The big problem with most charities that take money is very little ends up getting to the end-recipients that need it, most major organizations of such a type end up with ~less than five percent or so in actual funds at the end. This is even true for major groups such as United Way.
A really good way to give, one where nearly all of it gets through, and one where help is badly needed is food for food drives. With the economy having gone down the toilet, many food banks have run out and closed, and many people in many nations are starving. Even in wealthy nations like Germany, and in developed places with lots of agriculture like the United States of America (which exports lots of food), millions of people still don't have enough food to put on the table and survive.
I know how it goes, a long time back I was one of those people who received food from food drives, so I have some idea of what its like. (Fortunately, now I have my own place, a car, etc.)
Clothing also helps, especially now with winter weather coming in many places.
Edit: There are also groups that take old, used computers and fix them up for the poor, some groups also take other electronics and household stuff, I've also seen some places that will even happily accept old furniture and pass it on to those who need it. I don't know what its like where you live, but around where I am these groups are easy to find.
