Homeless

[purplefdu]

I agree. I donate mostly to Mooseheart/Moosehaven these days (I am a member of the Women of the Moose-the female side of the Moose Fraternal Lodge) without even trying. They get my boxtops for education, spare change, and energy helping to raise more money. We also tend to give to the Veterans (they sell the red poppys) and Legion (my dad is a member) and buy the little give-a-dollar things at stores a couple times a year (especially Wendys frosty coupon books).

We also donate food, items, etc to the food pantry (they adore hba items) as well as goodwill and a local church I trust to distribute my items. I knit shawls for a cancer group through the Lodge and we also make cards for holidays.

I do not normally give money to panhandlers, or homeless people. I used to when we lived in SoCal but the bums were local, nice guys (they used to babysit us at the beach for a couple bucks for the day) and they generally appreciated people's help. They preferred coffee to beer, and I've heard they were eventually given jobs and a place to stay around town. Yes maybe true charity is letting them use the money as they see fit, but don't ask for a burger and expect a beer.

[kav122]

Thanks for all of the great ideas and responses!!! It is good to see so many people are doing so much to help the less fortunate (although you would never guess it if you just listened to the media).

[fasteddie]

Almost everything I own came from a Goodwill and when I'm done with it, it returns there, its cheaper than Rent-A-Center. I saw a skit somewhere about using it as cheap dry cleaning, because the dry clean most if not all the clothes that come in.