Need recommendation for a charity my DD can give to

[mamasaurus]

I've been talking to my 5yo DD about people in the world who don't have much to eat. I recently read a story about people eating mud patties because that was all there was to eat. I told DD about this, not sure if it would make an impact, and now she is saying she wants to give some food to people who need it.

How can I help her do this, so she can really see the benefit and understand what she is doing?

Any suggestions for charities, or maybe here at home? What do you think would be good?

[MeniacleBrat]

Perhaps she could give to Unicef or something similar. Something on a local level, perhaps she could bake some cookies and take them to a local soup kitchen (call them first to make sure they accept such things), or maybe organize a can drive for a food pantry. If there isn't a food pantry in your area, maybe she could help to organize one thru a local church or something.

I think its great that your daughter wants to do this, more power to her!

[lilyka]

I prefer to keep it real and tangible at that age. Maybe save up a jar full of change and go shopping for the food pantry. or help at the local soup kitchen (if you can't help serve or cook ours can always use after hours cleaning). find out if there are specific needs in shelters around your area (our church works with a shelter and they have a wish list of specific foods/supplies). If she can touch the food and see it and see where it goes and maybe meet someone who eats it I think it will have a much biger impact that sending a check somewhere.

[lilyka]

another really good way to "send food" is heifer international. you buy livestock for vilagers to provide income and renewable food sources. not just for the people tending the flocks but for the village.

its not only a good idea but it is really fun.

http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQN...msource=kw1844

[YesandNo]

My favorite resource for finding places to give to is http://www.charitynavigator.org/. The site lists each charity's mission, details the revenues and expenses of each and ranks the financial efficiency of the organization. You can go to the category 'Human Services' to look up food banks / pantries in your state, or show her the options for international giving.

[ollineeba]

I agree that it would be great to save up money and go shopping for the local food pantry.
We do that when we see great sales. Recently, I was able to get some Cheerios and Kix for like 45 cents a box, so we stocked our pantry and also took quite a few boxes to the local shelter.

[PattyCakes_726]

This organization provides aid to orphans and children living in extreme poverty in Kenya, Uganda, China, Tibet and Russia. Your DD can sponsor a child and correspond with him/her. We started sponsoring a boy in Kenya when DS was about 4 and it has been a wonderful experience for all of us. Feel free to PM me if you want additional info.
www.angelcovers.org

[Teensy]

I once printed out a sheet from several charities websites that I support and showed them to the kids with an explanation of what they do, then let them pick which one to give to. Having a choice seemed helpful. Some of the choices were Doctors Without Borders, Heifer International, and the local homeless shelter/soup kitchen.

I have also taken the kids to the grocery store, given them a set amount of money, and let them buy grocercies to take to the food bank. They enjoy doing this also. Good for math/nutritional content skills also.

[stayinghome]

Is she in school? I'm on the pta and organized a food drive for the local food bank. My kids helped me write the flyer, get them out to all the teachers and kids, and once the food was in, pack it up and take it to the food bank. It was a big hit and i plan to do it every year.

[odenata]

The World Food Program is good.

[cyndimo]

We like Heifer and 2nd Harvest (our local food bank - I think they are national.)