Gifts to charity

[Aquagility]

What's the best way to ensure that one's gift gets to where it can save lives, and not dissapear in the costs of administration or into the pockets of black-marketeers?

[Ice.Maiden]

By donating, or raising enough money to buy the item/s yourself, and then present the charity with it.

[terambulan]

On a trip to India I found an orphanage that I send annual donation to directly.

I get emails from them and visit occasionally. It is connected to Mt. Theresa's homes and run by the local priests.

[Ice.Maiden]

I did that to a place in Turkey, where people with leprosy were abandoned. Unfortunately, on one of my returns, I found no change to the previous time, despite decent sums of money being sent, so unfortunately, I retracted the gift.

[Aquagility]

Thank you both.

By the time I'd paid for a trip to one of these deprived places there would be nothing left in the kitty for me to give.

And, by the way, when we get pictures of starving people and dying children, I wonder where the journalists and film crew will have their meal and spend the night.

[Annna]

Samaratins purse, or oxfam on line.
You can donate for anything from a packet of seeds to a chicken or a goat. Makes a great gift. And it is guaranteed that they get the gift you donate.
Also shoebox appeal is great. You pack the box, a child gets it, simple.

Best wishes
Annnna

[Aquagility]

Thanks, Annna. Your first suggestion led me to this site, with lots of ideas.
www.humanism.org.uk/site/cms/contentViewArticle.asp?article=1517

[Annna]

Glad to help. I will make a note of that site myself for next time I give a charity gift.
X

[angiebaby57]

I no longer buy gifts for adults, only children. With the money I save I sponsor a child in Peru with World Vision. It costs just �18 per month and I get letters from the child, photos of the child and updates as to how my money is helping him. All my adult friends and relatives know what I do and prefer this. I know that World Vision are one of the best at sending the money to the cause and they dont have fancy offices etc. They are a Christian Charity and so may have some morals!!