by Madison Starr

Created on: November 06, 2009

Charity is something that we could all benefit from at one time or another, whether we represent the giver or the receiver. There will always be someone less fortunate than each one of us. From the poor to the ill to the abused and everything in between, there will never be a shortage of charities that need our help. However, with so many charities to choose from, it may prove to be very difficult choosing which ones to donate to unless you have a million dollars to give away. Even then, would it be so easy to decide?

The first thing to consider when choosing a charity is what is closest to your heart. What do you truly care about? Do you care about the environment? Do you want to aid in the cure for diseases? Is feeding the hungry what you truly want to do? Do you love animals and want to rescue them? Is relief for natural disaster victims above all else on your priorities? Perhaps helping victims of child abuse and domestic violence is something you feel strongly about. Then again, maybe you want to provide toys for underprivileged kids this season or help our troops to reach out to their loved ones while they're so far away. These are only a few options and the list is actually quite long.

As a child, I spent quite a considerable time in a children's hospital due to injuries I had sustained in a head-on collision with a drunk driver. My family could never have afforded the multiple surgeries required for my recovery. Without the help of that hospital and the donations required to keep it going, I don't know what would have happened to me. I've always been grateful for their help. As a result, it's been a charity that is close to my heart and I have donated to children's hospitals for the last ten years. I'm happy that there's a possibility that I'm helping someone just a little bit who was like me. That's good enough for me. To find a charity, just follow your heart and it will make the decision much easier.

The next thing to consider is how much money or supplies you are willing to donate and to how many charities. Should you give all your money to one charity or split it up among several ones? Each year around the holidays, I pick six or seven different types of charity organizations and I make donations in each family member's name. Personally, it makes me feel better knowing that I'm helping out more than one cause. However, perhaps you feel that giving a big chunk to one charity does more good. If this is the case, go ahead and do it. A donation is

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