Charity

Thousands of people are expected to show up to get a hug from Indian spiritual leader Amma as she stops in the Big Apple. April Dembosky reports souvenir vendors won't be far behind.

The need for charities and programs that provide food and shelter is growing, but donations are down. Kai Ryssdal reports on a privately-funded Meals on Wheels program in Los Angeles that's hungry for help.

The World Bank has cautioned the public to not forget about the poorest countries in this downturn. Kai Ryssdal speaks with World Bank President Robert Zoellick about how developing nations are being affected by the recession and what can be done.

Donations to charities in the millions have fallen by one-third, and the need for assistance keeps climbing. But some philanthropists use this as a call to give more in times of greatest need. Jeff Tyler reports.

Food pantries are facing a real problem -- demand is at a record high while donations have dwindled. But instead of money, some people are donating the "fruits" of their labor. Caitlan Carroll reports.

Many nonprofits took a big hit when the Bernard Madoff scam came to light. Some of his victims are gathering at the Jewish Funders conference, where they are trying to figure out how to move past the scandal. Amy Scott reports.

In a downturn, it can sometimes be easy to forget about the poor. Kai Ryssdal speaks with bioethicist Peter Singer about why he believes we should give even more during a recession.

Yvonne Oppenheimer's brother couldn't say no to charities claiming to raise money for veterans. Now, even though he's deceased, the solicitations keep coming. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.

Cash-strapped donors are using stricter guidelines to justify charitable giving, particularly to nonprofits. That has some trying to assess how effective these organizations really are. Sean Powers reports.

If you don't have holiday plans today or don't celebrate Christmas, why not volunteer? From delivering donated gifts to working at a soup kitchen, there's plenty you can do. Steve Henn visits one volunteer center in Washington, D.C.