We certainly don?t wish to sound Scrooge-like when we say all of us should be careful this holiday season, when choosing a needy charity to support.
An article in Sunday?s Oregonian points out the pitfalls of sending cash to some well-known charities, with the intention that most of every dollar we send goes to benefit the cause.
In many cases, that?s not true. It costs more to administer fund raising for some charities than the amount that actually goes to the program or cause.
Author Julie Tripp notes it is wise to take some time to investigate the charity before writing a check.
Why?
Well, for example, she notes that the Cancer Fund of America Support Services, based in Dearborn, Mich., spent about 93% of the funds it takes in on fund raising and management, leaving only seven percent for actual programs.
Feed the Children, only 35% of funds go to actually feeding the children.
Of course, there are many, many good ways to spread your goodwill this and every week of the year.
We can look around Sweet Home and without much trouble pick out numerous worthy causes for which administration costs are negligible or nonexistent.
For example, there are the local foundations such as the Sweet Home Community Foundation or the LBCC Foundation or the Lebanon Community Hospital Foundation, all of which directly benefit East Linn county residents each and every day of the year.
There are groups such as the HOPE Center that has assisted hundreds of needy families over the years, SHEM, the Gleaners, the annual Sharing Tree. Food baskets at local churches and the high school.
The Singing Christmas Tree that brings so much enjoyment and holiday spirit into the community, is in need of repairs that will cost several thousand dollars. Dozens of folks work diligently every year to make this production come to life, on donations only.
A dollar donated to that cause would be a dollar directly invested in the community.
We?re not saying donating to statewide or national charities is wrong, only that donors should know the financial facts involved.
If charity begins at home, Sweet Home is a great place to start.
A.P.