Charitable giving

[Cassandra]

I donate blood, too.

I really should begin donating blood but I am so scared of needles. I have tried before but freaked out and wasn't able to.

[pearlieq]

I really should begin donating blood but I am so scared of needles. I have tried before but freaked out and wasn't able to.

That's OK. There's plenty of ways to spread good in the world. My best friend has the same issue with needles, so she just gives the blood center a cash donation every once in a while.

[pearlieq]

We divide our monthly charity budget three ways. One part goes to the local foodbank, one part goes to the local animal shelter, and the last portion goes to whatever charity speaks to us that month. Sometimes it's the local hospice, we did Toys for Tots a couple of months ago, and sometimes it's the local homeless shelter.

It's important to me for our charitable contributions to stay as local as possible. Even though some of them do good work, we don't often give to national organizations. We prefer to support smaller organizations that directly benefit our community.

I'm also a regular blood donor. It's such an important thing to do. Since my mom has been on chemo she has needed at least a couple dozen units of blood to help her along. I'm profoundly grateful to all the people who help keep her alive and fighting.

[PrincessPerky]

Sometimes I just do the free for me type thing:
freemicroloan

Aside from church giving, and donations of stuff we also support Kiva, and Heifer international.

Plus of course our local scouts, that registration fee doesn't begin to cover the amount of money we pour into the programs! (boy and girl)

[asmom]

International Kids Fund and United Negro College Fund as well as the occasional local charity and my alma mater.

[creditcardfree]

American Red Cross, Amvets and Goodwill primarily.

I often donate to causes others are participating in.

We give our pop tabs to Ronald McDonald House, too!

[scfr]

Time & "talents" (such as they are): Local animal welfare organization
Cash: United Animal Nations, local animal welfare organization & alma mater
(occasionally to NPR & Mercy Corps)
Non-cash: hair (Locks of Love), blood (blood bank), used goods to Salvation Army or Goodwill

[Beccagold]

I donate blood as well. My 2 favorite charities right now are Heifer Int'l and Fischer House. I also donate to a few of the large cancer research institutions like Memorial Sloan Kettering.

[sakigt]

National Public Radio
Humane Society
Another local spay/neuter clinic
United Way
Church
Salvation Army (stuff...not money)

[GoodBuyGirl]

American cancer society
American heart association
Plant it 2020 (reforestation project)
Boy Scouts food drive

[chewie8himup]

I give money to charities, but my favorite way to give is to spend time with my elderly neighbor and volunteer at a local pet shelter. These are the most rewarding ways to give.

[mommyof4]

I give money to charities, but my favorite way to give is to spend time with my elderly neighbor and volunteer at a local pet shelter. These are the most rewarding ways to give.

Yes, time and talent are wonderful ways to give, too!

[TBH]

Local public radio, a few women's health organizations, human rights stuff, still donating to Hurricane Katrina relief because things are still so bad down there.

I'm having a hard time right now figuring out where to donate used clothes and other stuff. I don't give anything to Salvation Army any more, and I don't shop there either, because I found out they have some creepy discriminatory practices in their hiring and also in who they help with their charities. There are a lot of Planet Aid donation drop boxes near us but they get a terrible rating from BBB and others. I finally found a local thrift store, thank goodness.

[Thriftina]

Church
Feed the Children
local missions in my city