Help Locally to Improve Globally…

  Contributing to a relative, friend, or ‘neighborhood cause’ takes Priority in my book.

Everybody has an agenda, and I mean that in a good, necessary way. Every foundation, clinic, or organization originally began to benefit somebody in need, and hopefully that needy person isn’t the one in charge. But when it comes to donating to anybody’s welfare, I’ll first and foremost help those close to my heart, whether I’m contributing my money, my possessions, or my time. I can’t answer the call to save any foundation when there’s a cousin in need, or a friend in crisis. I’d rather fill a shopping bag full of good healthy food and donate it to the Sr. Center to be distributed to the homeless in our town before writing a check to some group ‘out there’. Tell me nieces or friends are walking/running for a good cause, and I’ll contribute.

I admit I check caller ID and let most calls go unanswered. They don’t want to hear that my brother’s house burned down, or a relative is on the verge of homelessness. They are there to get the donation, or even worse, get the credit card number so their donations can keep coming in every month. I just can’t do it.

I send care packages regularly to family, with real letters and photo updates. I know that satisfies me in every way, and I also know where my enclosed checks are going. I really believe if we each took care of the causes close to home, people we’ve known and loved for decades who really need help, the world would be a better place for each family, neighborhood, and community. That being said, once my loved ones have been taken care of, and I know the group is legitimate, established, and really honest & transparent with their spending, I do donate.

Due diligence is necessary here, since Anderson Cooper set me straight on big, established, scam ‘families’ that donate just 1% of their collections to the actual cancer victims. Not another moment of my time or energy will be given to that ‘Sweetheart’ group. Thanks to Anderson’s probe, they’ve been shut down and are being prosecuted. Beware of the scammers!