Giving and Giving Thanks
Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate. I hope your days are full of good food, family and friends.
Here's my annual charitable giving post. You can find past posts and information on charitable giving by following the tags on this post.
Giving in 2009
Many of the charities and links I'm posting this year have appeared in previous posts, but it doesn't make any of them less important. In fact, one of the things that charities struggle with the most is to build and maintain a consistent base of giving. Having donors they can rely on year-after-year is incredibly important to the work these groups do.
So, my first recommendation is this: think about signing up as an on-going contributor to your favorite charity(ies). Most charities these days have the capacity to sign up donors to do monthly, small donations from credit cards. This means that a) you never have to think about sending in a check, b) if you get points for travel or cash back, you are donating to a great cause and getting something back in return, and c) you don't have to do one large donation - if you're donating $10/month, it's about 33 cents a day, but it adds up to $120 in a year! It's a great way of managing your budget and supporting a cause you like.
Have a friend/relative/co-worker that you just have no idea what to give? How about a charity gift card? Give them a gift certificate to make a donation to one of more than 1.5 million charities. Or use this service which is similar, albeit with a smaller list of charities.
So, some specific thoughts about where need is great this year. The list is long, but so is the need, I'm afraid.
Hunger Relief/Food Pantries
I don't need to tell anyone that times are very rough right now. One of the groups of charities that is the hardest hit is food pantries.
Feeding America is one of the great national hunger-relief organizations. They do great work, both in direct relief and in policy advocacy to prevent hunger. From their site, you can also find a local food bank if you would prefer to make a donation locally.
Share Our Strength is another fantastic organization aimed specifically at ending childhood hunger.
Help with Heat
One of the items that will get cut from families' budgets when times get tight is fuel/heating. In the Northeast, in particular, where a disproportionate number of homes are heated by oil, this can be a real problem.
United Ways in your community (you can find your local United Way from this national page) often have emergency fuel assistance funds.
Salvation Army centers also usually offer direct assistance to families in need.
Local Services
States, cities and towns are all cutting budgets and cutting "non-essential" services (and sometimes essential services) which may include crucial things like libraries.
Here's one site for finding your local public library. Libraries need your support!
Your local community foundation is making grants in a variety of ways to support local needs.
Health Care
Health care is another item that become a casualty when budgets shrink. If you'd like to make a donation to a health center serving the poor, you can find one near you using this link.
Animals
You can find a local animal shelter at petfinder.com.
Another great rescue group I just learned of is Rescue Ink a bunch of very big, very tough, tattooed guys who rescue animals and spend time educating kids (and adults) about preventing pet abuse.
International
The economic crisis isn't only hitting the US. This is truly a global recession. Here are some of my favorite relief charities:
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Federation
World Vision
Doctors Without Borders
Episcopal Relief and Development
the UN's World Food Program
UNICEF
Oxfam (working through partner organizations, as is their practice)
Mercy Corps
Save the Children
No matter where you give, you are making a difference. I will be leaving this post unlocked. As always, feel free to link to this and/or add your own suggestions of great places to give.
I am thankful to have all of you in my life, now and throughout the year.
Here's my annual charitable giving post. You can find past posts and information on charitable giving by following the tags on this post.
Giving in 2009
Many of the charities and links I'm posting this year have appeared in previous posts, but it doesn't make any of them less important. In fact, one of the things that charities struggle with the most is to build and maintain a consistent base of giving. Having donors they can rely on year-after-year is incredibly important to the work these groups do.
So, my first recommendation is this: think about signing up as an on-going contributor to your favorite charity(ies). Most charities these days have the capacity to sign up donors to do monthly, small donations from credit cards. This means that a) you never have to think about sending in a check, b) if you get points for travel or cash back, you are donating to a great cause and getting something back in return, and c) you don't have to do one large donation - if you're donating $10/month, it's about 33 cents a day, but it adds up to $120 in a year! It's a great way of managing your budget and supporting a cause you like.
Have a friend/relative/co-worker that you just have no idea what to give? How about a charity gift card? Give them a gift certificate to make a donation to one of more than 1.5 million charities. Or use this service which is similar, albeit with a smaller list of charities.
So, some specific thoughts about where need is great this year. The list is long, but so is the need, I'm afraid.
Hunger Relief/Food Pantries
I don't need to tell anyone that times are very rough right now. One of the groups of charities that is the hardest hit is food pantries.
Feeding America is one of the great national hunger-relief organizations. They do great work, both in direct relief and in policy advocacy to prevent hunger. From their site, you can also find a local food bank if you would prefer to make a donation locally.
Share Our Strength is another fantastic organization aimed specifically at ending childhood hunger.
Help with Heat
One of the items that will get cut from families' budgets when times get tight is fuel/heating. In the Northeast, in particular, where a disproportionate number of homes are heated by oil, this can be a real problem.
United Ways in your community (you can find your local United Way from this national page) often have emergency fuel assistance funds.
Salvation Army centers also usually offer direct assistance to families in need.
Local Services
States, cities and towns are all cutting budgets and cutting "non-essential" services (and sometimes essential services) which may include crucial things like libraries.
Here's one site for finding your local public library. Libraries need your support!
Your local community foundation is making grants in a variety of ways to support local needs.
Health Care
Health care is another item that become a casualty when budgets shrink. If you'd like to make a donation to a health center serving the poor, you can find one near you using this link.
Animals
You can find a local animal shelter at petfinder.com.
Another great rescue group I just learned of is Rescue Ink a bunch of very big, very tough, tattooed guys who rescue animals and spend time educating kids (and adults) about preventing pet abuse.
International
The economic crisis isn't only hitting the US. This is truly a global recession. Here are some of my favorite relief charities:
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Federation
World Vision
Doctors Without Borders
Episcopal Relief and Development
the UN's World Food Program
UNICEF
Oxfam (working through partner organizations, as is their practice)
Mercy Corps
Save the Children
No matter where you give, you are making a difference. I will be leaving this post unlocked. As always, feel free to link to this and/or add your own suggestions of great places to give.
I am thankful to have all of you in my life, now and throughout the year.