If you were to make a donation toward getting health care to people in need, where would you send your money? Toppenish, Washington? Perhaps Swainsboro, Georgia?

Well, you have made a donation toward getting health care to people in need, and it was sent to Toppenish and Swainsboro, as well as a couple dozen other cities, like Anaheim, California; Craig, Colorado; Hartford, Connecticut; Trenton, Florida; and Newton Grove, North Carolina.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced $22 million in grants on Friday. The money will go to health centers in 39 cities around the country.

Now let’s talk about your thank-you note.

I’m sorry to say that your thank-you note is probably not going to reach you. It’s being delivered to a woman named Elizabeth Duke.

Duke is the Administrator of HRSA. She and her agency spend about $7 billion per year on health care through various grants to state and local governments, health centers, and education programs. It’s your money, of course. You’re paying for it.

Now, Elizabeth Duke looks like a nice lady. It’s not like you should be mad at her for being so generous with your money. Maybe you don’t need any thanks - big of you! But maybe you’d rather focus your giving on other issues. Or maybe you’d rather give to an organization that you know and trust, rather than Ms. Duke doing your giving for you. All things to think about.

HRSA is funded in the Labor/HHS appropriations bill. The Senate bill is S. 3230. Its passage would cost the average U.S. family a little over $6,100.

Here’s the current vote on the bill. Click to vote, comment, learn more, or edit the wiki article about the bill.