Twin Cities Charities Kick It Up a Notch

As mentioned earlier in this blog, Twin Cities charities have been working hard this holiday season. They've been putting in overtime, really, to try and accommodate the increased food, gift, and financial need.

Despite all the extra work, most charities are reporting a decrease in donations. From the Salvation Army to Toys for Tots, donations are down due to the recession. Though there are some bright spots, like “Operation Christmas Child” just broke a record for packaging 110,000 shoe boxes filled with small gifts, most charities have not been as lucky.

In difficult times, more people lean toward strategic giving. That is, they give money to the places they feel will utilize it most efficiently, as opposed to the more emotional style of donation. That means some charities are seeing bigger decreases in donations while some may even see some increase. In response, the Minnesota Charities Review Council has announced that it is asking the state's nonprofits to start rating their "impact on the community."

One way to ensure you get the most bang for your buck would be to donate to the Twin Cities Salvation Army on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 22 and 23. Donations collected on those days in the Twin Cities will be triple-matched up to $1.25 million worth of funds, pooled together by three anonymous donors. There are many ways to donate, not limited to dropping some money off at any of the 400 Twin Cities metro area kettle sites.

Open your heart this season and brighten the lives of some local people in need.