When my mum died we sent a donation to a clinic for lung disease (can't remember the name) We also sent money to cancer research, Neither of them have left us alone since.
The big charities have payrolls, advertising and premises budgets - the cash that filters down to the "good works" often ends up in the hands of the local mafia.
Even giving direct to people on the street isn't always effective.
Look at the deserving "Big Issue" sellers - most of them are now east Europeans. Selling it gives them self employed status, so they can get their noses into the benefits trough.
I wonder why these appeals always seem to come just after comic relief have raised millions......isnt that money to help these children too.Also every year they say they need only 5 pounds for mosquito nets, but every year nothing seem to have improved................so where exactly does the money go?
But dont you feel sorry for the old lady/man playing a musical instrument - it tugs at my heart strings - if I give then it GOES SOMEWHERE - sorry even for themselves to get a cup of coffee or something for their kids. Don't kid me it gets on my nerves -particularly when they are sitting outside BANKS.