My wife has had the honor to be a volunteer on the United Way board here locally. She, and several other people in our surounding area go over and analize all the request from charities requesting money. She spends a good week reading all the applications for funding that the United Way office receives. The problem always is the same, so many request, so little money. Once I saw the work that was put into the United Way on the other side of the coin, it puts new light in the meaning of donating.
BTW, if you would like to donate all or part of your contribution to one charity (example...Food Bank, Crisis Center, Homeless shelter, Salvation Army,,,ect....), you can. Just write it on your form and that money goes were you want it.
And if you have to look at it this way......UPS matches the donation you contribute. So the charity YOU have chosen gets twice the bang for your buck!
Please donate a few bucks or better yet.......your time.