Donating directly to the needy

[mefordis]

Every Christmas I always think about how I'd love to be able to sponsor a family by donating cash directly to the family, plus presents and a holiday dinner. This way the admin fees would be $0. I wish there was some organization that would match families with donors so people could donate directly in this way.

Has anyone heard of this type of program? We donate to organizations but I always wonder how much of that money ends up helping people vs paying administration fees and salaries.

 

[JimMIA]

I don't have any specific organizations, but in many cities there are groups who do exactly what you are looking for. Lots of totally volunteer groups, especially affiliated with houses of worship of all religions.

 

[mefordis]

I don't have any specific organizations, but in many cities there are groups who do exactly what you are looking for. Lots of totally volunteer groups, especially affiliated with houses of worship of all religions.

Thanks. I'll call around some churches and see if they can make a recommendation.

 

[PollyannaMom]

This one does.

It's called My Brother's Keeper.

 

[mefordis]

This one does.

It's called My Brother's Keeper.

Thanks!

 

[superme80]

My town has a game group where the women get together to play games, and they raise money to help those in need around the holidays. The local grocery store runs a promotion to save money on a turkey, prime rib, or ham. Those "bucks" you get on your receipt can be donated directly to this group to assist in purchasing meals for those in need. They also raise money throughout the year to purchase toys for a list of children they receive. Your area might have a group like this.

 

[Colleen27]

Look into the Old Newsboys in your area. Our local program has zero overhead - all the work is done by volunteers and the space they use is donated - and they provide Christmas gifts and holiday meals to over 100 families in our small town (pop. 4500). They also connect interested donors with needy families outside of their immediate service area, but still in our county, via an adopt-a-family program.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Find someone you can see needs help and just help. Two weeks ago I was in a Dollar Tree and watched a lady literally pick up the tab for the person in front of her.

Personally, I have dropped cash in a bag with a snack and whispered to the person to look carefully before throwing it out. This summer I saw a person living in their car and bought a small potted Mum and tucked a $20 deep inside with a note and left it on the windshield. No reason to use a go between so I don't do charities of any kind, I tip everyone and just hand out cash to those who cross my path. They can decide what to do with it.

 

[MICKIMINI]

We do direct giving and it takes patience to look for the right opportunity. For instance, there was a Catholic sister in front of me in the grocery store and I signaled quietly to the clerk and paid for her order. Another time, we picked up the tab for the fire department crew that rolled into a DD... We do this at any time the opportunity presents itself. The point is to do it quietly and not call attention to yourself or put the recipient on the spot.

 

[Southernmiss]

St Vincent de Paul is a catholic charity sponsored by Catholic churches. Check with them

You might also check with battered women's shelters or public schools for leads.

Thank you for your caring heart!

 

[sam_gordon]

Around here the Salvation Army has "Angel Tree". You go to a location, get a tag (or multiple) for a child that has their wish list on it. You go purchase the gifts and return to Salvation Army. I'm pretty sure they don't need to be wrapped. They'll get them to the appropriate child.

Our local Kroger (grocery store) has bags of meals you can purchase, leave at the store, and they'll distribute.

 

[Christine]

I've noticed that on the NextDoor app there are people doing this. Looking for families in need, or families in need are asking for help. It might take a bit to sort of vet them out to see if they are legitimate but so far it seems they are. For instance, on my neighborhood site there is a woman who recently fled a domestic abuse situation and is now in an apartment with 2 children and is basically in need of everything and looking for help with Christmas for her kids. So people are getting together to organize that. Not sure if you are active on that site, but you might find what you are looking for there.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

Every Christmas I always think about how I'd love to be able to sponsor a family by donating cash directly to the family, plus presents and a holiday dinner. This way the admin fees would be $0. I wish there was some organization that would match families with donors so people could donate directly in this way.

Has anyone heard of this type of program? We donate to organizations but I always wonder how much of that money ends up helping people vs paying administration fees and salaries.

