Feed the children

[CatEyes]

I've been watching a feed the children commercial for the past fifteen minutes. Views of crying, starving, dying children are being flashed on the screen. These tiny, malnourished children are breaking my heart. The commercial say that donations sent will provide these children with medicine and food and a safe place to live. Only nine dollars a month. The children they are representing are in Kenya. Naturally, I'm thinking about picking up the phone and having them charge my credic card. Now, I'm wondering if I've been had. Have any of you ever participated in something like this? I know that these children really are suffering, but will the money I send actually get to these children?

[Sputterduck]

Research anyone you send money to beforehand. I have heard that there are good programs like that and bad ones. They should be able to tell you what percentage actually ends up feeding the children. Don't expect it to be 100 percent, though, because running the programs costs money, too.

[Shaunsmom]

CatEyes- I am in agreement with your original post. I hate watching those commercials. They break my heart!

Then, I think of the hungry children that are here in the USA. Next, I wonder what programs are good and what ones are bad (i.e. is the director of the program doing good or profitting illegally from this)...all this turns me off to donating to these specific kinds of places.

Sorry, I want to help. I really do. But I also want to be able to help children from my own country before feeding the rest of the world.

[newmominct]

Go to www.savethechildren.org
this is where I work...
Very legitimate, and 90 cents to the dollar go to make lasting change for children all over the world (including the states)

[JustMoi]

I'm more concerned with domestic problems. Given our economy, we have children going hungry and homeless and sick and desperate HERE. I prefer to keep my charitable dollars within my own community.

[irisheyes81]

Just as a reference for you, and anyone else, here is a good site to go to that will show you the good and bad charities: http://www.charitynavigator.org/

[CatEyes]

Thanks for the links.

[KaraJ]

I'm more concerned with domestic problems. Given our economy, we have children going hungry and homeless and sick and desperate HERE. I prefer to keep my charitable dollars within my own community.
I tend to agree, though I sent a bunch of our shoes to Africa. I also give a monthly donation of money to our church, who send the money all over the world to help out.