GIVE TO GROUPS YOU KNOW

Cape Girardeau's fire chief, Robert Ridgeway, recently was moved to make a statement to local residents concerning solicitations from an organization of state firefighters. The organization is the Missouri State Council of Firefighters, which is requesting help to purchase smoke detectors. Chief Ridgeway said the council is legitimate but that its efforts do little to help local citizens.

"I don't want them here, but legally, I can't stop them," Ridgeway said. "They're basically collecting money for a state firefighters union. It doesn't help Cape Girardeau firefighters."

A spokesman for the council said several local residents had received smoke detectors through the organizations efforts over the last three years. Ridgeway encouraged people in need of smoke detectors to contact the local fire department, which will install free smoke detectors.

Ridgeway's suggestion is one that applies to a good number of organizations that solicit donations by telephone and by mail. Many unsuspecting donors send a few dollars because they feel a civic duty to help firefighters, law enforcement agencies and organizations that say they are raising money to take disadvantaged children to the circus. Rarely do donors ever find out what actually happened to their money.

A good rule of thumb is to make donations only to those groups you know something about. In most cases, local groups with volunteers who are your friends and neighbors make the best recipients of your generous dollars.