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I'd love to hear from the community about which charities you like to give to. Giving is on my mind--especially during this holiday season and the condition of the economy. 'Tis better to give than receive!

My favorite is Habitat For Humanity.
http://www.habitat.org/

Habitat For Humanity wrote:What is Habitat for Humanity International?
Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.

Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.

Habitat has built more than 300,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.5 million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter.

You can give money of course, but you can give your time and talent, too. This past summer, my company sponsored Habitat For Humanity build project by allowing the employees to work a day on a house without any loss in pay. My team spent the day hanging guttering, moving new appliances into the kitchen, and scouring an old bathroom on a remodel job. (FUN STUFF!). Another of our work teams put siding on a new house.

I like Habitat as well. Here is another one that gets the job done:

Heifer International:
http://www.heifer.org/

I learned of Heifer while in Tanzania in 1989. The organization would provide a heifer to a needy family. The family agrees to give the first female offspring of that heifer to another needy family (that does not have a cow). The family has a source of nutrition (milk) and money for future offspring. Heifer has expanded to other animals (rabbits, sheep, goats, fish, water buffalo, ...) and works globally (including in the US).

"Cornerstones guide our efforts to end world hunger and care for the earth.

Long-Term Solutions emphasizing community involvement distinguish our work from that of global relief organizations.

“Passing on the Gift” means recipients agree to share the offspring of gift animals with others in need, making them equal partners with Heifer in the fight to end world hunger.

Environment and Sustainable Development is taught to our project recipients to help them achieve sustainable agricultural production.
Animal Well-Being guidelines are strictly reinforced with professional veterinary training staff.

Disaster Rehabilitation, with long-term, sustainable development the goal of Heifer's rehabilitation projects.

How We Measure Success shows how people's lives have permanently changed since Heifer came along. "

I like to give to Cross International. They provide help in 3rd world countries where there is no or little opprotunity. The poor in our country are rich when compared to 3rd world countries.

Anyone itching to ride? I'm going stir-crazy with this cold weather and will probably be bundling up and riding anyway soon.

safiri wrote:Here is another one that gets the job done: Heifer International: http://www.heifer.org/

Yes! I like that one, too. My mom & pop bought me a Christmas gift 2 years ago that, if I recall correctly, was a goat for a family. If it works the way it is supposed to, it is a gift that keeps on giving.

slimtrader wrote:Anyone itching to ride?

YES! Too cold for even my huge testes.

I have two, the Ronald McDonald House and Angel Flight. For Ronald McDonald House you can search for the local house in your community. Here is the link for the KC house: http://www.rmhckc.org/

Angel Flight link: http://www.angelflightcentral.org/

I just remembered my son's cub scout pack is doing volunteer work at Harvesters. http://www.harvesters.org/

I told my children that this year with any Christmas money they get it will be divided like this: 1/3 they can spend, 1/3 they must save, and 1/3 to charity! They are never too young to start them out with money management and a sense of giving.

Merrry Christmas to all!!!! And yes I said Christmas.

Daryl

A few of my favorites:

Cristo Rey High School, Kansas City. http://www.cristoreykc.org/ Cristo Rey Kansas City provides a Catholic, college prep education enhanced by an innovative corporate work study program to culturally diverse students with economic need. I believe this school and schools like this give kids the best opportunity to break the cycle of poverty in Kansas City. 98% of their students go onto college. Besides money they are always looking for clothing that meets there strict dress code.

Vitae Caring Foundation http://www.vitaecaringfoundation.org/ The mission of Vitae is to "encourage a greater respect for human life and reduce the number of abortions". They use mass media to educate for long term cultural change. Vitae was started in KC and is growing nationwide. Their results have been amazing in the markets they have targeted.

Salvation Army http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf This organization impress' me. 25 years ago, I use to work on Quality Hill restoring old building. At that time there were a lot of vagrants on the hill. The Salvation Army was were there all the time helping the people out. They would try to get in in a shelter, give food, blankets. If I saw someone in trouble I could call them and they would show up and help in any way they could. I now am a financial adviser to small and mid size cities in MO. A few years ago one of my customers, the town of Pearce City, was hit by a huge tornado and was leveled. The Salvation Army was the first group on the spot. There were there before any State or Federal Agency or the Red Cross. They took over a gym that was still standing and had tables full of supplies for families in need as well as hot meals. I never forget them at Christmas time. They are there when people are in need.

Those sound like some great charities, Eddie. Of course we all know about the Salvation Army. Despite various internal corruptions they've had in the past, the fact is they really do deliver to people in need at the time they need it most.

You reminded me of another great charity that I know personally. It is called Hope in the Streets and directly supports Kansas City's homeless in very practical ways. It is run by a man I have an enormous amount of respect for. I can assure you that every dollar given goes to the homeless. He funds the administration of the charity out of his own pocket. (And probably most of the work of the charity, too.) I think he got his start by volunteering to help deliver items and meals to the homeless with the Salvation Army. Through that experience, he is now able to identify the truly homeless and needy in order to supply them with the necessities to survive the harsh living environments. His charity is a very personal and effective one.
http://www.hopeinthestreets.org/

www.HopeInTheStreets.org wrote:The name of our foundation is Hope In The Streets, and we think this best signifies what we aim to achieve ... hope for those living in the streets. Hope for a better tomorrow, hope to stay alive one more day, and hope to survive Kansas City's cold winters and hot summers. Our foundation will provide hope to break out and sustain a normal life again someday, and inspire hope from seeing a familiar face, even if just a few times each month.

We are reaching out to Kansas City's homeless population with friendship, food, clothing, and other crucial life sustaining items. We employ a very individual approach by getting to know KC's homeless one by one. This allows us to better understand what needs they have and what support can be offered to not only get them through another day, but maybe also pave the way (pun intended) to get them off the streets.

Here is another one that helps the local needy: http://www.mlmkc.org/

Metro Lutheran Ministry

MLM's work belongs to people all over the Greater Kansas City area. Anchored by 35 congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, and the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, MLM receives support from a total of 61 congregations from numerous denominations. We receive funding from these congregations, as well as federal, state, and local government programs, individuals, foundations, and corporations.


A 501(c)(3) nonprofit social service agency, Metro Lutheran Ministry (MLM) helps disadvantaged people of all races, religions and nationalities in the urban areas of Jackson, Clay and Platte Counties in Missouri and Wyandotte and Johnson counties in Kansas.