How do you protect the innocent that truly need?
Sorry, how do I turn off the red
Good question-one that I often struggle with. Today the distinction of the "truly need" is blurred by social hype. I find there is a lot of social pressure to give to causes that are not always the best use of resources. For example, I don't like giving to Christian charities that just distribute food or clothing but does not present a Christian message. What's the point? But you feel "creepy" and a scrooge if you say anything.
A church that I attended decided to send money to a sister church to build wells in Nairobi so that the village people would have fresh drinking water. They built eight wells all on church property and the town people could come and get fresh water whenever they needed it. They posted an evangelistic sign so that the village people could see it every time they came for water. It drew people to the church. What a wonderful use of funds.
It's really a judgment call and you just have to be wise about giving.