So many mail solicitations

Do I look like a cash cow? Or someone who just won the lottery? I’m an 85-year-old woman whose Social Security is less than $500 per month. Last year, I received mail solicitations for (using only the minimum requested) more than $8,000. That amount did not include telephone or door-to-door requests. Who knows how much those would have added to the total. Nor does it include the charitable organizations that I do support.

The breakdown shows that political causes wanted 56.9 percent; military/veterans organizations, 10.4 percent; social services, 7.9 percent; health industry, 5.8 percent; animal welfare, 4.5 percent; media, 4.3 percent; education, 1.6 percent, and miscellaneous other causes, 8.6 percent.

If I’m a typical contributor, i.e., nothing for most causes, what is the return on investment for these organizations? The millions they spend on solicitations could be better used toward their basic service goals. There have to be better and more effective ways to garner funds. I guess it helps the U.S. Post Office deficits if not their primary concerns.

In the meantime, I’ll continue to support my charities and put the hundreds of other letters in the recycling bin.

Hilde Schoonover

Spokane