The Season of Giving
The holidays are upon us. Now is the time
of year when kindness and generosity abound. We give thanks for all we have
been given. We donate both time and money to worthwhile charities and
organizations in need.
Three years ago, I completed a year of
giving, when I gave monetary donations to worthwhile charities throughout the
year…
This year I made charitable contributions
sporadically. I
thought I would share some of the charitable organizations
I made monetary
donations to this year....
*The
Matthew Shepard Foundation
Last year I shared on this blog my
experience at learning about Matthew Shepard’s merciless killing…
The murder of Matthew Shepard is a hate
crime that has had affected me like no other. Matthew needs to be remembered. His
killing needs to be remembered as well. As one of Matthew’s classmates, put it,
“...the hate that killed him is still here today.” (Michele Josue, from her
movie, “Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine.”)
The Matthew Shepard Foundation was
started after Matthew’s death by his parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard, and
fights for equality in the LGBTQ community. The mission statement of the
foundation reads:
“The
Matthew Shepard Foundation’s longstanding mission is to erase hate by replacing
it with understanding, compassion and acceptance. Through local, regional and
national outreach, we empower individuals to find their voice to create change
and challenge communities to identify and address hate that lives within their
schools, neighborhoods and homes. Our work is an extension of Matt’s passion to
foster a more caring and just world. We share his story and embody his vigor
for civil rights to change the hearts and minds of others to accept everyone as
they are.”
*The
Southern Poverty Law Center:
Since the recent Presidential Election in
the United States, there have been close to 1,100 hate crimes in the United
States. Many of the perpetrators have invoked the incoming President’s name as
they did their acts of hate. One of the organizations that is tracking the
number of hate crimes in the U.S. is the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Began in 1971, the organization “…is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry
and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Using
litigation, education, and other forms of advocacy, the SPLC works toward the
day when the ideals of equal justice and equal opportunity will be a reality.”
In addition to tracking hate crimes in
the country, the SPLC tracks hate groups throughout the United States. The
organization works on behalf of many communities, including children,
immigrants, LGBTQ, as well as issues of justice in the community and in the
criminal justice system.
The Southern Poverty Law Center has taken
on a new cause for justice, one that I am comforted they are taking on: the
President Elect of the United States….
“Today,
we're facing a new reality – a president-elect who has denigrated people
because of their race, their religion, their ethnicity, their gender, and more.
Our mission is to hold Donald Trump to what he is saying now – that he will be
a president for all Americans and that he will work to bind the wounds of
division, wounds that his own words have caused. We're already at work. The day
after the election we provided resources to our nation's teachers to help them
begin to heal the scars that the campaign has left on their students. And we've
alerted the country to the reaction of white supremacists to Mr. Trump's
election in an effort to inoculate the nation against their growing influence. Tomorrow,
and every day in the future, we'll fight for the rights of the most vulnerable
people in America – those victimized by bigotry and discrimination.”-Morris
Dees, founder
*The
Syrian Civil Defense:
The current human rights
crisis cannot be ignored. The Syrian Civil Defense acts as a first responder
unit to those in crisis. Also known as the White Helmets, the organization is
entirely made up of volunteers. If you want to help in the Syrian Crisis, if
you want to help people in the midst of the crisis, the White Helmets are the
organization to donate to.
"The volunteers save people on all sides of the conflict - pledging commitment to the principles of “Humanity, Solidarity, Impartiality” as outlined by the International Civil Defence Organisation. This pledge guides every response, every action, every life saved - so that in a time of destruction, all Syrians have the hope of a lifeline."
*The
Immigrant Welcome Center:
This organization is in my town, Indianapolis. This organization “…empowers immigrants by connecting them to the people, places and
resources that enable them to build successful lives and enrich our community.”
My family has personally helped a refugee family
placed in Indianapolis through this organization. I decided to donate to this
organization to help other refugee families. A quick internet search can show
you a similar organization in your city.
*Product
Red:
Product Red is an AIDS organization that was
started in 2006 by Bobby Shriver and the singer Bono. Through Product Red,
consumers can purchase products from a myriad of companies, including Apple,
Coca-Cola, Starbucks, the Gap, Beats Audio, Mophie, and more.
The products for sale on the Red website are
equally varied; consumers can buy pajamas, jewelry, tote bags, battery cases
for cellphones, Christmas cards, kitchenware, Square card readers, Vespa
scooters and more. Consumers can also make monetary donations, some of which
are then eligible for once in a lifetime opportunities with celebrities like
James Corden, Neil Patrick Harris, Liam Payne, and more.
Since Product Red started, they have
raised $365 million, which has benefited 70 million people around the globe. Proceeds
from this organization have made a dramatic impact on the fight. It used to be
that 1,000 babies were born with the HIV virus every day. Currently, that
number is down to 400.
The money raised on every Product Red
item purchased goes to the Global Fund:
“As
a partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector, and
people affected by the diseases, the Global Fund mobilizes and invests nearly
US $4 billion a year to support programs run by local experts in more than 140
countries. By challenging barriers and embracing innovative approaches,
partners are working together to end these epidemics.”
