Thanksgiving Soup Kitchen?

Dilemma: Should I contribute to work-sponsored charity to provide Thanksgiving meals to soup kitchen?

• I have volunteered at several soup kitchen and SHARE food pantries, as well as homeless shelters. I don't mind the homeless shelters because those people are usually in dire ...show more

• Answer:

  First, I would say that this problem needs to be addressed to the people in charge of the shelter. Their donors are not going to like it and these people need to be more responsible about screening the recipients, and be held accountable if they don't. If they know about it and are looking the other way, then they are probably stealing too. Speak up to the people who can make the changes. At the very least, report the people you KNOW are cheating. Yes, you should. You can do it anonymously. This should include the people in your company who are heading up the project - probably the human resources department. Make sure they know the situation. They may decide to give the baskets to a different charity. But if they don't know, they assume they are helping the homeless. So again, speak up and let them know. If they still decide to donate to that charity, you certainly are not obligated to help. As far as find a worthy cause, simply call a few of the "mission" type places and ask how they determine who can come for a free dinner. Find one you are satisfied with and make a cash donation or volunteer your time.