This kind of news makes me mad; steaming mad. There are so many people who are less fortunate than the average person. And there are few enough people who are willing to help them out. Then these unscrupulous people or groups of people try to take advantage of those who have giving hearts. I think that there’s a special place in hell for people like them
Anyhow, the reason for the mini rant is this piece of news I read at The Miami Herald. Apparently, there are those who engage in fraudulent activities, trying to collect money in behalf of military veterans, police, and firefighters. According to the report:
The Florida attorney general on Wednesday joined a national effort to fight fraud committed by groups claiming to collect money on behalf of protection agencies and veterans, but they give misleading information about how much of the money would actually be given to those groups.
”Operation False Charity” includes 76 actions against 32 fundraising companies, 31 individuals and 22 nonprofits — or groups claiming to be nonprofits. The effort is led by the Federal Trade Commission, and attorneys general, secretaries of state and other law enforcers in 48 states and the District of Columbia.
You know what’s worse? Some of these groups are actually REAL charities. The problem is that the money that they collect do not ALL go to the causes that they are supposed to champion. While that is not wrong or uncommon in itself, people are misled and majority of the money goes to administration costs, which includes wages of those who work in the organizations.
For more information, get in touch with the FTC.
Categories: Charities, News, Organizations, Veterans
Though many have served with life, limb and even their lives, many veterans fro the wars that the U.S. Military branches fall victims for these scams. Such an example would be the charity The National Veterans Service Fund for Vietnam veterans who claimed to provide help to those servicemen who were exposed to Agent Orange in the said war which failed to invest enough money to the veterans they claim so much to be helping. The said chemical was used widely in the Vietnam conflict as a defoliant to clear huge tracts of forest removing all traces of vegetation making it easier for the military to check and secure. The only problem was that the said agent was also a major cause of cancer and other health disorders that only became known after it was studied extensively after the war. The said charity was supposed to provide assistance in terms of medical aid, and other financial support for veterans and their families who were left to deal with the consequences of its use.
Senate inquiries on the activities of the said organizations questioned the more than 90% of expenditures that were focused on paid fund-raiser events with nothing much given to the Veterans themselves in terms of the assistance they promised. They raised alarm bells after veterans started complaining that the said charity was continuing to solicit and obtain funds for their work even if none of the said funds go to the veterans.
The office of the Attorney General have released many guidelines regarding such activities and that one should call or notify them of any discrepancies or irregularities regarding such matters should they arise to allow proper investigation by the responsible authorities. The same is advised for all those who give regularly to charities which should have the main focus of their expenditures focused on the people or cause they intend to help rather than for other purposes.
Categories: Disabled, Events, Fundraising, Organizations, Tips, Uncategorized, Veterans
Retirement homes usually house the old timers that would not be given the same amount of attention and understanding that people would give in their lives. Parents, grandparents and older relatives who have reached the prime of their age will usually be susceptible to changes in their moods and usual routine. Thus, the need to invest more on their needs as far as attention is concerned is something that people would not be able to give since in most cases, they are already hung up with having to raise their own families to date.
So the recourse of some groups is to endorse them to retirement homes where they would get the necessary care. However, if scenarios are to be adjudged, people tend to forget about them.
It is in these cases where people who aim to do volunteer work and take care of these people set in. In most cases, they are not related to such people yet they would do the necessary stuff, like attention and comfort, something that these elderly people would normally want to experience. Unfortunately, it takes strangers with a good heart to do this, to the delight of people who have been left astray.
Technorati Tags: Retirement homes, elderly, old age, parents, grandparents
Categories: Activities, Analysis, Disabled, Elderly, Families, Organizations, Programs, Veterans | Tags: Elderly, foster-homes, grandparents, old-age, parents, Retirement-homes
Around the world, it cannot be denied that there are a lot of people who are experiencing poverty and issues regarding their manner of living. A lot would depend on where they are situated, the country and of course the manner of living that majority of the region is experiencing. Not all countries are blessed with a good economy to which people can find a way to survive with the available jobs to choose from. Some are just plain unlucky to be situated in them like Vietnam, Africa and so on.
The good thing about the world is that people from other countries do not hesitate to lend a helping hand to the best of their abilities. Help in any form cannot be measured and people in need do not really have much choice. Hence beggars really cannot be choosers in this case.
Help in the form of food, clothing and other materials essential for living is being sent to most parts of the world. Some would even render volunteer work and services just to reach them. In a sense, they can call themselves lucky that there are people who still care for what the world has to deal with today.
Technorati Tags: aid, charity, organizations, volunteer work, jobs
Categories: Activities, Analysis, Campaigns, Charities, Children, Disaster Relief, Events, Fundraising, Ideas, Inspiration, Jobs, News, Organizations, Programs, Tips, Veterans | Tags: aid, charity, Jobs, Organizations, volunteer-work
Beggars are often misunderstood as people who have given up on life and choose to beg for support in the form of pennies and loose change. To these people, feeling that they have given up any hope of getting their feet back on the ground is a normal response if they were asked up close and personal.
While sharing a nickel or a quarter may go a long way for them, it is hard to believe the people would simply lie over and die. But to some people in such an unfortunate situation, it is more than simple surrender but another aspect of personal proportions that have led them to lose hope and live the rest of their days in misery.
Money and support is not all the things in a person’s life. The matter of affection and care is also an invisible need that people tend to overlook. For people who fill the streets in rags and dirty clothes, a simple comfort and smile may eventually give their lives a new lease.
Technorati Tags: beggars, despair, hope, foundations, charities
Categories: Activities, Analysis, Charities, Children, Elderly, Families, Fundraising, Ideas, Inspiration, Jobs, Mental Illness, Organizations, Programs, Teens, Tips, Veterans, Volunteering | Tags: beggars, Charities, despair, foundations, hope
