LaughingWater
Cathlete
Most excellent thread, by the way. You guys are offering up some great ideas.
Charitable Giving
- Thread starter sparrow13
- Start date
dragonf1y
Cathlete
My list:
Local church
Samaritan's Purse Operations Christmas Child shoeboxs
blood to ARC
2 children adopted through Compassion International
Covenant Care - Christian adoption agency
Joanna McAfee Childhood Cancer Foundation www.supportcancerkids.org
Rainbow House - against child abuse
As you can see I am pretty big into kids. And I refuse to buy anything from children in front of grocery stores
Local church
Samaritan's Purse Operations Christmas Child shoeboxs
blood to ARC
2 children adopted through Compassion International
Covenant Care - Christian adoption agency
Joanna McAfee Childhood Cancer Foundation www.supportcancerkids.org
Rainbow House - against child abuse
As you can see I am pretty big into kids. And I refuse to buy anything from children in front of grocery stores
andtckrtoo
Cathlete
I do a lot of charity bike rides and runs, so I spend a lot of money supporting those causes. Many are for local high schools who use the cycling events as fund raisers to support the less traditional sports and other curricular activities that are no longer supported by the government. I love the people on the support in these functions. My big fund raisers are LiveStrong (I so believe in them) and our local Humane Society where my daughter volunteers.
My2girls
Cathlete
We have been volunteering at a nursing home for many years now. No kids there, of course, but those dear people get so few visitors, even if they have family nearby They have seen our 2 DDs grow up from newborn to 7 and 5 and love them!!!! Just listening to them, running errands or reading to them is enough!
They have seen our 2 DDs grow up from newborn to 7 and 5 and love them!!!! Just listening to them, running errands or reading to them is enough!
Boingo1
Cathlete
One very close to my own heart: JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). My son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when he was 9 years old (almost 4 years ago).
I also give to local shelters around the holidays for holiday meals, the Red Cross and the WWF (for endangered species).
I also give to local shelters around the holidays for holiday meals, the Red Cross and the WWF (for endangered species).
Beavs
Cathlete
I routinely drop off items, including veggies from the garden when in season, at my local food pantry. I have also made donations in honor of loved ones at my local library. You often can purchase new books and have a book plate inside in memory or in honor of someone.
I have recently started a new tradition...in honor of my niece's birthday I will donate to an animal rescue in her name every year.
Also, for the friends and family who everything I often make donations in their honor to various organizations for their birthdays, Christmas, Festivus, etc.
I have recently started a new tradition...in honor of my niece's birthday I will donate to an animal rescue in her name every year.
Also, for the friends and family who everything I often make donations in their honor to various organizations for their birthdays, Christmas, Festivus, etc.
nancy324
Cathlete
The Juvenile Rights Division of the Legal Aid Society, City Harvest and the Long Island Alzheimer's Foundation are our main charities, although we do give to others as well. My DIL works at LIAF.
I love City Harvest here in NYC. It's a "food rescue" organization that collects excess food from all sectors of the food industry, including New York restaurants, and delivers it to community food programs in NYC. Brilliant idea!
I love City Harvest here in NYC. It's a "food rescue" organization that collects excess food from all sectors of the food industry, including New York restaurants, and delivers it to community food programs in NYC. Brilliant idea!
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animal charities
Without a doubt, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah is where I give any extra money, gift donations etc. Their work is unreal, check out their website. They are know all over the world for their work with homeless, abused & otherwise unadoptable animals.
karen
Without a doubt, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah is where I give any extra money, gift donations etc. Their work is unreal, check out their website. They are know all over the world for their work with homeless, abused & otherwise unadoptable animals.
karen
MAYNARDSMOM
Cathlete
Came up with another idea. My DS was painting a (smaller) pumpkin to take to DH's grandma in a nursing home. I wish I had thought of it & bought more we could have painted a number of them to give to the residence. They would just LOVE that & what fun for the kids.
I second the Best Friends in Utah.They took in some of the Michael Vic dogs. I think their website is www.bestfriends.org
Ellen
Ellen
kathryn
Cathlete
I donate monthly (from payroll deduction) to about 6 different groups. One is the American Humane Association, which works with both children and animals.
I also donate time at the local animal shelter : 1-3 days a week--depending on my teaching schedule-- for an hour at a time.
I also donate time at the local animal shelter : 1-3 days a week--depending on my teaching schedule-- for an hour at a time.
