Donations in lieu of flowers - loss mentioned

[jgenie]

I've never had someone I know request this. What are the specifics with honoring this request? Do I send a sympathy card and check made payable to the charity to the family? Do I send a sympathy card and check made payable to the charity directly? Do I send the sympathy card to the family and the check to the charity? These are friends of a friend and I don't know when I will see them again. They lost a young child - will there be suitable sympathy cards at a card store or should I write a note on stationery? TIA