Dear Heloise: I have enjoyed your (and your mother’s) column for decades and currently read it in the Colorado Springs Gazette. I was recently upset by the person who recommended not giving to charities because the money all went to administration costs. This is simply not true.

There are thousands of charities in the United States, and many depend on volunteers only. However, there are scammers, and it is easy to check out a charity at CharityNavigator.org. They study each charity’s work and their financial statements, and they rate them according to their impact and efficiency with contributions.

At this critical time in our country when so many people are finding themselves without paychecks or public assistance programs, it is especially important for those who can give to support others. I have met many people who at some time in their lives needed help to support themselves or their children, and with this help, they were able to become self-supporting contributors to our society.

It’s not just the wise thing to do; it’s the right thing to do. — M. Arnold, via email

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Dear Heloise: Several years ago, my husband and I made a list of dinners that I normally prepare, such as spaghetti, pot roast, tacos, etc. Then whenever we are stuck on what we want for dinner, we look at the list and pick one that matches the ingredients we have on hand. We’ve added to this list as we think of something we forgot or if I find a new favorite meal. I read you in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. — Joan A., in West Covina, California

CLEANING A COMFORTER

Dear Heloise: I have read both your mother’s and your hints for many years and thank you for all of your wonderful hints. Many of these hints saved me time and money!

Now I have a hint to share: If you like to wash a comforter and duvet at home rather than taking it to a dry cleaners, you can place it in a dryer for 1 hour, then finish drying it by placing a clean sheet over a clothesline or fence and placing the comforter over the sheet.

This allows fresh air to circulate through the comforter, and it usually dries rather fluffy without a chemical scent to it. It works well for me, and perhaps it will work for some of your other readers. — Connie S., in Clawson, Michigan

CATEGORIZING CONTACTS

Dear Heloise: When you’re entering a person or company’s name, address and phone number in the Notes section of your contacts, add a category for the contact name. For example: “Plumbing — John Smith.” Many times, we come across names or companies in our phone contact list, and we forget who they are. This way, if you need a plumber, you can just search for the category “plumbing” in your contacts, and your phone will display John Smith and his company’s name.

It’s also helpful to enter dates so that you know when John Smith last cleaned out your drain or whatever the situation was. The Notes section in your cellphone contacts can be very helpful for endless reasons, like names and birthdates of a friend’s grandchildren, the hours and days that a certain business or restaurant is open, etc. — LEO G., in Kenosha, Wisconsin