Do’s And Don’ts for Donating
By AZI PAYBARAH


Coats for kids kick off the holiday season with councilmember Jim Gennaro and participant Ed Roth.

More predictable than the first snow fall or the taste of homemade eggnog is the fact that during the holidays, someone will ask for a donation. Where those donations go could be a real surprise.

For some, less than one dime from each dollar donated via telemarketing goes to their intended charities, according to “Pennies for Charity,” an annual report of 607 telemarketing campaigns for New York State charities, released by NYS Attorney General Eliot Spitzer.

Charities that received roughly 10 percent of money donated in their name via telephone include the: Junior Police Academy, National Easter Seal Society, Inc., Christian Coalition of America, Inc., the Wilderness Society and the Concerned Women of America.

Other groups like the Queens College Foundation, Mother’s Against Drunk Driving and WNYC Radio each kept more than 63 cents per dollar donated through their telemarketing campaigns.

Fundraiser for the New York Hall of Science (NYHOS) raised $23,754, but only $10,861, or 45.7 percent, went to the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park-based group.

“Charities do have legitimate and necessary fundraising and administrative expenses, so beware of claims such as ‘all proceeds will go to charity,” according to a brochure from Spitzer’s office. Those could include contracts with professional fundraisers, such as Comnet Marketing Group, who raised money for NYHOS. Professional fundraiser can either take a percentage of the net intake, or get a flat fee, no matter how much money is raised.

Contracts that guarantee a flat rate for professional fundraisers could explain why some charities received absolutely no money during their fund-drives. Charities that got 0$ include the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Educational Network (GLSEN), Lighthouse International and the International Rescue Committee, and New York Public Interest Research Group Fund, Inc.

Another similarity those charities had was their fundraiser. Each one was served by Sharegroup, except for NYPIRG Fund, Inc., who used Telefund, Inc., according to the report.

Spitzer’s office also warned “of charities with names that sound impressive or resemble those of other organizations” because some “use names similar to those of well known organizations in order to confuse donors.”

Do’s and Don’ts For Donating
-Don’t Send Cash.
-Do ask what percentage of your donation goes to the charity.
-Don’t be fooled by charities with names that sound like other organizations.
-Do go online and see how much your charity took home in recent years.
-Do ask who is fundraising for the charity.
-Don’t stop giving.

 

For those in need, options abound

It wouldn’t be the holidays without a table full of food and relatives. For those with a short supply of either, there’s several places to head for the holidays. Each offers food and friendly faces.

Soup kitchens dish out hot meals for in-house dining. Food Pantries are virtual supermarkets without checkout lines. Minimal identification is often required and those who attend range from the homeless to the overworked and underpaid. Also available at most locations are social service workers and information about other benefit entitlements.

Hunger Hotline
1-866-888-8777

Center of Hope International Bread of Life
12-11 40th Avenue Long Island City, 11101
718-784-4673
Food Pantry
Wed, Thurs 11-3

The Salvation Army-Astoria
45 - 18 Broadway Astoria
718-721-9046
Food Pantry

Hour Children Food Pantry
36-11A 12 Street — Long Island City
718-433-4724
Food Pantry

Kehilat Sepharadim of Ahavat Achim
150-62 78th - Flushing
718-591-9574
Soup Kitchen Sun-Thrus 9-5

AIDS Center of Queens County
97-45 Queens Blvd Rego Park
718-896-2500
Food Pantry
Mon-Fri 9-5

One Way Church of Christ
PO Box 130172 Laurelton
718-525-4260
FP
Sat 9-1

Builders For The Family + Youth / Queens FoodNutri
89-56 162nd St. Jamaica
718-523-2220
FP Mon-Fri 9-4

The Salvation Army - Jamaica Citadel
90-23 161st St. Jamaica
718-297-4860
FP Tues-Thurs 9-11.
SK Mon-Fri 12-1

Bethant Baptist Church of Jamaica
157-11 111 Avenue Jamaica
718-659-6099
FP Tues 10-12,
Fri 12-3. SK Wed 12-3

Rehoboth Apostolic Assembly
106-31 Sutphin Blvd. Jamaica
718-206-3815
FP Sat 10-12

Aids Center of Queens County
1600 Central Avenue, 3rd Floor Far Rockaway
718-868-8645
FP anytime

Bethe/AME Church /Bethel Arvener Community Dev’t
215 Beach Street Arverne
718-474-7712
FP Thurs 12:00.
SK Sun-Fri 12:00

Borden Avenue Veterans Residence - shelter for homeless male veterans
21-10 Borden Ave.
Long Island City, NY 11101
718-784-5690

Briarwood Family Residence - shelter for homeless families
80-20 134th St.
Jamaica, NY 11435
718-268-3395

Jamaica Women’s Assessment Shelter - homeless shelter for women
93-05 168th St.
Jamaica, NY 11435
718-262-1780

* Compiled from the New York City Coalition Against Hunger website, www.nyccah.org, and The Salvation Army. Call locations to verify location and times.