# L.A. Charities

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-a-charities/118811>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 13, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-a-charities/118811 "2002-07-13T19:18:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![domina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/96bed5/32.png) [@domina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/domina)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-a-charities/118811/1 "2002-07-13T19:18:27Z")

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I’ve been thinking for a while about volunteering my time (I don’t have extra money) to some worthy cause here in the L.A. area. I’m just not sure what’s around here and who’s legit. Do any current or former SoCal Dopers have experience in this area? Or does anybody know good Web sites or other resources for information about charities?

A couple caveats: I’m not religious, so I don’t want to get involved in something heavily churchy. And I don’t think I’m emotionally tough enough to be helpful in something like a rape crisis center, much as I support the concept. (OK, I’m a wuss, I admit it!)

Thanks in advance.

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**Author:** ![Shiva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shiva)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-a-charities/118811/2 "2002-07-13T19:21:12Z")

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Try Guidestar: [http://www.guidestar.org/index.jsp](http://www.guidestar.org/index.jsp)

And be sure to say hi to my sister while you’re there. 😉

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**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-a-charities/118811/3 "2002-07-13T20:13:20Z")

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If you like dogs and have room for a puppy Guide Dogs for the blind is in Sylmar and is always looking for foster parents to raise puppies to become guide dogs.

Parks and museums use docents to run tours and help out.

Police departments use citizens to fill in with office task to allow uniformed officers to patrol. (and they have reserves if you want to want to go the Adam 12 route)

There ar elots of chances the question I guess then becomes what floats your boat?

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-a-charities/118811/4 "2002-07-13T21:06:03Z")

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Since you’re looking for advice and suggestions, I’ll move this thread to IMHO.