Also, contact your local Boys & Girls club. They may be able to direct you to a family who could use a helping hand this time of the year.

The reason I thought of it, was that DH's office does a thing with the local B&G club every year. (Each office in the company gets to pick whatever charity or group they want to help in their location.) The company has a set amount they will use, and employees are welcome to donate money or gifts, or not. For the last 5 years, they've managed to get at least 3 gifts per child, every year; plus a stocking with candy, gift cards (to places like McD's), and toiletry items (new toothbrush, etc). Plus they directly help the club; one year it was all new games and sporting equipment; another year new books/supplies/emergency clothing stash. They always include something for each volunteer/employee too. Anyways, last year, they had a couple of families that weren't going to have anything at all (parents lost jobs; in one case, they lost their home). The employees gave a little bit more, and then the company matched what was given, to help those specific families.

 

[taterheads]

Contact Churches or schools in your area they are the entities that know the personal needs of local families and can help you to provide assistance to families in need in your area. However, be aware, they will most likely (without taking a cut) act as a middle man. One because often families in need want aninimity (they don't want to be a public trophy for an I helped someone moment) and two you are protected this way from further contacts for assistance from whomever the assistance goes to.

 

[DLgal]

Go to any store that offers layaway and offer to pay off some of those plans. You'll be someone's holiday angel this season.

 

[SteveH]

If you have kids in school or even a nearby school, reach out to the school secretary and see if have any families in need.

I recommend this as the school generally knows the families that may need help and can sort of "vet" them a bit, they can give you the ages and info but they won't give you the names. Our staff team adopts two families, but we try to keep it quiet and without any fanfare. Local paper called and we've declined to even talk about it, we don't do it for the fanfare we do it for the family. We got totally played a few years ago by a mom who was down on her luck due to an abusive family. What came out 9 months later we she had set him up and elaborately tried to blame him (burner cell phone, etc.). We all were angry but the end of the day we realized it wasn't about her, it was about the kids.

 

[tcufrog]

One of our family's traditions is that we take the kids on a shopping spree where we buy donations for a local charity to hand out. We then deliver the donations as a family to the charity. The kids love filling up the shopping carts and seeing the giant receipts printed out. It's one of our favorite activities. We do something similar in the fall for school supplies.

 

[willowsnn3]

Check with one of your local public schools.
My church partners with one of the local elementary schools. The school gives us info on 25--30 needy families and the ages of all the children in the family, not just the one in elementary school. We invite the families to the church about a week before Christmas for a meal & visit with Santa & give them a box with fixings for Christmas dinner, $10 Kroger or Walmart giftcards to help with the turkey/ham purchase. And lots of toys/gifts for the children in the family. Obviously we didn't do the meet up at church last year or this year because of Covid, but we did deliver everything to the school for the parents to pick up. We usually start in October collecting the gift cards so we have plenty by Christmas time.

 

[stsomewhere]

You may know someone that needs extra help, an elderly relative or neighbor that is living on a fixed income- could use help with utilities, food, help around the house, raking leaves, shoveling snow etc. They may be struggling and too proud to ask for help.
Someone that is unemployed, lower income. Maybe it is even a gift card for a grocery store, gas money When my kids were in high school ,we knew which friends were struggling, we helped out where we could. We knew some foster kids and purchased them pre-paid phones, suitcases, warm coats,etc. My grandparents we gave them meat- steaks, pork loins- things that weren't in their budget but loved. We have not given Christmas gifts in years but help out others through out the year.

 

[tvguy]

Around here the Salvation Army has "Angel Tree". You go to a location, get a tag (or multiple) for a child that has their wish list on it. You go purchase the gifts and return to Salvation Army. I'm pretty sure they don't need to be wrapped. They'll get them to the appropriate child.

Our local Kroger (grocery store) has bags of meals you can purchase, leave at the store, and they'll distribute.

Salvation Army used to let you adopt an entire family, not sure if they still do that. We did that at work, collected money bought food, toys and a Christmas tree and delivered it directly to the family.