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.

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.

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.

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

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

Upon reaching the retiring age, it has been common practice for such people to seek shelter from government run homes for relief. Some may not even have anyone to lean on, hence the reason why programs to show just appreciation through comfort and gifts for chosen periods in a year are given. Attention and company alone are big factors to help the psychological needs of such people, supposedly heroes who have risked lives in protecting the honor of their nation and families.

Technorati Tags: war veterans, war heroes, elderly

Places that have become dilapidated and abandoned get their share of causes as well, especially the ones that hold history of events. Such places would become preserved locations, holding memories and would eventually become tourist spots so that tourists and visitors may appreciate the story of the place in most cases.

People may think that such places can easily be replaced and renovated by new and well-improved infrastructure. However, maintaining and taking heed of what events occurred in the past of these places are what made most countries today and hence preservations in tow. While these projects may not solicit the usual attention that people in need would require, they also get their share of needs for help, mostly by people who know their history and why they should be preserved.

Technorati Tags: historical places, history, preservations, monuments

One family who has taken this to heart is the family of Fran Taylor. They have a booth in the Columbus Leigh Mall where people buy all sorts of nutty treats. Little do the people buying know that the money they spend on chocolate covered almonds and cinnamon pecans goes to charity.

Fran Taylor has been a philanthropist says she has been an avid philanthropist all her life. She comes from a poor background so she knows the needs. She has owned Lancaster Income Tax and Book keeping for the last 40 years and that is her main source of income. She, her husband Dan, and her daughter and son-in-law, Vicky and Gary Stovall operate the Taylor Made Nuts booth simply to raise funds for the various charities that they get involved in.

Blogging on the best ways to give back to the world around you.