MAGNOLIA
CLIPPING SERVICE
(601) 856-D911 i \2(5) 758·3610
MADISON CO HERALD
CANTON, MS
Circulation l:: 11558
WEEKLY
12/03/2009
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TipS'offered on
helping charities
Tbe Better Business
Bureau, in response tO'tbe
downturn in the economy
thi.t has had a major impact
on the well-being of charita·
ble organizations, offers
some giving alternatives for
would-be donors.
"Cbarities im'llriably find
tbemselves in a bind wben
the ~onomy declines,' said
Bill Moak of Madison, presi­
dent of tbe Mississippi BBB.
"Not ouly is there less fund­
ing, but tbere are more pea·
pie who need assistance.
Donations of money may be
hard for casb-strapped fami·
lies to provide, but there are
many otber ways people can
support a charity and can·
BUSINESS BRIEF
tribute to tbe season of giv·
ing."
Here are the BBB's top five
givingaltematives:
• Toy!!, Food. Other Items
- Many organizations can
put "in kind" gifts to good
use. Contact agencies to
determine wbicb donated
items they need and accept.
• Thrift Shops - Tbe
sale of items at thrift sbops
not ouly benefits tbe orgllni·
zations. but it also provides
people with limited incomes
a place to find reasonably
priced items.
• Car Donations ­
Check on bow a charity <Ii&­
tributes proceeds from car
donations to be sute that the
needy (and not the organiza·
tion) receive the benefits.
• Your Time - The per·
sonal rewards for volunteer­
ing, especially during the hal·
iday season, can be as impor. '
tant to charities as a cash con­
tribution.Generallythevalue
of donated time is not tax
deductible, but the personal
rewards can be great.
• YourVoice - Advocacy
can belp advance policies and
practices that will contribute ,
to a charity's mission'j
Although charities cannot
promote political candidates. '
they can urge or lob by for
public policies that further:
charitable causes.
For more advise on charl- I
table giving view the BBB
Resource Library online at
www.bbb.org/ charity. BBB
reports on national charita·,
ble organizations can also be,
viewed tbere. '