The season

This is the time of year when so many think of money, of ways to please themselves by getting "just the right gift", as if they can win the love of another with the proper offering. I have to admit, there are times when I fall victim to something similar. This year, as the season begins to wind up, I find myself thinking that the world is falling apart, but I might have some way of making things better for everyone else. I have no desire to go feed the capitalist machine, but I've been knitting like a madwoman to satisfy that need to give something to my loved ones. However, none of that helps to make things better for this world. I want to help people across the planet; people in pain, people hurt by their brothers and sisters, people trying to survive without, people filled with anger and hatered. Sadly, I have no idea how to do what I want to do! I have been looking for charities I could donate to instead of giving material things, but then things get scary in India, and I feel like there needs to be some attention paid to healing in that region. Then I think about people in Haiti, surviving by mixing mud (as a mineral supplement) with the little rice they can get since the hurricanes this year devestated their homes. Then I think about the people in cities just nearby without purpose, and wonder if there is some way to bring the groups together so that they can serve the needs of one another. However, I suppose this is just another symptom of my idealism, trying to solve two problems with one action, but no real way to do it. I hope to find some answer that allows me to actually help, rather than feeding the machine. Any suggestions?