There are so so many who need our help around the world, and even here locally in CA. I asked a few friends and Say Yes team members their favorite ways to give to others this holiday. It’s always such a beautiful part of the season. I’d love to hear your ideas as well…
Every Mother Counts. They help make make pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother, everywhere. I’ve worked with them directly and know their board of directors. Very impressed with their commitment and passion for this important cause.
HIAS. “This is a refugee charity based in NY that does great work especially on the border with Mexico. Sidenote: One of Liz’s best friends, Devon, is a director there. ” -Sarah
“Our favorite charity is World Vision, which helps some of the world’s poorest communities. The kids love picking out chickens, ducks, or rabbits for kids across the globe” – Nicole
American Red Cross. Support humanitarian from emergencies and disasters. the nation’s premiere emergency response organization since 1881.
Together Rising. Most of Together Rising’s funds are raised through Love Flash Mobs, time-limited fundraisers that have revolutionized crowd-sourced online giving, with thousands of strangers giving a maximum of $25 to meet a particular need in a matter of hours. 100% of what Together Rising receives from every personal donation goes directly to an individual, family, or cause in need.
Direct Relief. “I love this charity, they provide ‘direct relief’ to 80 countries and all 50 states in America where it is needed most: those in poverty and who have suffered from emergency disasters. Their rating on Charity Navigator is 100, thanks to the complete transparency of their organization and that less than one percent of their funds goes to administration costs.”- Michelle
Children’s Alopecia Project. “As an adult with Alopecia it’s close to my heart, but I donate to Children’s Alopecia Project — I volunteer with them and see how they make a huge difference in a kid’s life by building self-esteem. Donations help kids in need attend the yearly camps for free.” -Lisa
No Kid Hungry. No Kid Hungry is a national campaign run by Share Our Strength, a nonprofit working to solve problems of hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world.
Bay Area Local:
Creative Growth Center. “A non-profit that serves artists with developmental, mental and physical disabilities, providing a professional studio environment for artistic development, gallery exhibition, and representation. I visited them this past summer and was incredibly inspired by this place, hoping to start volunteering there in the new year.” -Liz
California Volunteers. With all the fire disasters recently, this is a great place to donate both material goods, time, or money.
UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. There are a lot of ways to donate time or money to this local children’s hospital (and to one local to you as well). To help deliver the very best care to kids in need.
Adopt a Family Paradise Fire. “I found this facebook group and was quickly able to find a family with three young girls I could contact directly who lose their home in the Paradise Fire to gift to this year. Feels good to go straight to the source and ask them directly what they need and want for Christmas.” -Liz
Cooper’s Dream Dog Rescue. A San Francisco Bay Area dog rescue saving amazing pups of all breeds & ages, and helping them find loving, forever homes.
ACCFB. “I went to see these guys a few months ago. They serve 100-110 million meals a year to people every day in the county – it’s an astonishing figure that I can’t get my head around!”- Sarah
Local toy donations. So many from the fire stations to homeless shelters. “We love donating toys to our local mental health clinic internal toy drive for their child/adolescent clients” -Lisa
(Image from our sewn packages craft a couple holidays back)
Thank you for these suggestions. I’m actually looking to volunteer this year, or even gift my friends an amount to a charity of their choice!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com