[eleni121]

I tend to give my charitable donations to locally based charities like the local Hospice Foundation or Meals on Wheels for the elderly.

I try to donate locally as well. However, there are lots of truly deserving groups not based locally.

As far as Hospice is concerned I have a problem with them. Slick advertising does not change the fact that they are in the business of helping people to die. Their ads say stuff like helping people to "live". Talk about doublespeak!

[Happygal]

As far as Hospice is concerned I have a problem with them. Slick advertising does not change the fact that they are in the business of helping people to die.

Have you ever had a family member die of cancer? Have you seen the benefit of respite care for worn out families, who want their loved one die at home with dignity? I have.

[maxwellp]

We donate locally as well - to our volunteer ambulance corps, fire department, Boy Scouts and the animal shelter. But one must be careful - we found out that the folks working at the animal shelter were taking some of the money for themselves. It was stopped and these people were fired. The temptation to money that's hard to keep track of is great and this money most be closely watched and only used for intended purposes.

[Happygal]

BTW...I've been out carol singing for the last 12 nights at Christmas parties in Ireland, carolling and shaking a bucket in front of people for cash while they are Jingling their bells.

I guess I could have had something better to do, but..we do it every year.

The cash total to date is €10,500.

That's all going locally to Meals on Wheels, the local Women's Refuge, and the Carer's Association locally.

I didn't miss a single night out carol singing (bar my company Christmas party night)..so I figure, I did my bit for others this Christmas. On the 25th, I'm going to enjoy me turkey *L*

[snippy_about_it]

How old are you?

Hospice gives genuine care and support to the dying patient and their family. Perhaps you are thinking of Dr. Kevorkian.

Unless you are run over by a Mack truck you may need care while dying and Hospice is the place to be for many in need.

[SuziQ]

Slick advertising does not change the fact that they are in the business of helping people to die.

I think you have a misunderstanding of what 'hospice' is. It is a place where people can stay until they die, and their friends and family can come to visit to say 'goodbye'. It is a place free from all the machines and life support stuff that hospitals have. Or in many cases, it is a program which sends caregivers to the dying person's home to provide palliative care, that is, pain relief, in the event the disease causes a lot of pain.

It is not like the Hemlock Society which actively advocates giving people the means to kill themselves. It is a way to help the family of the dying person deal with the day to day medical needs so that they can spend time with their loved ones before they die.

[cherry]

you must have had a bad experience with hospice because normally they are only out to prevent the pain and agony of dying as opposed to aiding in a death...

it still is a business...but one that for my money is fairly well run and full of loving people...it would have to be....would YOU willingly for small compensation work with people that are dying of all kinds of terrible diseases such as liver or pancreatic cancer, AIDS, or debilitating muscular diseases....????....day in and day out ...????