An article in the Nov. 6 issue of "Time" magazine stated that there is nothing wrong with giving to an established charity.
But with so many local nonprofit organizations in the mix today, you may find a cause closer to your home communities and heart in which one can actually get to see the results of your gift firsthand. This does make sense to me.
Donations given to the 400 largest charities surged 13 percent last year with $2.6 billion for Katrina, $4 million to the United Way and $15.6 billion for education.
This is a nice thing for those large charities, but the smaller established charities in communities such as Willmar and surrounding areas struggle to raise funds and keep going. I am the current president of Chapter 1 of Minnesota of the Blue Star Mothers of America. We have been in existence for three years and meet the third Thursday of each month at the American Legion in Willmar.
We do get a few monetary donations at times for our cause of sending items to the troops each month who are deployed overseas, but we also struggle with keeping up with enough money to buy items and postage to send to our heroes who work so hard for our freedom. Our small group also helps with local wounded soldiers and their families with their needs, the Fisher House and VA Hospitals in Minnesota, the Blue Star to Gold Star program and spreading awareness about our support of our troops at Memorial Day events and Veterans Day events.
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I agree that people should start encouraging others who are trying hard to make a positive difference for others by donating much more than we do currently to local charities.
These local charities are also a good place for community service projects, which is becoming a large component of many types of curriculum programs to also be completed.
Phillis DeBlieck
President, Blue Star Mothers, Chapter 1
Willmar
