I definitely know the jaded feeling. One of the main reasons I rarely donate to charity at all anymore, and definitely the main reason I'm so passionate about volunteering - when I'm there, hands on? I know for a fact someone's getting help, because I'm doing the helping.

There's no question that sending a donation of some kind is often more out of guilt/obligation/desire to do something than pure altruism, but there's really no avoiding that. What's saddest, I think, is that cause du jour mentality, but again. There's no helping it.

I guess times like these bring out the cynic in me.