BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- It happens even more during the holidays, requests for donations to charities. Some givers say they check over any organization they don't know. Others give, but still have questions about new groups that pop up.
Collection boxes for an organization called Nu Creations Outreach are showing up at a number of Bakersfield markets and big box stores. The sign on the group's table outside the Wal-Mart on Rosedale Highway on Friday morning said they're raising funds for homeless shelters.
Emmy Barrett dropped some money in the box, though she wasn't sure what the group does.
"I just feel like they need the help, a helping hand," she said. Barrett said she worries about homeless people, but she had never heard of this charity before.
Ruth Loza and her daughter also put in money. She does care whether an organization is legitimate, but she was willing to take a chance on this group.
"I'm still going to give. If it doesn't go where it's supposed to, at least I gave to something," she said.
The woman manning the table said Nu Creations Outreach is raising funds for Christmas baskets and homeless shelters for women and children, but said there was no shelter in Bakersfield.
"We're trying to establish one at this point," Christina Folsom said. "There's not one here in Bakersfield. The corporate office is out of Oakland."
When asked, Folsom produced paperwork in a white binder. She had papers with letterhead from the California Attorney General's Office, and a handwritten "EIN" number at the top. It was 80-0359374.
She also had what appeared to be a city of Bakersfield business tax certificate. No city offices were open Friday to check on the papers.
Folsom said the group has a local manager, named Danielle, and provided a phone number. However, a man answered that number and said he had no knowledge of the group.
Folsom said the local group has about 25 workers, and the manager drops them off at different stores where they collect donations. She said the manager picks up the workers at the end of the day, counts and collects the funds.
A check of Web sites found the closest match for her description of the organization is a gospel singing ministry out of Oakland called Nu Creations. It provided no phone numbers.
A flier the worker had in her binder shows a list of calendar events for Nu Creations and things like a talent show and a Drug Free Army.
At the Wal-Mart on Panama Lane, shopper Connie Burns said she tries to check into charities before donating funds.
"Some of them I do look at them on line and just check," she said. "The way things are now, you never know which ones are legitimate."
The Better Business Bureau has general advice for charitable giving in some materials called "BBB Wise Giving Alliance."
"Do not give cash," they say. "Make your contributions by check payable to the charity, not to the individual collecting the donation."
The BBB also recommends checking into charities through the state attorney general's office.
And they have another piece of advice: "Don't be fooled by names that look impressive or that closely resemble the name of a well-known organization."
Some givers said they simply stick to groups they know, and know about. Davina Reams said she almost always gives only to the Salvation Army.
"I know where it's going and how it's going to end up," Reams said. She said if she gives money, that's important to her.
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