To what charities/causes do you donate/volunteer?

[UrbScotty]

Of course, we have our DU Fund Drive this weekend. And, the holiday season is upon us - seven and a half weeks left! - so expect the Salvation Army 'bell-ringers' at a store near you!

To whom do you give your time, talent, and/or treasure? Political organizations, charities, whomever.

I wouldn't call myself too generous. I mean, I've donated to DU (as indicated by the star), and I spend a few hours helping with a local food drive in October and a fund-raiser for the Knights of Columbus in the spring. And, of course, I like supporting local Democrats (the few we have, anyway). I have also donated a few dollars to a couple of local relief agencies, as well as my church. Not very much.

[Superfly]

1. My list....maybe you can guess my #1 issue

Sierra Club
Ducks Unlimited
Trout Unlimited
Coastal Conservation Association

[bleedingheart]

2. I donate my time to the Democratic Party and to

my kids school when I get a chance.

I donate money to the following:

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
St. Judes Children Hospital
Carnegie Museum of Pittsburgh
Fireman
Policeman
NARAL
NOW
Paralyzed Vets
AmVets (in my dad's name..he is a WWII vet)
University of Pittsburgh
Michigan State University...

I give when I can and what I can spare...

[Nay]

3. Long-time ACLU member. Habitat for Humanity. Amnesty Int.

Web of Hope (knitting and crocheting blankets, etc. for homeless). I also dress dolls for a charity that distributes them to kids who aren't getting any Christmas presents.
And of course DU.

[flamingyouth]

4. I'm a volunteer grant writer

And so I've had the opportunity to work with a whole bunch of different organizations: homeless shelters, non-profit health clinics, and agencies that serve senior citizens and foster kids. It's a great experience - especially when we get a grant. It's been pretty hard to get funding since 2001 (AHEM) because there is so much competition from very worthy groups that have had federal funding slashed (again, AHEM). I also used to be on the board of an abortion clinic, and I co-edit material for a local women's foundation.

[Eric J in MN]

5. The Move On Voter Fund

One of the causes I've given money to is The Move On Voter Fund, which is raising funds for anti-Bush tv ads.

Some of the other organizations I give to (like the ACLU) are trying to fight things Bush is doing, and can be more effective starting in 2005 if Bush isn't in office at that time.

http://www.moveonvoterfund.org/

[chrisesq]

6. Mine

Paralyzed Veterans
ASPCA
SICSA
Firemen
Police

[Philostopher]

20. Wow -- thanks for donating to SICSA!

I volunteer there 3-5 hours a week,and we also donate.

Edit -- to explain, SICSA is the Society for the Improvement of Conditions for Stray Animals. It's a stray recovery and rehoming organization.

Also DU

This includes Mr. Nownow:

Have given money to both Dean's and Kucinich's campaigns.
Habitat for Humanity
ACLU
NARAL
WYSO (local public radio station)
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
People for the American Way (PFAW)

Don't know if it counts -- it's not really either charitable or directly political, but I enjoy it and it's a not-for-profit operation:

Romenesko's Obscure Store (www.obscurestore.com) -- oddball 'little news' stories. It's sort of a 'blog, done by the guy who also does the Poynter News Watch page.

There may have been more. Doubtless there have been more, hubby and I don't always discuss small donations -- only big ones.

[WilliamPitt]

7. DemocraticUnderground

[4323Lopez]

8. Second Chance Animal Welfare

donate and volunteer

[Kathy in Cambridge]

9. DU, AmVets, ACLU, ASPCA, World Wildlife Fund

Community Servings (Food for people living with AIDS), local childrens charities.

I have been unemployed twice in the past two years so the number of organizations and size of donations have decreased dramatically.

[southerngirlwriter]

10. My list.....

Money:

NPR
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
.....and a lot of people.

When I have money, my two favorite things to do are to help someone who's struggling by saying, "Give me your utility bill. I'll go downtown and pay it," or, in a drive-thru line, to pay for the car behind me. That's always fun. When they figure it out, I'm gone. :-)

Time:
BB/BS
....and a lot of people.

I babysit for free for a lot of people. My friend E. is a single mom. The deadbeat dad lives three blocks away and can't be bothered to help her out with babysitting at all, so I babysit for free on Thursday nights to give her a break. Also, my friends W. and R. are broke. I give them a free night of babysitting twice a month so they can have a date night.

