Even truer now as food, gas and other prices seek higher levels in which to orbit. But it doesn’t seem to deter solicitors who assume every thing is okay on the financial front and can’t you send a couple hundred dollars to help (fill in the blank)?

 No, unfortunately, I can’t. And that’s true of most of us. There are hundreds, thousands even, of deserving charitable organizations out there that try to help those in need with whatever services they offer. The best most of us can do is pick the one or two we are really passionate about and contribute what we can.

The requests for donations come almost daily, either by phone or by regular mail. Because they are working hard to collect money, the callers are polite and friendly and most remain so even after you tell them you are unable to help right now. But there are a few who get a little obnoxious and demanding, who attempt to heap layers of guilt on your shoulders because you refuse to give $100 to save endangered bearded monkeys in West Borneo.

Those I make a mental note to turn down even after times get better and I might have a little spare cash to throw around. In other words, not in this lifetime.

This column has covered this subject before, but it still lends itself to a few reams of copy. Charitable organizations aside, it’s the solicitations, or sales pitches, that are intended to help only the caller or the business he or she represents that really irritate me. I feel no obligation to listen and have no qualms about saying “I’m not interested” and hanging up as they move into the second and more intense stage of the pitch.

At least twice a week for the last several weeks, the phone rings and a recorded message starts out: “This is your final notice about the warranty on your 2002 Chevrolet product. Act now to extend the warranty for only $2,000 a year for the next five years. This is your last chance to extend your warranty.”

I started out hanging up after the “only $2,000 a year for the next five years” but now hang up after “this is your final” introduction. In five years, the 2002 Chevrolet product will be 11 years old and likely not worth the $10,000 spent on an “extended warranty.” It may not be worth that much now considering the fact that it is one of those dreaded SUVs that are hard to give away considering today’s gas prices. It may be parked for the next five years anyway.

Organizations I belong to also are oblivious to current economic conditions. I reluctantly have pointed out before that the University of Missouri Alumni Association assumes that every Mizzou graduate is a Bill Gates or Warren Buffet. Endow this, endow that, leave your estate to the Alumni Association. Want to attend the 100th anniversary celebration of the School of Journalism next fall? It will only cost $150 per person for a banquet and a tour of the Journalism School.

Tour the School of Journalism? I toured it for a couple of years already and it cost me enough back then. The MU Alumni Travel Agency offers cruises and tours starting at only $2,975 per person, double occupancy, almost on a weekly basis. Sure thing, book a tour to Greece and one to Ireland, and at least one Caribbean cruise, for next summer.

Masonic organizations are well known for their charitable work. They also are well known for hitting up members of those Masonic organizations for generous donations to various good causes. It’s impossible to donate to all of them, and financially imprudent, no matter how good the cause.

The National Rifle Association always needs money to fund its Youth Shooter Education programs, fight gun control legislation at state and national levels, support the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team, or something. All good causes, but again out of reach considering the amounts some of the solicitations start out requesting.

Sometimes I almost wish I were a Bill Gates or a Warren Buffet, or (apparently) a normal rich alumni of the University of Missouri. But I bet even those people pick and choose which charities they donate to, and how much. And they probably have someone else answer the phone.