This is the oldest story in the world, and I can give you some advice from a friend who made calls, never contribute to those very compelling calls you get from supposed police and fireman funds. Boiler room scam artists. They set up a “charity” with one cop, then they contribute the bare legal limit and keep the rest. If it’s to buy police bullet proof vests, they might buy one.
re: never contribute to those very compelling calls you get from supposed police and fireman funds.
Aside from most of these being scams, the fact is, in my community, the firemen and police have incredibly strong unions, and most of these employees are making big bucks in excess of over $100,000 a year. They can afford to pay for their own parties.