Reply to Is it possible to help/donate to a family directly after Sandy rather than give to an organization?

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Reply to "Is it possible to help/donate to a family directly after Sandy rather than give to an organization?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP, why?

There are organizations that are helping the victims as thoroughly and efficiently as possible. Wanting to do something one-on-one seems ego-driven to me, like you'll accept less efficiency for the victims if it means more gratification for you. [/quote]

Not the OP but I don't think seeing it as ego driven is the most negative way you could look at it. Non-profits do great work but they are also big salaries and overhead that go into and in times of crisis many people want to know they are helping the victims directly rather wondering if their money is going towards a 250K salary or paying the utility bills. Also a personal connection is important for some people. That is why World Vision and others that do adopt-a-child programs (where people get pictures/letters) are so successful versus a general send us money and trust that we will send it to a poor child in Africa approach. The personal connection is something many people value. Others just want to quickly write a check and drop it in the mail and be done and that is fine too. People connect in different ways and at different levels. It isn't bad or good. I don't think that caring about the actual individuals on the other end rather than the cause makes one ego driven.

Personally I like the Amazon list approach - you are directly donating supplies and yet it is organized.

Organizations are not always efficient. At Christmas time again there is often the option of buying specifically for a family or just donating a general gift. I volunteered for an organization that was one of the general gift donations. People indicated gender and age on the box and they were dispensed accordingly. Due to the mass quantities of gifts, there was no way to individualize the gifts to the recipients beyond that, so a family would be given 4 parcels per child based on the gender / age.  That did not correspond to a child getting clothes that fit or items of interest to them. Many gifts were unused or discarded because the items were general and not individualized in any way. I saw things thrown in the garbage because they were not suitable and other kids in tears because none of their items fit or were things they liked. Yet this organization was/is lauded as an incredibly successful charity with many pics published of happy kids with their gifts. [/quote]

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