The New Year is filled with resolutions and for many, this includes pledging to give back to the community or others in need. Charitable contributions can come in a myriad of forms including donating items, money and [gasp] even your time.
VOLUNTEER MATCH is an amazing site where prospective volunteers can search over 30,000 non-profit organizations for ideas. We've rounded up our picks on suggestions of where to dish out and give back, be it time from your busy schedule, your closet or your wallet.
DONATE AT THE CLICK OF A FINGER
The following sites all involve taking a few seconds out of your day and clicking away. Corporate and government sponsors back every visitor click with dollars going to fight for that cause:
The Hunger Site: sponsors pay for cups of food
The Breast Cancer Site: sponsors pay for mammograms
The Child Health Site: sponsors pay for healthcare
The Literacy Site: sponsors pay for books
The Rainforest Site: sponsors pay for habitat protection
The Animal Rescue Site: sponsors pay for animal food & care
Free Rice, a sister site to Poverty.com, is a fun game that improves your vocabulary while donating 20 grains of rice for each correct vocab word you enter (sponsored on behalf of the United Nations).
DONATE YOUR GOODS AND/OR MONEY
*Blood: American Red Cross.
The largest supplier of blood in the U.S., the ARC is always in need of
donated blood to maintain blood bank levels in case of natural
disasters.
*Cell Phones: Cell Phones for Soldiers.
Started by 12-year old siblings, CPFS has teamed up with AT&T in
donating prepaid phone cards for troops in need. Drop off a used cell
phone at one of AT&T's 1,800+ locations to provide the calling cards.
*Classroom Supplies: Donor's Choose.
Providing materials for students in public schools lacking funds for learning resources. Teachers submit project
proposals and donors can choose which project they would like to make a
monetary donation towards.
*Clothing & Home Goods: Goodwill. Instead of letting those barely worn clothing and gently used home goods lay around, donate them. Goodwill has the very first Internet auction site
created and operated by a nonprofit organization where you can find
everything from collectibles to vintage clothing to limited edition art
prints.
*Children's Books & Pajamas: Pajama Program.
Providing children, many awaiting adoption or in foster care,
with new pajamas and books both. Recently
featured on Oprah, where audience members donated 30,000+ pairs.
*Eyeglasses: Give the Gift of Sight.
Providing eye exams and new or recycled eyewear in the U.S. and in developing countries. Drop off used eyewear
to Lens Crafters, Sunglass Hut, Target Optical and other locations to
help in providing over 1.2 million people with the ability to see each
year.
*Laptops: One Laptop Per Child.
Providing children in some of the poorest and most remote places around
the world first-hand experience with their own XO laptop. Each XO
laptop is specifically made for this program, offering power-efficient
and durable learning computers for only $200 each.
*Suits/Professional Clothing: Dress for Success.
Promoting economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing
professional attire and career development tools. DFS accepts donated
new or almost-new interview-appropriate clothing, suits and
professional shoes to continue supporting 300,000 women each year.
VOLUNTEER
The following non-profit organizations are also always in need of volunteers, donations and support at any level:
Aid for AIDS
Friends of the World Food Program
Global Green
Habitat for Humanity
SPCA: Society for Prevention of Cruelty in Animals
Save Darfur
Sierra Club
Special Olympics
Surfrider Foundation
Susan G. Komen Foundation
UNICEF
World Wildlife Fund
