The Best Charities / Non-Profits to Donate to During a Recession
In the present bad economy, many people are suffering. People who haven’t had to struggle before are struggling now. A lot of them have even been relegated to using the services of charities/non-profits, just so they can get by from paycheck to paycheck or unemployment check to unemployment check. That’s why it’s so important for the rest of us to donate to charities when the economy is bad. Charities or non-profits also suffer as less people donate in a bad economy, yet more people need their services. If you’re one of the fortunate ones during this bad economy, and you’d like to donate to a reputable charity, which charities should you be donating to and why?
In the present bad economy, many people are suffering. People who haven’t had to struggle before are struggling now. A lot of them have even been relegated to using the services of charities/non-profits, just so they can get by from paycheck to paycheck or unemployment check to unemployment check. That’s why it’s so important for the rest of us to donate to charities when the economy is bad. Charities or non-profits also suffer as less people donate in a bad economy, yet more people need their services. If you’re one of the fortunate ones during this bad economy, and you’d like to donate to a reputable charity, which charities should you be donating to and why?
Food Banks – In a bad economy, the first charity donors should think of donating to is their local food bank. Every town and city has a food bank, some places have more than one, and in a bad economy food banks really struggle. Less people donate food, yet more people sign up to get food. I’ve worked at a food bank before and I know, even in good times, how many thousands of people go to food banks for groceries every week. Single mothers with young children, fathers who don’t make enough to put food on the table by the end of the month, people who for whatever reason live on the streets, they all need food and the local food bank is where they go to get it. So, the next time you go to the grocery store, throw a few extra cans and packets into your shopping cart and drive it over to your local food bank. It’s the most important charity to donate to when times are tough because, without food, people don’t survive.
Food Kitchens – Food kitchens are different than food banks in that they cook and serve the food that’s donated or they buy food to serve with the money they’re given. Donating money to a food kitchen is vital in a recession. As times get worse, more people end up on the street or at a point where they can’t even afford a box of cheap macaroni and cheese. These are the people who end up at food kitchens for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Don’t forget too, if you don’t have the money, you can also donate your time at your local food kitchen. Food kitchens often need people to help make the food, serve the food and clean up after each meal.
The Salvation Army – One of the best charities in America to donate to is The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army runs stores all over the US that sell quality products at cheap prices, something that’s incredibly important in a shrinking economy. Families still need clothes for their children, books for school, household items and furniture for their homes, but in today’s terrible economy that’s not always possible. Donate your used clothing, old but still useable furniture or household goods, books and toys to The Salvation Army. You’ll be helping your community and you’ll get a tax write-off too. The Salvation Army will also benefit as all the proceeds from its stores nationwide goes to fund its programs – elder care, disaster relief, rehabilitation centers – in fact, a donation to The Salvation Army packs a double punch.
Project Hope – Project Hope is a charity that provides health care to people all over the world, working especially with children. They provide medicine, work with health care clinics to improve their services, train doctors and community health volunteers, and give care to people with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, among other diseases. They also work with women and babies on neonatal health, school healthcare, and health education and prevention. In a downward spiraling economy, healthcare is often the first thing that doesn’t get taken care of as families spend their money on other things they think are ‘necessities’ like food, gas for the car and school fees. A donation to Project Hope, one of the US’ most efficient charities, helps those struggling in a bad economy to at least remain healthy.
Drug and Alcohol Prevention Programs – As the US economy worsens, more people will turn to drugs and alcohol to soothe the pain of a lost job, a broken family or a sick spouse. At times like this, drug and alcohol prevention programs often find themselves overloaded with cases. Donate money to your local drug or alcohol prevention program because once someone is truly lost to drugs and alcohol, it’s almost impossible to fight their way back.
There are many charities you can donate to in a bad economy. Before you donate, just make sure you check online or at your local library to see if the charity has a good track record. Any charity that spends more than 80-85% of the money donated to it on actual services for its clients is worth donating to. A charity that spends less is a charity you should avoid.
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