To Do: Give
December 15, 2007
Uncategorized

To Do: Give

Update: We’ve passed the $1,000 mark already! Keep it up!

Here’s my only request of you this weekend: donate. The holidays are the perfect time to reflect on how fortunate you are and how far even a small donation can go to helping others. I’m pledging to donate $300 this weekend to charities. Will you join me?

I’ve gathered some charity ideas if you’re not sure where to start. When you do donate, I’d love to hear how much you gave. An anonymous comment below will help to keep track of how much we have contributed!

General:

United Way – Does amazing things for communities around the country.
Red Cross – Always there when needed the most.

Women & Children:
UNICEF – Donate to help children around the world.
Women for Women – Support women in war-torn areas to support their families, get an education and build communities.

San Francisco:
Glide – This San Francisco charity serves over 1 million meals a year.
San Francisco Parks Trust – Promote green spaces and resources in the city.

Animals:
SPCA – Support your local animal shelter or help bring dogs home from Baghdad.
WWF – Adopt something a little more exotic, like an Emperor Tamarin, and you get a certificate, photo and matching stuffed animal.

Of course, this is just a very short list of the available options. Political groups, medical groups, religious groups, museums, schools, technology groups are all great choices. You can browse Charity Navigator to find the group that is especially close to your heart.

I really hope that EmilyStyle readers will come through in force on this special project!

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There are 12 comments for this article
  2. Anonymous at 2:05 am

    I did $50 to my local food shelf today, and I’m also doing a canned food drive at my Christmas party (instead of people bringing me hostess gifts)

  4. Anonymous at 3:43 pm

    $400 spread out between several families we knew were in need, sub for Santa, and a few food drives…

  5. Melissa at 4:14 pm

    This is great! Another good idea, especially for someone teaching kids about giving, is Heifer International. You purchase livestock to be given to families in need worldwide that will help them become self-sufficient. The organization teaches them how to care for the animal. In return, the family has to pass on the first offspring the animal produces to another family in need (who will, in turn, pass on the first offspring again). The gift of one goat, for example, could eventually provide milk for an entire impoverished community. Gifts range from $20 (a flock of chicks) to $500 (a heifer). It’s wonderful, especially when children are involved, because it’s such a tangible gift and continues to keep on giving. http://www.heifer.org

  6. Anonymous at 5:52 pm

    We are donating 40 dollars to a fund to make a Christmas for a family in our town who would not otherwise have Christmas.

    We are making a little Christmas package to be donated to Vetrans who are in the hospital this Christmas.

    We have participated in gathering for 2 food drives and will be participating in another this week.

    We are donating some money to help families of fallen fire fighters and police officers.

    On a side note.. women’s shelters can really use those travel size soaps and shampoos and other toiletry items that are collected at hotels. Also new blankets and quilts.

  7. Anonymous at 7:14 pm

    We donated $200 to one of our local animal rescue groups.

  8. Anonymous at 9:11 pm

    Thanks for the reminder. I’d been collecting mailings from charities I meant to dontate to before the end of the year – but that’s coming up soon!
    One charity I donate to is the Alzheimer’s Association. I used to work with people who had dementia. Other than that, I mostly donate to local charities, and to an international program through our church. Because they already have the staff in place at the churches, almost all the money you donate can be used for services for the poor.

  10. Anonymous at 7:32 pm

    Here’s one based in San Francisco–Breast Cancer Fund. They’re the only organization nationwide focused on looking at the environmental causes of breast cancer. http://www.breastcancerfund.org. They do fantastic work!

  11. Sara Christine at 11:12 pm

    Thanks for the post!

    Here’s a great gift idea in the spirit of giving: buy a giftcard from GlobalGiving.com. The recipient can choose from over 400 prescreened grassroots organizations and choose the cause they want. Then they receive follow-up e-mails about the progress of their cause and how their donation helped.

    Perfect for that impossible-to-buy-for humanitarian in your life. I bought one for my Dad this Christmas!

  12. Sue at 3:39 pm

    First time poster but thought I would help add to the total for your brilliant idea for a post. $103.50 to Grace Center of Hope to give a family of 4 a Christmas. This fund drive was sponsored by our local Christian Station WMUZ 103.5fm….