I gave at the office

Happily, there are a lot of people wanting to participate in relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina.

The Red Cross, obviously, along with several other smaller charities. Celebrities and sports teams are chipping in. Telethons are being held on TV to raise money (sometimes with rather interesting results like these). Even places in the local community are helping out. I've heard of churches taking donations of food, clothes, bathroom products, and the like. People are opening up their homes to people who have lost theirs in New Orleans. It's great to see so much effort being put in.

Then, there are situations like the one I'm about to describe. Outside a local grocery store (I won't say which), some folks with some crudely made cardboard signs were taking donations for relief efforts. There were no Red Cross or Salvation Army logos to be found, no organizational links seen. These people seemed to be just out there on their own volition. The people weren't taking grocery items as you'd might expect, it seemed to be one of those "whatever change you've got on you" type situations. When asked if I would donate, I told them no. Then, I got this look from them like I'd committed some unspeakable act. But these people could not provide a specific name of a charity or organization just that they were with a "local charity." As terrible as it might sound, for all I know, they could take the money at the end of the day and go buy themselves a stereo.

I'm definitely not a bad person. Far from it. I just refuse to give money to people who can't tell me who they are and who they are collecting money for. So if you decide to do some good and go out and volunteer, don't expect money from me.. unless of course you are with a reputable organization.