I give to charity, but only ones I have checked out thoroughly and trust. I would never give to a telethon. Never. I will check out the cause, but usually the high overhead costs of telethons, mean that the charity wil not receive all the money.

I have given to educational tv marathon but thats the only telathon I have ever donated to.

I do give my time to animal rescue and will when I have it to spare donate funds to rescues that I know that are actually using the money on the dogs . I WILL NOT donate to either The Humane Society or the SPCA on the national level. as I know dam well what the funds are used for and it isnt for the animals.

I've never given to a telethon yet. I give to homeless people begging on the streets. I give to the Red Cross. I give to the Lion's Club. I give to the Salvation Army. I have given to people I worked with who were in dire straits.
I don't give all that much, though. I'm about a half a step up from begging on the streets myself, LOL!!!!!

NO I don't think telethons are begging. It needs to be done that is how money is raised.

Personally if I had money to donate I would do it. But I really have not so much to give. But I do give change to any one asking for it (Including salvation army). I know that is small but I never ever feel put out or pressured by it because I have said no when I couldn't. \

But I do think there are people giving just because they feel pressured into doing it and not because they genuinely want to.

Ev we got like that too. People were always calling asking for x amount a month. As much as I'd like to give to them all there was no way I could afford it.

I give to NSPCC a charity to stop cruelty to children and cancer research.

I like to help too. I have a couple things that are close to my heart that I give to, otherwise I pretty much do it through my church. Since I changed denominations to the United Methodist Church, I have found they are very good about funding global ministries, local, in the US and across the world. I can pick and choose which of these offerings I give to & I can trust where the money is going. I love this about my church!

Oh, and my daughters and I have decided to make a point of keeping smaller bills in the vehicle; for the people we see by the side of the road asking for money. Not very often where I live, but too much.

That's true!!! I forgot about the The Methodist Church!!! I was raised Methodist and although I've 'fallen away', my mother is still very involved in the church, so I give to them sometimes. They are into helping out worldwide big time!!!

I give to the Red Cross.

I give to charity especially those that benefit children and cancer patients. I lost my father-figure to cancer when I was 15 so that's a sensitive spot for me.

I also volunteer my time to organizations that work with children. I feel like that is more valuable than my money since I don't have much money to give.

Volunteering is a GREAT way to give!