GTKY: Giving Back

whippoorwill3 · October 2014

I'm curious to know what you guys do to volunteer or otherwise support charitable organizations and non-profits? I think we all have that soft spot in our heart that makes us want to give back. Tell me about yours!

starshollow · October 2014

I am a volunteer advisor for a high school youth group. It is actually how H and I met. I love volunteering with teens.

We are also really involved in Relay for Life.

AFrye0726 · October 2014

DH & I are on the board of a charity event. We do a soapbox derby race for children with disabilities. The event is a month after this LO is due. That should get interesting. But it is what we love and love spending time with those kids! Other than that just help whoever we can. But we dedicate a large portion of time/money to this charity.

redneckmomma25 · October 2014

We give financially to our church and a local pregnancy center. Time I'm not as good with but I do want to start with our kids when they are old enough. I'd also like to start sponsoring a child overseas.

lindsayanne14 · October 2014

I'm a 12 year volunteer at a center for grieving children and families. I facilitate groups of children who have lost a close family member. It's a mission that's close to my heart as my Dad died of Cancer when I was two.

lovemaddux · October 2014

The animals! We donate to the ASPCA, WWF and Human Society. We've tried volunteering with the ASPCA but timing hasn't worked out.
We also do a bunch of charity 5ks but nothing specific.

redheaded14 · October 2014

I am in Rotary and sit on the board. I also do executive mentoring for the business school if the local university. Until recently I was on Junior League and have done grant writing for Dress for Success in the past. We also give to our church and I can never pass up those things at the grocery store or wherever where you donate a couple of collards and write your name on a balloon or heart or something.

Tldr; I'm really good at the high level stuff but need to make an effort to get my hands dirty more often.

missamERICA · October 2014

I'm no where near as involved as I want to be or as I was in college, however an organization that is close to my heart is Habitat for Humanity. We always attend Relay for Life. I used to bring my cheerleaders to the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk as well.
My son and I are very active with picking up trash in our local park though...teaching him simple things like recycling and throwing trash in the proper place as well as care for animals is important to me.
And I keep a strong "if they ask, I donate" policy whenever I'm at grocery stores, fast food restaurants, etc. and they ask if I would like to donate $1 to whatever it is, our family always says yes. Veterans as well. We make sure we give whatever we can.
So really.. not a huge imprint, but anything we can do - we try.

Alicia_R1 · October 2014

Every year I donate to our local no kill shelter and raise money for the 5K run/walk they have.

Also do the same for the Keystone Wounded Warrior Project.

Then I donate to the Wildcat Sanctuary, Snow Leopard Trust, Panthera, and WWF.

DixieNormous330 · October 2014

We have been a part of a Relay For Life team for several years.

Our daughter is disabled so we do a decent amount of financial support and volunteering with her school and programs that help kids who had prenatal strokes.

abc829 · October 2014

Through my business I donate 50% from the sales of autism awareness line and monthly about 5% of my regular sales to a local autism awareness charity. Personally I donate heavily to cancer research and to my local animal shelters.

CivilMommy · October 2014

I am a sunday school teacher at my church.

Mel&John2013 · October 2014

We used to give to several different charities, but now focus almost exclusively on our local children's hospital and liver research. We recently had our first annual golf outing in my son's name and raised almost $10,000! I'm incredibly proud of both the raising money part and honoring my son.

chemgirlstl · October 2014

My husband and I are on the property and maintenance committee for our church - he helps with a lot of the inside stuff and I do the majority of the landscaping on the outside. We've done that for 11+ years now.

As a Master Gardener I also volunteer for Gateway Greening - which has many outreach areas including helping setup and maintain community gardens as well as school gardens. They also have an area called City Seeds where the homeless learn to garden as well as train in other horticulture areas (hardscaping, landscaping, etc) with the hopes that they can then get jobs or go to a local community college to get more education (they get a modest stipend for being a part of the program as well as bus passes, etc). I love volunteering there and helping weed, harvest produce, plant, etc. It's humbling to talk to those who are working there and get to know their life stories - it always brings me back to reality.

picklesx · October 2014

I will leave a small donation when certain retailers collect for specific charities (March of Dimes I always do), but I'm not actively involved with anything.

sagehens47 · October 2014

I speak at shelters and hospitals about alcoholism and my own recovery. It's an amazing experience.

drmrsmantis · October 2014

I like this thread so much!

