting the local library system. Not only does it mesh with my giving priorities (education is a big one) but I've been finding real treasures through their Research portal for the paper I'm writing. Better put them on the list.

[Ava]

I donate to United Way through payroll deduction.
My work group selects a family in need and we "adopt" them for the holidays, so I always donate to collaborate and help them.

Other than that, I don't do anything that would be a fixed expense, because I have so much on my plate financially; student loans, mortgage, car payments, and it's just me.


But I help here and there, sometimes I donate to a food bank when they are outside the grocery store, I send money occasionally to a cousin in Uruguay who's struggling, and I do little acts of kindness when I can, like paying for a meal, or doing something to help them out (run an errand for them, etc.)

[hopetoberich]

I was helping 2 families in the Philippines. I got videos every week, sometimes pictures several times a week.The pictures showed the food bought, or clothing or toys with the kids using or playing with everything.
With the internet its easier to support a family without the red tape of paying charities in my experience. Nothing against charity, i chose to go direct to the family and either paypal or a grocery store voucher.
Grocery store voucher can be sent to several countries like...SA,Phil Indonesia and i believe Mexico i was suprised to find

I need to get in touch again to help fund Christmas.

[Ava]

Nov 29, 2021 10:44:08 GMT -5 hopetoberich said:

I was helping 2 families in the Philippines. I got videos every week, sometimes pictures several times a week.The pictures showed the food bought, or clothing or toys with the kids using or playing with everything.
With the internet its easier to support a family without the red tape of paying charities in my experience. Nothing against charity, i chose to go direct to the family and either paypal or a grocery store voucher.
Grocery store voucher can be sent to several countries like...SA,Phil Indonesia and i believe Mexico i was suprised to find

I need to get in touch again to help fund Christmas.

Agree that you don't need the red tape and expense of a charity today.
But, how did you initially found out about this family?

[hopetoberich]

Through a friend in the UK. I found the family. Today i sent $15 and will gets pictures within a few days. Its much cheaper and they get the whole amount. I don't know how to post pictures here, but if you'd like to see message me.

[Ava]

You can also send money through Western Union directly to many countries, at least in South America.
What is difficult is to find a family to help, at least for most people.

It sounds great.

The reason I don't do that sort of thing is because I have to pay my debt, support myself and save for retirement, all on an "ok" salary. I don't want an ongoing commitment or create the idea that they can count on me for a long time.

Also, it depends on the country how far your dollars go. If you send money to Argentina, dollar is strong so it would go further. In Uruguay, on the other hand, everything is expensive. You would need to send a considerable amount to make a dent. 

[weltschmerz]

My niece asked me what I want for Christmas. I don't need anything...no sweaters, no tchotchkes, no kitchen stuff. I'm far from wealthy and living on a small pension, but I really and truly have everything I need.
I told her to donate money to an animal rescue...that will be my gift.

[stillmovingforward]

I keep trying to get people to do this for me but they insist on giving me stuff. I hate stuff and i need nothing.

[Deleted]

DH and I used to get Mom and Dad "gifts" from the Heifer Project.  You make a donation to the organization and they give a goat or chickens or some other needed animal to a family in a developing country (along with training and support) so they can raise them, breed them and use them for food.  We used to explain to Mom and Dad that we'd bought them a goat but another family would raise it for them.  They liked that.  Some of my siblings married people who were raised in families where you HAVE to buy your parents a gift.  Mom and Dad didn't need or want much so half the time they got gift cards.  I have a beautiful Italian cashmere sweater someone must have given Dad one year.   He never would have bought that on his own.

I have to admit I'm getting tired of all the Giving Tuesday e-mails.  Finally I looked at what I have in the charitable budget through year-end, moved it into my Donor-Advised Fund and then made anonymous donations to The Fistula Foundation and our local library foundation.  I LOVE That option.  

Thanks to susana for the suggestion on The Fistula Foundation.  I'd read about it years ago and am happy to support it.

[TheOtherMe]

I am totally over the Giving Tuesday emails and letters from every charity I have ever donated to.

[apple 2]

I give to a local charity that provides musical instruction and afterschool care to children who live in the worst area of this city.
It is a music academy, they also feed and often clothe these children, warm winter jackets are a big deal. The children perform (pre covid) around Christmas, they work for it all year and never fail to impress with their effort and joy. This year and last were via Skype.

[jerseygirl]

Nov 30, 2021 19:10:45 GMT -5 apple 2 said:

I give to a local charity that provides musical instruction and afterschool care to children who live in the worst area of this city.
It is a music academy, they also feed and often clothe these children, warm winter jackets are a big deal. The children perform (pre covid) around Christmas, they work for it all year and never fail to impress with their effort and joy. This year and last were via Skype.

That’s such a great organization to help and inspire children!
So interesting to read about the various charities the folks here are supporting

[apple 2]

Nov 30, 2021 19:40:04 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Nov 30, 2021 19:10:45 GMT -5 apple 2 said:

I give to a local charity that provides musical instruction and afterschool care to children who live in the worst area of this city.
It is a music academy, they also feed and often clothe these children, warm winter jackets are a big deal. The children perform (pre covid) around Christmas, they work for it all year and never fail to impress with their effort and joy. This year and last were via Skype.

That’s such a great organization to help and inspire children!
So interesting to read about the various charities the folks here are supporting

There are some very wonderful people behind these charities, very commited and kind individuals.