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One of the local charities hubby and I donate to has gone under.  We are looking for a new charity to take it's place. 

For me, it is very important that any charity we donate too is based on helping out citizens of the USA.  I know people on this board are from Canada and other great places, and this is not meant as a jab against helping fight AIDS in Africa or any other such thing.  I just prefer to donate and help closer to home.  If anyone knows of a greater Phoenix AZ charity, that would be even better since I tend to like smaller, maybe less known charities.

Looking forward to hearing from you guys on this.

Ricker had a plea for money.......

I donate to the local homeless shelters, that way when I walk past one of the retrobates on the street I don't feel guilty for not tossing a dime into their cup.....these places are usually manned with church going do-gooders who voulenteer their time so 90% or more of the money actually goes to the people who need it. Unicef and the United way have a huge amount of paid staff and under 60% finds its way to the downstream charities and then who knows how much is skimmed at that level in additional administrative costs before it actually gets to the person its intended for. The shelters usually have good programs to exit people from the street in additon to feeding and giving them a safe place.

As a student I worked in a TV and Electronics store on a busy street and had a homeless guy come in and ask for 70cents so he could buy a cup of coffee. I told him I would do one better and handed him a cup of coffee and told him if he wanted to make $10.00 he could sweep in front of the store - our front door was set back from the street in a abit of an alcove used to catch all the paper and leaves and it needed a good sweeping about once a week. He took the coffee from me and proceeded to dump it on the rug, gave me a couple of choice 4 letter words about what I could do with my coffee and job - he just needed the money - probably for alcohol or drugs....  and I had taken too much of his time already.....

Hubby and I own a business, and we have seen the very same response.  One of us will offer work and we just get nastiness in return.  Only one time have I had my offer accepted.  The young man found a job two weeks later.

Actually, in phx the shelters do very well, esp when we have "snowbird" homeless here.  We do a batter womans shelter, a family shelter and Big Brothers and Sisters.  The one that went under was designed to help homeless children with grooming products, backpacks, food, alarm clocks, etc.  We use to donate to the Pappas schools which were strictly for homeless children, but a greedy wench got in the way of a good thing.

Keep them coming folks, please!  If you are reading the post, take a minute to answer.

A nice charity that I have supported is Junior Achievement, I even served on the local JA Board of Directors for a few years. I think is a good program, and it works with kids and education, and area that could use some help! K+ to you for your charitable efforts!!!

I looked in your area, and here is some info:

http://www.jaaz.org/ (http://www.jaaz.org/)

CaptainHappy :95-
 :nlg- ADMIN

I like giving to the War Amps, the help a lot of people with diabetes as well as other things.

Thanks,
Wayne

OK, because I like to keep it more local, I am investigating a more central version of war amps.  For anyone interested in doing research the website is http://www.waramps.ca/home.html

JA looks good.  It maybe something that I can look at being a volunteer for.  More research needed on my part but.....

THX for the ideas.  Keep them coming.

second Harvest Food Bank.

Not sure if they exist where you are, but I give them cash and my labor for free several times a year.

Brichter beat me to it, but I will still suggest a local food bank or "soup kitchen". These kitchens are often run by local religious organizations, and you can donate food as well as money. They are usually small organizations, so most of the donations go directly toward helping those in need, and you can be sure that your donation will help those in your community. You can also volunteer. It's very rewarding. :71-

<EDIT> I decided to remove my soapbox rant.. :96-

During this time of year I give away toys at the many toy drives around town.  I basically buy up several toys and keep them in the trunk of my car.  Whenever I see a toy drive box, I deposit a few.  Other times St. Jude's Children's hospital (although this does not meet you criteria as several of the children that go there are not from the US, but a lot are).