I get a lot more satisfaction giving to individuals than organizations. NPR is an exception, because I listen 24/7 and would feel guilty if I didn't pledge, and BB/BS is just a clearinghouse for the facilitation of one-on-one relationships.

[Bluzmann57]

11. American Cancer Society

This one is strictly personal. I also give money to the Muscular Dystrophy people and our regional Public Radio Station. KUNIRadio.org in case you're interested. The Dems and Labor get my money too.

[DemoTex]

12. DU monthly and (usually) quarterly

Sierra Club
CCA
ACLU
Greenpeace
The Nation Foundation
The Democratic Party of Texas

And my favorite, to which I give money and time when I am back in Dallas, The Stewpot. The Stewpot is a soup-kitchen, medical facility, dental facility, mental-health facility, clothing bank, food bank, and a whole lot more, in downtown Dallas. It is run by the Rev. Bruce Buchannan (St. Bruce) of the 1st Presbyterian Church in Dallas. I've been doing volunteer work at the Stewpot for three years now. In fact, it is one of the few things I look forward to on my trips back to Dallas.

[Red State Rebel]

13. Bravada Winterguard, Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps

www.bravada.org and www.cavaliers.org

[LuLu550]

14. Lot of little $ donations to

environmental action groups, my two colleges, NYS Dems, Common Cause, Move On, Association for the Blind, local search and recuse, fire and ambulance corps, Diabled Vets...Shiners Hospital....
Don't have time to donate that!

[SOteric]

15. The Shoalwater, Amnesty International, American Cancer Society,

various local progressive political campaigns, and environmental causes...and DU.

[srpantalonas]

16. my list

DU
Crystle For Senate
Witness.org
Casa-alianza.org
The Carter Center
SpeakTruth.org
sunshine-project.org
nazproj.org
Lanc. Co. Dem Party

[area51]

17. Q: "To what charities/causes do you donate/volunteer?"

A: Project Linus, which donates hand-made afghans (blankets) to sick kids. Project Linus

[scarlet_owl]

18. As many of you already know (and are sick of hearing),

I am a volunteer at the Anita Purves Nature Center here in Champaign-Urbana. We don't donate to too many charities because we are dirt poor (I'm on disability and my husband makes a very slim wage, we also have $500 a month rent), but there is always a little money to buy the turtles at the nature center some veggies, or buy a hat and scarf set for the mitten drive. On edit: We also volunteer for the Rottweiller Rescue in Champaign and we are going to be doing pictures with Santa on weekends starting in a couple weeks (I have the info in my car, but I'm too lazy to go get it now), so if you are in the Champaign area, please come and bring your pet to have it's picture taken! Email me if you need more details.

[eileen from OH]

19. I give to

NPR (local station)
PBS (local station)
AMFAR
Broadway Cares, Equity Fights AIDS)
The Names Project (AIDS quilt)
C.A.N. (local AIDS group)
University of Dayton (alma mater)
Blue Knights (local)
DNC (and various other campaign and political organizations)
Kent (local) Social Services
Two Churches (local)
Weathervane Community Playhouse (local theatre)
Moveon.org


I gave annually to a local rescue mission - Haven of Rest in Akron, OH - until a few years ago. There was a philanthropist who had been very generous to them in the past and they asked him to be on their Board. Until someone decided that because he was Jewish he couldn't be part of their Christian Board and "uninvited" him. Not making this up. They do a lot of good work but I decided that there's a lot of other groups out there who also do good work with no religious strings and I chose to give to those. Just shifted my donations. And I wrote and told 'em why too.

eileen from OH

[kodi]

21. local humane society, little league baseball, local church social services

time spent is better than money sent.

the animal work is why i have 6 dogs snoring in the house tonight.

funny, when i help out with the local catholic church they think i am a church goer...and it confuses them when i tell them my "church" is what i am doing at the moment, helping them out.

[mykpart]

22. I volunteer at my local VA hospital.

It's my way of "supporting the troops" and I think it's better than just putting a flag on every surface you can find! :)

[Rowdyboy]

23. Stewpot Community Food Services....

n/t

[bratcatinok]

24. I donate to

DU
The leukemia and lymphoma organization as my ex has chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Back when we were married and I wasn't anemic, I'd also donate blood as often as I could.

[proud patriot]

25. Stand , firefighters fund , special olympics

ACLU , The entire list that Working Assets donates to .