http://www.tampabay.com/americas-worst-charities/

Greedy greedy, greedy !!!!
I'm sure glad that I'm just an old blue collar trailer trash.
There's an old song that says "I got plenty a nothin and nothin's plenty for me"

Was called to donate to a state trooper's fund. Told the guy I coudn't afford it as I had to pay a $120.00 traffic ticket given to me by a state trooper a couple of days before!

In all fairness the ticket was only $30.00 if I remember right. The rest was court costs for a mail in of the ticket fee! Wow I bet that took a lot of the judge's time!

Can't believe the speed limit was only 55 mph on a massive divided highway. The excuse was it was a "limited access highway." Uh huh!

Now I do enjoy the solicitors that want to sell me siding for my house. I ask them, "Now why would I want to put siding on my log home?"

Most people don't realize that most of these phone calls are from paid solicitors. The first question I usually ask is "do you think this is a worthwhile charity?". Then I ask if they are a paid solicitor (knowing the answer is probably yes.Then I say " If this is such a worthwhile charity why are you not donating your time?". Then I listen to the crickets for a short while until they hang up.
With that being said there are some good charities but a lot are just high pressure money grubers which funnel very little down to the people that need it.The majority of donations are consumed by administrative fees.
I do volunteer for a local charity which provides Christmas presents for abut 1500 needy children each year but all the labor is volunteer and we do close to 10 fundraisers each year. I do enjoy helping even though it can be very time consuming!

I just tell them I'm dirt poor without a bank account, nor any credit cards. Pretty much in the same boat they are collecting for.

Once you tell them you have no credit card, they hang up before you do.

I hate the idea of people profiting from charitable work. I do simple things like hit those red kettles hard at Christmas, fill those boots when local fireman are collecting for the food pantry, etc. Every dollar I give in those situations goes straight to the folks that need it, not 2 cents out of every dollar.

I use to volunteer time at a place in GR called God's Kitchen. Anyone could walk in and get fed quite well, no cost, just show up.

There are quite a few miserable people out there, be it booze or drugs being the affliction, that they would rip you an new A$$ hole if the daily menu didn't suit them.

Free food and people willing to help you...

Blew my mind!!!

Let me rant about this a bit more.

I mean, your homeless and found a cardboard box to call home, and you're Bitching about free hot meals on a daily basis, and non intrusive people who put up with your abusive crap who only want to help, you crap on them, but they continue to feed you every day, and you are welcome at any time for a free hot meal and shelter for the winter. Plenty of places around here to bunk at night, but No One will let you in if you are smoke.

Can't fix everything, but people with good hearts try.

Another thing is I was serving one old guy who came in a couple times a day to eat free food and he just beat the hell out of everyone caring for him. We didn't complain, but he always put up a stink and was quite nasty toward everyone.

He ate for free with people serving him, that did not complain!

My first patient, at one of my clinicals at a nursing home, when I as studying to be an RN punched me in the face. That was after I gently told him it was time to get up. The old man really gave me a hard time all the way through, but cried hs eyes out on my last day there. The poor guy was in and out of reality.

The crazy thing is he was once a really big GM excecutive.

I hear many of the homeless are mentally ill. Out to lunch.

Where we are staying the owner here just a few days ago was lamenting about the different conservation groups that operate on charitable contributions. He has been here full time since the 70's and is as conservation minded as anyone I know.

What he lamented was that some graduate student or researcher would come to the island with a grant to do some research. The research ends, they want to stay, and rather than finding a real job (his words) they invent some problem to solve and start a non-profit organization to fix it. He says it is funny, it has never been a problem for the last thirty years but suddenly they need to get donations to fix it. So in his opinion there are a number of organizations of "save the" or "study the" type that have more to do with sustaining the people running them than actually doing any good.

Very few organizations have a "start date - get the job done - and wind it down" mindset. Once started they only tend to try and grow.

A lot of good non-profit organizations out there. I much prefer voluntary solutions to problems, when possible, than government. But buyer beware when you get the check book out. Some due diligence is a good idea.

"The crazy thing is he was once a really big GM excecutive".
Yhat is probably why he was in and out of reality.

Many of the homeless have mental problems. They can be difficult to deal with but are still hurting and need help . Find a good group and help because it will help you as much as others!!!

I am surprised the Humane Society of the United States is not on the list with only 1%
going to animals in need. However, the administrators and staff live very well .
Maybe they are only listing people charities.

Jesus answered, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he travelled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, 'Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.' Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbour to him who fell among the robbers?"
He said, "He who showed mercy on him."

Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

— Luke 10:30–37,

You will find similar concepts in most religions.

Apparently. I heard that too about the Humane Society.

seems to me like a good time to let this post fade away.
Everyone should let their conscience be their guide.

Done!

Catmandoo