Health & Fitness
Doctor's In: Goodbye Political Fundraising Emails, Hello Charities!
The gift of giving has risks. Charities abound, make sure the ones you give to use the money as intended.
I don't know about the rest of you but I look forward to what really will be the last email raising money for one candidate or another. Many of these solicitations claim this is the last e-mail you will receive. Well LOL, within minutes 20 more come in.
Many are disguised but whatever the pitch never missing is the "Please Donate" box. There is no way to get rid of these pesky requests. They come from every corner of the country worrying you about the threat to politicians you never heard of.
Some want just $3, others are more bold asking for levels up to $500. I worry that some poor sucker sends money to every request. On November 6 requests for political donations should end, hopefully we will have a president and not a result that will keep it in the courts for several months.
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However, the emails will keep coming in asking for moolah, do-re-mi, gelt, cash, dough. It's Christmas time and every fund seeking effort on the Globe has YOU on their email list. It is amazing how many ways there are to give. Again I worry that some poor sucker gives money to them all.
I saw one email from a man who said I've given everything I own to charity, can you help me! Embedded in the email was the infamous box, PLEASE DONATE. You can Save the Tiger, Save the Owl, Save the Bobcat. Sponsor a child, give to veterans, save a whale. Many of these efforts have questionable motives. We are finding out from recent scandals that much of the money from a number of organizations may not be directed where they were supposed to go.
Find out what's happening in Land O' Lakeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Then there are the the solicitations in the mail. Often they have little gifts playing on your guilt to give. I'm not casting aspersions on the causes, many or most are probably very legitimate. I like United Way. I let them figure out who is and who isn't a legitimate cause.
The bottom line is, most of us work hard for our money and it is true, gift giving is its own reward. Just make sure you know who and what you are giving to.
