Reply #7: My father said the same thing.

[Cleita]

He fought in WWI (not II, but I). He said the Red Cross and the Salvation Army set up tents to give the doughboys coffee and donuts. He said the Red Cross charged the soldiers for the coffee and the Salvation Army passed it out for free. He told me, he never donated to them after that and told me not to either.

I have heard it's a bit top-heavy. Spokespersons like Libby Dole and Dr. Bernadette Healey don't come cheap. I also know that charities by law need only to use a minimum amount for the actual needs they are administering to. The rest can be used for administration and in many cases it means cushy salaries for the administrators.

I really look at the financial statements of any charity I donate to.