Check Your Charities Wisely
There are so many charitable organizations in existence! My father once told me that if he gave even a dollar to everyone who asked him for money, he couldn’t live, himself. He did give a lot of money to the missionaries in Nigeria. After he died, and I was cleaning out his old records, I did not even want to add up the total amount he had sent to a mission that eventually was burned down, and to missionaries that were killed in route. My father’s intentions were good.
If an organization reports that (only) 15% of what they take in actually goes to help intended recipients, then anyone can realize that the other 85% is allocated to other purposes. This can be “administrative costs,” often a big catch-all category, and an excuse for raking money off the top.
Maybe I am suspicious of anyone who wants “somefin’ for nuttin’,” but I have reached the point that I would much rather give “in-kind” gifts. Canned goods donated to a community food pantry are always welcome, as is pet food to animal shelters. Quilts are equally welcome by many organizations, to use either as fundraisers or as gifts to those in need, to brighten their lives.
For awhile, there was an organization started by New Hampshire resident, Ellen Ahlgren, that collected and distributed quilts to children with HIV/AIDS. That group has since disbanded, for some reason unknown to me.
There are a lot of quilt causes: To the Top Project that makes quilts for veterans, The so-called “Ugly Quilts” program to make quilts for the homeless (they are made from selvaged materials and are intended only for protection from the elements), and then, there is the “Home of the Brave Quilts” to honor those U.S. servicemen and women who died in Afghanistan or Iraq. Ami Simms created a program to raise money for Alzheimer’s research, and often calls for mini-quilts to be auctioned.
The American Alliance for the Quilt runs contests in which the finished quilts are auctioned to raise money. The American Quilt Study Group is forever soliciting funds from businesses and individuals. The International Quilt Study Center collects funds for their ongoing work, as does the New England Quilt Museum, who also accepts old quilt magazines to be sold in their little store.
“Quilt for a Cure” cruises (for breast cancer research) is another good cause. Some quilters make quilts to auction for their local hospital, and other groups make quilts to be used by pediatric patients. Very small quilts can be created to place over neo-natal units, for a decorative effect and cheerfulness for staff and parents.
Beware of “the snake in the grass” when dealing with charities, and support those who do the most good for others.
A while ago, and I don’t remember the figures now, I heard a report about the high percentage that so many non-profits designate for high executive salaries. It seems sinful that anyone would be so greedy, when donated money is expected to be used for something other than to grease the palms of a few.
All I am saying is that I am very careful to whom I give money. Personally, I would trust the Salvation Army over any other group out there. No, I am not a member. The Red Cross is another group that is always right there in time of fire, natural disaster, and other community needs, and seems to be a very worthwhile cause.
However limited our funds, we can always find a way to help others. Think about doing something nice for someone else, today!
Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications
