-- by Mike Murray

The holiday season is -- more than any other -- a time of deep reflection. Amid the various religious and secular celebrations exist moments of quiet contemplation. Thoughtful people take stock; they critically assess the ways in which they live their lives. Many resolve to do what they can to improve themselves. Some even compose lists.

For those who do, there is no shortage of items to consider for inclusion. Because, anyone who claims that he or she cannot think of much that needs improving is either a master rationalizer or completely lacking in self-awareness. Honest people recognize their shortcomings. Rich or poor, black or white, young or old -- regardless of station in life or the continent from which one hails -- each of us is imperfect.

Even celebrated humanitarians such as Mother Theresa and Mahatma Ghandi acknowledged their faults. Although, to be sure, their flaws were fewer in number than are the ones that plague most of us (and were wonderfully offset by their heroic acts of kindness.)

For those looking for ways to assist the needy, there exist plenty of opportunities. The difficulty lies not in identifying suitable causes; it instead lies in choosing between the many.

My own preference is for not-for-profit organizations that qualify as true charities: agencies that assist people and animals stuck on the bottom rung of Maslow's "hierarchy of needs" ladder. I favor non-profits that assist those who lack the basics: food, shelter, protection from harm.

I am unmoved by organizations that generate comfortable annual surpluses and that enjoy overflowing endowments, as well as by those whose executives are exorbitantly compensated. (Search the Internet. The relevant reporting data that all tax-exempts are required to provide -- although often lagging by a couple of years or so -- is out there.)

Large, multi-million-dollar ad campaigns also leave me cold. Any outfit that can afford to run relentless commercials on network or cable television stations (and that have the wherewithal to place expensive print ads and to bombard millions of households with endless direct-mail pitches and telemarketing calls), are not nearly as worthy of support -- in my judgement -- as are small, "mom and pop" charities.

There are countless human- and animal-welfare operations of modest size that serve on the front lines of need. They daily confront desperation, and they do so on shoestring budgets. They operate in hand-to-mouth fashion, relying heavily (oftentimes exclusively) on volunteers.

Although tiny in size, they accomplish much. For the human and animal beneficiaries dependent upon their services, they represent nothing short of salvation. It is no exaggeration to say that matters of life and death are often involved. Collectively, they do more good than even the largest of big-name non-profits

One needn't look half-way across the country (or half-way around the globe) to find such worthy agencies, either. They everywhere exist -- in virtually every city, town, village, and hamlet. But they typically lack the financial resources to adequately market themselves, to compete with "designer," celebrity-endorsed organizations. And so they often remain invisible to many who might assist them.

Even in the best of times, the demand for their services is great. During harsh economic periods, it grows exponentially. Amid the many plaintive pleas for financial assistance, their humble voices resonate with me. And, I hope, also with you.

Copyright © 2009 Michael F. Murray -- All rights reserved.