I used to be very active with the American Cancer Society (I coordinated and provided rides for people who otherwise could not get to their treatments), as well as with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (I did Team in Training twice and volunteered at their office). Several times I've also volunteered at the Hole in the Wall camps (for kiddos with cancer and diabetes). I haven't done much lately, but this makes me realize that I really want to.

Side note: @whipoorwil13 and @souptin Your Halloween fails had me seriously cracking up. This is a great siggy challenge!

topaz7777 · October 2014

I'm a volunteer firefighter/emt with my local fire department.

I teach self defense at a non profit organization

I don't have money to donate to causes, but I donate blood every chance I get to the Red Cross.

I relay for life each year, last time I walked the full 24 hours for a total of 18 miles.

I also keep looking for PTSD awareness groups to support and wish they did more local events.

redneckmomma25 · October 2014

At Christmas we pack a few boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Something I've done since I was a kid. Also, we purchase a gift for a child whose parent is in jail and cannot. So they tell you what they would like for their child and you give it. Angel tree is what it's called.

Ncountrygal · October 2014

We volunteer with the youth at church, as well as supporting our local and awesome crisis pregnancy center. We also give to a cultural group with free lectures on history, the arts, etc.

MagalinaH · October 2014

I contribute a portion of my salary to United Way. I also collect for and volunteer at my districts annual clothing drive. Every Tuesday, I volunteer to stay after school to help run a homework club for students who don't have support or a quiet spot to study at home. In high school, I would cook meals with our church youth group once a month for our local food branch. I also served food at the food shelter. I would like to do more, and I'll make more of a point to do community giving back with our children.

Edit: Quite for quiet

SunRae1 · October 2014

This is awesome!

I volunteer as an outreach director for our church. We adopt-a-block, feed the homeless and rescue women from sex trafficking.

Right now I am working on a huge thanksgiving project. We will be distributing 200 thanksgiving baskets full of groceries to local families who would otherwise go without a thanksgiving dinner.

Duffgurl · October 2014

We make care packages for our troops from time to time.

RobynB13 · October 2014

I'm a volunteer firefighter and my station is VERY active in our community and with other charitable events. I also am very active attending fundraisers and walks (mostly for lupus) and I donate to the red cross and the Ronald McDonald house. I've also helped campaign for Soles for Souls and pediatric cancer research.

redneckmomma25 · October 2014

Lildoll513 said:

We support a little boy in West Africa through Compassion International.

I am on their website now looking at information!

melprice4 · October 2014

This is awesome. I love how everyone is involved in so many different things!

My main thing, is that my H is the director of an inner city youth program in our city. I provide literacy tutoring around my work schedule. We focus on really building a community with the families.

whippoorwill3 · October 2014

I forgot to answer my own question - I volunteer with CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates). I get appointed to cases of children who have been abused and neglected and serve as their advocate while their CPS case is open. I started volunteering right after having my first child and feeling the intense desire to love and protect her. It's excruciating to see other children who have not been protected but rewarding to know that I'm fighting for their best interest.

BabiesEverywhere · October 2014

Guys, it makes me teary to think what a difference A15 mommas are making.

Before DD, I volunteered full-time at an after-school program for kids from low-income families. We had snack, church time, homework time/tutoring, and free time. During the summer it was an all-day summer day camp. Unfortunately the program has shut down, and I miss those kids so much!

@lindsayanne14‌ , now I help once a week at our town's children's grief center, too! Although the night I'm there we work with kids who are suffering loss unrelated to death (so, divorce, parent in prison, abandonment, etc).

MagalinaH · October 2014

missamERICA, I forgot, I also did Habitat for Humanity 3 summers in a row during high school with my church youth group. It was one of the most incredible experiences I've had. What was really neat is the 2nd year we went, we worked on the same house as the 1st year, putting in the finishing touches and helping the family move in.

fartsandcrafts · October 2014

Such an uplifting thread - thanks @whippoorwill3‌!

I've always been drawn to helping the homeless. I commute in and out of the city every day and like to keep things in my car to give out. When budget allows, I like to put small bags together - socks, hand warmers, granola bars, water... and keep them in my trunk, then just pull a few out each day to hand out at stop lights.

