A daily favor

“Help me help myself so that I may help others.”

I love this quote!  ‘Tis the season where everyone starts to really go mad with Christmas shopping and holiday gatherings, but I feel it’s important that we think about those in need.  I know it’s not Thanksgiving yet, but it’s still the holiday season.  Plus, giving to others shouldn’t be a casual, recreational activity that we do only in November and December.

Here are some organizations I like and hope you’ll consider donating or volunteering with!

• Operation Christmas Child: One of my favorite things!  Pack a shoe box and delight a child with a Christmas they won’t forget.  (National Collection Week is November 15th-22nd, so be sure to pack your shoe box and send it asap!)
• Angel Tree:  There are two — one through JCP called the “Angel Giving Tree” that benefits the Salvation Army.  You actually adopt a child and learn about them (age, needs, etc.) and buy accordingly.  Then there’s the Angel Tree, which is a ministry to help the children and family of prison inmates. 
• Seer Group (The Kyle Korver Foundation): This group is really doing some wonderful things.  Check out this video to see how they’re helping others!  And then go buy a shirt or donate so they can keep giving back.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America:  It’s easy to give money or donate monetarily, but the most important thing is taking action and donating time.  I loved mentoring in high school, and  I’m going to start out here in Los Angeles if not within the next month, then in 2011.  It really does make a difference in a child’s life — the twins I mentored as a senior reached out to me just last week!  Crazy how times flies.
• Dress for Success:  A great organziation that helps low-income women jumpstart their life again.  DFS offers women who are out of work or looking for jobs opportunity: they provide the women with five suits (for a full week of work), resume and interview training, as well as support in all other aspects of their lives. 
• CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates): CASA is near and dear to my heart because in college my sorority’s philanthropy benefitted them every single year.  It’s a unique organization that gives abused or neglected children who have been removed from their homes a voice.  The advocate is judge appointed and sees that the safety and well-being of the child stays in tact.

Go out there and give!