[texas_mrs]

Exactly! I tell Dad that, but he thinks it's the only thing he can do to help. Most of them have a form to fill out asking what things are bothering you about the country, then the next request will include some horrific story that centers around the topic(s) you've selected, which, of course, makes the recipient MORE likely to send money.

It's a scam! One of the worst seems to be "Council of Seniors". They do NOTHING, but they send the MOST requests. Sometimes Dad even gets berated for not sending money!

[richmwill]

Berated for not sending money- unbelievable. Reminds me of the time I was placed on the mailing list of a Christian ministry, and once received a fund raising letter from the founder’s wife stating “Donations have been down this past quarter. Every day, my husband checks the mail to see if any of our friends have written to us with support...”. After that, I made it my duty to do all I could to remain on their mailing list for as long as I could while throwing out their letters the second they were received. Just keeping in contact in order to remain on the mailing list.

[a fool in paradise]

My parents were flooded with envelopes that depicted crying Indian/Native American youth crying begging for donations.

And remember that Harry Reid says that the elderly who receive these scam letters and other junk mail WELCOME it because it keeps them connected to the outside world and receiving mail.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/post/harry-reid-fights-for-junk-mail/2012/04/20/gIQAFgDOWT_blog.html