I have purchased many items from Product
Red over the years. It feels wonderful to know that every item purchased goes
to ending AIDS. For every dollar raised this year by Product Red, the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation will match those proceeds, up to $78 million.
*The
World Wildlife Fund:
The World Wildlife Fund works to help the
environment, from forests to oceans, ecosystems, as well as climate change. The
WWF also works to help many different species of exotic animals, including
whales, pandas, tigers, rhinoceros, polar bears, and more.
In donating to the World Wildlife Fund,
donors may direct the funds to the species of animal or environmental issue
they are passionate about. Funds can also be directed to where there is the
most need.
“For 50 years,
WWF has been protecting the future of nature. The world’s leading conservation
organization, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by more than one
million members in the United States and close to five million globally. WWF's
unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science,
involves action at every level from local to global, and ensures the delivery
of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature.”
*Comfort
Dogs:
I first learned of the Comfort Dogs after
the massacre at the Sandy Hook School in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012. After the killing of 20 children and 6 adults
at the school, a group of comfort dogs went to Newtown en masse to comfort a
town in mourning and anguish. Since then the dogs and their human companions
travel the country to wherever there is a need. The dogs even went down to
Orlando, Florida after the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub last July.
The Comfort Dog organization I gave to
was from Lutheran Church Charities. There are many dogs in its program, many of
which have their own pages in Facebook.
*Kindness
Ranch Animal Sanctuary:
I recently found out about the Kindness
Ranch. It is located on a 1,000 acre parcel of land in the state of Wyoming.
The animal sanctuary takes animals that were used in medical experimentation.
They take cats and dogs as well as a variety of farm animals.
The mission statement of the Kindness
Ranch is: “…to provide a sanctuary and
place of rehabilitation for animals who have been used in laboratory research
while fostering compassion for all animals. Consistent with our mission, we
work to rehabilitate our dogs and cats in a home-like environment. Cats and
dogs at The Kindness Ranch live together with their human caretakers in
spacious yurts specially designed to meet their needs. They receive
round-the-clock care to help them adjust to their new lives.The Kindness Ranch
also provides an adoption program for all the animals we can rehabilitate.
Those who are too debilitated, old or ill to be placed in a loving home can
remain on the ranch to live out
their days, surrounded by caretakers and volunteers who put the animals’
well-being first.”
Donors to the Kindness Ranch may donate
directly to the ranch, or they may purchase items that the ranch needs for the
animals, which are found on their Amazon wish list:
*Koinonia
Farm:
I first learned of the farm through a
documentary on PBS. Koinonia translates from the Greek as "Brotherhood" in English. It was begun in 1942 by Clarence and Florence Jordan out of
a desire to cultivate the land with others, regardless of race, creed or color.
The mission statement of the farm reads:
“We
are Christians called to live together in intentional community sharing a life
of prayer, work, study, service and fellowship. We seek to embody peacemaking,
sustainability, and radical sharing. While honoring people of all backgrounds
and faiths, we strive to demonstrate the way of Jesus as an alternative to
materialism, militarism and racism.”
The farm was founded by a progressive
group of people, which set standards for equality years before its time. The
farm has also dealt with many challenges in its 74 year history….
“When we could afford to hire
seasonal help, Black and White workers were paid a fair, equal wage. When the
community and its guests prayed or ate a meal, we all sat together at the
table, regardless of color. Our commitment to racial equality, pacifism, and
economic sharing brought bullets, bombs, and a boycott in the 1950s as the Ku
Klux Klan and others attempted to force us out. We responded with prayer,
nonviolent resistance, and a renewed commitment to live the Gospel. ”
Over the years the service of the farm
has grown exponentially. The farm participates in a local food pantry, prison ministry,
peacemaking initiatives for youth, and more. Many visitors come to the farm for
a weekend, a week, or even a summer to work the land and attend retreats and
classes on peacemaking. One project the farm saw that was desperately needed in
their area was adequate housing. They began a house building initiative, which
became Habitat for Humanity.
The Koinonia Farm is still a working
farm. It offers many products on their website, including pecans, jams and
jellies, breads, as well as many Fair Trade items from other companies,
including coffee, tea, and chocolate. I purchased a sampling of pecans from the
farm for my family to share over the Christmas holiday. All proceeds from donations and products on their website go to continuing the farm and its peacemaking practices.
I hope that this list of charitable
organizations has inspired you to make a contribution to one of these
charities, or perhaps a charity of your choosing. Whatever issues you are
passionate about, there is a charitable organization that you can support with
your time or with a monetary donation. If you decide to make a charitable
contribution, consider making your donation before the end of the year. It will
benefit the charity in their year end fund raising goals, and you can list it
as a charitable contribution on next year's taxes.
I hope that you will take a moment this
holiday season to give thanks for all of the blessings in your life. I hope you
will also take a moment to pay it forward, to contribute to a worthwhile
organization of your choosing. After all, this is the most generous time of
year. It is the season of giving.
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