Being in the construction/design field, I also love to volunteer with Habitat and other home building organizations. It expands my field knowledge and feeds into my desire to help those in need of homes.

Also, anything to support our vets and active service men and women. I lost one of my very best friends in action and am always looking for things to do in his memory. Lots of local projects usually pop up around the holidays, and I always try to give either my time or money.

Prpljade · October 2014

I've donated and/or volunteered with Cascade AIDS Project, American Cancer Society, Fighting Cancer to the Coast, Providence Cancer Research center, Children's Cancer Association, American Heart Association, Humane Society and a local animal rescue. As others have mentioned I volunteer for some charity run events as well, I can't even begin to remember all the charities they benefited.

In the past I've also done the Christmas/holiday gifts to needy families. In our area many of the local retailers will have trees up around the holidays and instead of ornaments they have gift tags with a child/family info and needed items. You choose one, get the item and return it to the tree before Christmas. It feels good to know a kid will get something they want that they otherwise wouldnt have. I have some fantastic holiday memories and as an adult I know now how hard my parents had to work to scrimp and save for those holidays and birthdays and it breaks my heart to think a kid would suffer because paying bills and keeping food on the table is all they can afford.

Edit cause spelling

islandmom79 · October 2014

I volunteer with a group at work. We do various fundraising and activities such as food drives for thanksgiving, planting trees, volunteering to read or mentor students in need, the angel tree, building items such as ramps, fences, etc for those in need and many more things. We are always looking for new ideas to give back to the community. I love helping others when I can.

BigAppleBiggerBelly · October 2014

I work at a nonprofit and get paid crap. Does that count?

I currently volunteer monthly at free legal clinics and citizenship drives, I help seniors with computer issues at the library, and I take my son to a senior home for a program where basically lonely older people borrow my son to hold and sing to. He's a good sport.

Prior to having him, I taught GED, SAT prep, and citizenship classes three nights a week, did reading programs at schools two mornings a week, ran senior bingo once a month, and volunteered at soup kitchens and court-mandated job training sites regularly. I look forward to taking on more again when the kids are a bit older.

amacksta14 · October 2014

This thread is awesome! I work at a non profit and have pretty much my entire career. We just relocated this summer and am looking for things to be involved in.

I am certified as a Domestic Violenece Instructor and volunteer train school officials, teachers, students, etc. Domestic Violence is an issue close to my heart. Human trafficking too.

I also do the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance through United Way. I love preparing taxes for people who want professional advice and would never be able to afford it otherwise. Growing up poor I know how it is to have a need but not be able to afford it.

Y'all do awesome work. In a nonprofit we are always dependent on volunteers who give, time and money. There is no way any organization could reach it's mission without you. From a staff person, seriously thank you. It makes a huge difference!

lneice0160 · October 2014

My DH and I are volunteer members of our local fire department and rescue squad, we all donate time and supplies to the schools, and do Christmas presents and have Santa at Christmas. I also bring stray animals home until I find them homes so they don't get hit by cars or taken to a kill shelter.

BigAppleBiggerBelly · October 2014

amacksta14 said:

In a nonprofit we are always dependent on volunteers who give, time and money. There is no way any organization could reach it's mission without you. From a staff person, seriously thank you. It makes a huge difference!

Amen. I am so thankful for our amazing team of volunteers. We wouldn't be able to accomplish a fraction of what we do without their help.

Nothing makes me prouder than when one of my successful clients comes back to volunteer and use his or her experience to help others.

Holly9239 · October 2014

Awesome responses here. I have volunteered with the JDRF for a very long time (the walk, the galas, ride for research..). It is a cause near and dear to me (so... I don't know if that counts). Through my job we do Christmas hampers every year for families in need. We also help out with the Terry Fox run and Right to Play every year. Hubby and I have sponsor children, donate to Operation Smile, MS Bike Tour, ALS, the local Children's Hospital, the SPCA and Breast Cancer Research Foundation every year.

Morena Mama · October 2014

I do the March for Babies for the March of Dimes every year and try to contribute to a variety of causes financially when I am able.

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GTKY: Giving Back

Re: GTKY: Giving Back

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DD 7/2010, DS 3/2012, #3 due 4/24/2015

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