NancyAZ
Cathlete
I hope you make the donation in their name to a charity they would favor/support. Unfortunately, in our family someone decided to start making donations in other family members' names in lieu of Christmas presents and the charity is not one we would choose to support -- it's one the giver supports. Othewise, I think it can be a nice idea as long as the person who is not receiving the gift is okay with that.
mabdoo
Cathlete
We also give to the Ronald McDonald House and to the March Of Dimes. I spent 2 weeks at the Ronald McDonald House while my preemie was in the hospital. The people who worked there were so comforting and compassionate. It was also helpful to have support from other people going through what you were going through. One night when we all returned from the hospital we were having a late snack in the kitchen and we were sharing what our kids did that day and we were excited for the first bath and the first poop and things of that nature. That may sound weird but it is what you need at that time. The peace of mind of not having to worry about getting food and spending a fortune on a hotel and having others to talk to is something that I will never forget.
For donations, I love Doctors Without Borders, who help out in the most thankless, difficult places on earth.
Our time and money is so valuable, and the help so immediate, in local schools. A few hours of tutoring each week is so fun. You get to pick your own subject, grade levels and time slots to a great extent. Just call the school board and ask for the volunteer coordinator.
I don't know if every state has a Guardian Ad Litem program, which helps kids going through legal proceedings. You don't have to have legal expertise, just support the interests of the child. Guardian Ad Litem provides training.
Big Brothers, Big Sisters is always short of volunteers, and you can just take a child along on your normal hiking, biking, errands. Kind of makes you look at the world anew, if you don't already have kids, and even if you do.
I read an article about how to effectively contribute time and money. It recommended sticking to a few specific and carefully selected organizations and voiding emotional and impulsive responses.
Our time and money is so valuable, and the help so immediate, in local schools. A few hours of tutoring each week is so fun. You get to pick your own subject, grade levels and time slots to a great extent. Just call the school board and ask for the volunteer coordinator.
I don't know if every state has a Guardian Ad Litem program, which helps kids going through legal proceedings. You don't have to have legal expertise, just support the interests of the child. Guardian Ad Litem provides training.
Big Brothers, Big Sisters is always short of volunteers, and you can just take a child along on your normal hiking, biking, errands. Kind of makes you look at the world anew, if you don't already have kids, and even if you do.
I read an article about how to effectively contribute time and money. It recommended sticking to a few specific and carefully selected organizations and voiding emotional and impulsive responses.
RunninTeach
Cathlete
The biggest one I support is Livestrong. With the help of family, friends, co-workers, and students, I recently raised money in honor of one friend battling colon cancer and another who passed away two years ago.
At work, we frequently have requests for both charitable organizations and for "our own"—a student whose home burned down, an injured janitor who ran out of sick time, holiday gifts for less privileged students, etc.
(That is one way you could contribute locally—teachers and school staff spend A LOT out of pocket. Usually, during the holidays each year, there are collections to help families in need. At other times of the year, we "take care of" students as needed. For example, at my old school, we would buy suits for graduation for those who couldn't afford. Sites like http://www.donorschoose.org/homepage/main.html and http://www.adoptaclassroom.org/ help furnish classrooms with needed or desired items.)
I'm also happy to support friends through organizations including Make-a-Wish, American Cancer Society, MS Society, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and animal shelters.
At work, we frequently have requests for both charitable organizations and for "our own"—a student whose home burned down, an injured janitor who ran out of sick time, holiday gifts for less privileged students, etc.
(That is one way you could contribute locally—teachers and school staff spend A LOT out of pocket. Usually, during the holidays each year, there are collections to help families in need. At other times of the year, we "take care of" students as needed. For example, at my old school, we would buy suits for graduation for those who couldn't afford. Sites like http://www.donorschoose.org/homepage/main.html and http://www.adoptaclassroom.org/ help furnish classrooms with needed or desired items.)
I'm also happy to support friends through organizations including Make-a-Wish, American Cancer Society, MS Society, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and animal shelters.
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steppin out
Cathlete
We give to the local animal shelter, American Cancer Society (my mom died from Lung cancer), have gone to Ronald McDonald House fundraisers. We have also given in the past to local homeless shelters and kids programs.
Right now I appear to be on the "sucker who will contribute to anything list". Just today, I received 3 different envelopes from agencies looking for money! In the past month I have received mail from organizations I haven't even ever heard of before.
Right now I appear to be on the "sucker who will contribute to anything list". Just today, I received 3 different envelopes from agencies looking for money! In the past month I have received mail from organizations I haven't even ever heard of before.