DEAR SUN SPOTS: I would like to donate to the storm victims of New Jersey but do not want to donate to an organization that spends a lot of my dollars on staffing.

I think the Salvation Army does a good job of minimizing overhead costs, but when I went online I saw only Salvation Army International. I want to make sure my money goes to the people of New Jersey or New York.

How can I accomplish that? I would consider other organizations. Thanks for your help. — Marilyn Burgess, stocker7@fairpoint.net

ANSWER: The Salvation Army does have a site for work in the United States — www.salvationarmyusa.org, which has an address for donations for the 2012 hurricane season. You can write to Salvation Army Disaster Services Center, P.O. Box 1959, Atlanta, GA 30301, 1-800-725-2769.

They ask that you designate “2012 hurricane season” on all checks. Sun Spots called and asked if could specify New York/New Jersey and was told you could, but that there is no guarantee that your dollars would go exactly there as they strive to help all people hurt by the storms. 

The representative also said that 82 cents of each dollar go to actually help people. The remainder covers administrative costs.

The Salvation Army has a long and interesting history. The following introduces the entry in Wikipedia:

“The Salvation Army is a Christian denomination and international movement known for its charity shops and other charity work, operating in over 120 countries. The organisation was founded in 1865 in the United Kingdom by William and Catherine Booth as the North London Christian Mission, operating with a quasi-military structure, which has been retained to the present day. The theology of the Salvation Army is mainstream Methodist, although it is distinctive in government and practice. The Army’s doctrine follow mainstream Christian beliefs, and its articles of faith emphasise God’s ‘saving purposes.’ Its objects are ‘the advancement of the Christian religion … of education, the relief of poverty, and other charitable objects beneficial to society or the community of mankind as a whole.'”

There are other groups who help with disasters, of course. The top hit on a google search was www.redcross.org, which has an option for donating to victims of Sandy/disasters. American Red Cross National Headquarters, 2025 E St., Washington, DC 20006, 1-800-733-2767.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Once again Rural Community Action Ministry in Leeds is taking applications for its holiday program to provide a warm, happy holiday for children ages 0 to 18 years and senior citizens.

Parents can call and tell us by phone on what their children want and need for the holiday: three choices of toys, hobbies, etc., and three choices of clothing wanted or needed by the children.

For seniors, we take information from family, friends or sometimes professionals who work with the seniors.

We work in the towns of Greene, Wales, Leeds, Turner, Livermore, Canton, Hartford, Buckfield, Wayne, Litchfield, Mommouth, Sabbattus and Sumner.

We are also looking for sponsors for these children and older people. They can be individuals, businesses or organizations.

Applications will be accepted from Nov. 5-28 by calling 524-5095 or 524-3791 and asking for me.

If interested, please call the above numbers and leave your contact information and we will get back to you. Thank you to all for making this a wonderful holiday for our neighbors. — Susan Gill, rcamfia@aol.com

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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