Excellent idea, I think this post really made me realize the hadith of “not letting your left hand know what the right is giving”
Maybe another way are those discount cards they give, so that the good you do keeps going (10% off every purchase, for ex.)
when you’re limited a constant discount might do good in addition to the occasional sadaqah

Ooooh, good idea on the discount card. I’m going to do that.

Why not just use Oxfam’s web site? Far more convenient than just about anything else.

That is good, Z!

I think we all do that sort of thing. But I also want to help out directly in my community, my town. This is a way to do that.

I see the faces on the Oxfam site and I see the faces of the elderly in my own town. Here is someone right here, in need, before me.

There are lots of ways to do decent things in one’s own town. Taking part in food drives, giving nice clothes to the local domestic violence center (the women often leave their homes with nothing), mentoring youth, visiting the elderly. Maybe the most important is being involved in local policies aimed at aiding these groups.

But not everyone can do those things, so the grocery cards are a small way of doing something decent, locally.

One of the most beautiful things about Islam, one of the things I fell in love with, is the generousity of muslims towards those in need.

What a beautiful example of loving-kindness, dear Sister. In America, such acts are often called "Christian charity." Giving and helping out of love for your neighbors. They have no idea of Muslim charity. You are a shining example of it. Ya Haqq!

Here is an old post on Darvish about the hadith on Acts of Charity: http://darvish.wordpress.com/2006/10/08/acts-of-charity/ Ya Haqq!

Very good idea, to use discount cards/vouchers. And they can be used for younger people in distress too…A good way to make sure the money is spent on necessitites rather than on drugs or alcohol.

An old Imam once told me that one should never refuse to give something to anyone who asks, on the plea that the money might be spent on intoxicants. Our duty as believers is to help the needy, not to pry into their intentions. He advised that we should offer the help with a word of kind advice, and then it was upon the person receiving the help to use it either for good or for bad purposes. He said that to turn away is bad for our imaan.