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Letter to the editor

Charities still on many holiday lists

We asked: How do you handle charitable giving? Do you give a set percentage of income or a dollar amount to charity?

By Helen Huntley, Times Personal Finance Editor
Published December 9, 2007

We asked

How do you handle charitable giving? Do you give a set percentage of income or a dollar amountto charity?

This year our 10 family members agreed to purchase a water buffalo $250 through Heifer International for a family we will never meet. We are glad there are organizations like Heifer that provide the vehicle of giving where the need is greatest. The four grandsons of 11 to 14 years understand that this gift is an extension of their caring for the less fortunate and could stimulate further involvement by them for the rest of their lives.

Joy and Alan Hilkene, Oldsmar

I go by how much I can afford; it just depends on how profitable my business was that year. I usually give $25 to $100 to my choices. I have given to Disabled American Veterans and to melanoma research the last few years.

Stefan Sommers, St. Petersburg

We shoot for 10 percent of our earnings in thanks for what we have received from God. These gifts to others include our church, Habitat for Humanity and the St. Petersburg Free Clinic. We also try to support the University of Florida College of Nursing and Lutheran Outdoor Ministries of Florida.

Rita Sewell, St. Petersburg

I often give to lesser known charities like the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists. My CVS pharmacist passed away from leukemia, so I donate to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I wish I had so much more to give.

Elizabeth Keeley, St. Petersburg

We budget 15 percent monthly for our gift to our church. At year's end, we usually give 10 percent of our annual income through the gift of appreciated stock to a foundation that distributes the gifts to various charities.

Donald and Bo Hall, Spring Hill

Giving my time is just as important as giving money. I volunteer with MOSI and Habitat for Humanity during the year and work once each year with Paint Your Heart Out Tampa and the All Children's Hospital Telethon.

Roger Girson, Hernando

I donate to organizations that helped me when I was homeless (Salvation Army, St. Petersburg Free Clinic), organizations that help kids and adults have bicycles for transportation and the Pinellas Education Foundation. During the holidays, there are trees at various businesses. You can make a kid's holiday fantastic by picking a kid's name off the tree and buying Christmas presents for the kid. Also during the holidays, I drop food in bins at grocery stores. That provides food for the needy and jobs for store employees who stock shelves and bag the food.

Kimberly Cooper, St. Petersburg

Next week's question:

Is the U.S. headed for a recession? What do you think?

To ask a question, make a comment or answer the Money Question of Week, e-mail hhuntley@sptimes.com or write Helen Huntley, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. Visit her MoneyTalk blog (blogs.tampabay.com/money) for more money information.

[Last modified December 7, 2007, 21:43:27]