By JAMIE BUSEN
Herald-Whig Staff Writer
In 2006, Americans gave about $295 billion to charity. The average household gift was more than $1,000.
Aside from making you feel good, donations also get you a tax break.
For example: If you donate a grand and pay a tax rate of 35 percent on your last dollar of income, you've just saved $350 in taxes.
But not all of us have extra cash to help those less fortunate. And that's OK. Money is not the only way to help these organizations.
"The word 'rich' takes on many forms," said Kurt Stuckman, area director of Quincy Catholic Charities. "We consider a person's donation of time and talent as very precious and we tremendously value that in our volunteers."
There are numerous ways a person can donate to the charity of their choosing -- whether it be through their time and skills or donations of new or gently-used items around the house.
Barb Hicks, executive and business director of Madonna House, said the organization receives support from community members who are passionate about their mission, not necessarily wealthy by any means.
Even the smallest donation is greatly appreciated.
"Like most of us, they are living on a very strict budget, especially with today's economy," Hicks said. "They view the support they give us as a necessity and structure the support directly into their budget."
She said no monetary amount given is too small. Madonna House has several annual fundraisers to help "provide a safe nurturing environment where homeless pregnant women and women with children can break the cycle of instability."
"Many small contributions equal a huge show of humanity," Hicks said.
Jill Arnold Blickhan, executive director of the Community Foundation of the Quincy Area, said one of the many ways people can think about giving is to designate the Community Foundation as beneficiary of an insurance policy or retirement account.
That is something people can do, she said, without revising estate plans.
The Community Foundation is a nonprofit resource that works with donors to build charitable funds that support local causes.
Some charities have specific wish lists on their Web sites, as well as volunteering opportunities.
"Giving back to charities is so much more than just financial," Stuckman said. "Donation of time through volunteering for an hour or two a week can benefit any charity in a variety of ways."
Hicks said Madonna House is now in search of a volunteer to coordinate and oversee their entire volunteer program. And the house always take food donations for its pantry, as well as household items.
On the Net:
www.madonnahouse. net
www.cc.dio.org/area_offices/ quincy/home.htm
www.mycommunityfoundation. org
-- jbusen@whig.com/221-3385
