The Holiday Season has snuck up on us and we’re all scrambling around trying to decide what to buy. This is also the season where the spirit of giving reaches beyond the family gifts and ventures into that Feel Good area. Here are a few that are being shared through social media. If there’s a charity I missed, be sure to leave it in the comments so that others can help out if they so choose.
Together for Good Cruise: This is the top cause I’m supporting this year. TogetherforGood.org offers an extensive list of how travelers can give back to the destinations they are visiting. I’ll be traveling along with founder, Nancy Schretter, as we take a cruise to bring much needed supplies to schools and orphanages in Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, and New Orleans’ Convenant House. I’m personally collecting supplies and Nancy has set up First Giving accounts to benefit two non-profits we are supporting during our journey. We’d love for you to join us where you can enjoy a relaxing cruise and participate in hands-on helping with the kids. If you can’t join us, please consider a donation even as little as $5. You can check out all the details at the Official Together for Good site or donate using our First Giving pages for Covenant House New Orleans or Cuidad de Angeles. If you or your company would like to help us with a tax-deductible donation such as shoes, baby items, over the counter medical supplies, or school supplies, just send me an email and we can get things set up.
Passports with Purpose: What happens when four travel bloggers decide to organize a fundraiser? You get a community that helps build a school in Cambodia. Each $10 donation is an entry for one of more than 50 travel related items, including a five night Costa Rica vacation, lodging in NY, Hawaii, or New Orleans, and many other fabulous prizes. Check out Passports with Purpose website.
Affinia Hotels Comforthon lasts all year long, with donations of pajamas being taken, which are laundered by the hotel and distributed to transitioning homeless men and women through the assistance of Common Ground. The hotel chain also offers a comfort package which includes lots of comforting extras and a $10 donation to Common Ground. www.affinia.com/comforthon
Authentic Seacoast: A destination that is on my list of must-see places is The Authenic Seacoast, Guysborough, NS. Authentic Seacaoast supports the Guysborough Area Food Bank. Plan a giving vacation that includes a few nights of luxury at DesBarre Manor Inn, a pint at The Rare Bird Inn, and a walk around Skipping Stone Crafts Gallery. Stop in at any nearby grocery and drop off a delivery at the Food Bank. Visitors can enquire ahead about volunteer opportunities during a planned visit.
Born2Fly: My dear friend Diana Scimone has made it her mission to rescue women and children from child trafficking through Born2Fly.org. Check out her blog which not only shows what you can do to stop human trafficking, but also offers gift ideas of products made by girls and women that have been rescued.
Healing Music: I majored in music, so any cause that involves music is dear to my heart. Revolution PR in Nashville is supporting Musicians On Call, an organization that offers music to promote and complement the healing process. This organization brings lives and recorded music the bedside of patients.
Other mentions on Twitter:
@_vinyltap is supporting St. Jude’s and Feed America (Formerly Second Harvest)
Chef Steph, @ComfortGourmet is supports One Warm Coat.
@RaginCajunKate supports Heifer Intl and also St. Jude’s Hospital.
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Excellent list of some truly worthwhile causes that gives us a chance to reflect how fortunate we are during the fetive season.
Mark H´s last blog ..Canyon de Chelly (Arizona, USA)
always on the lookout for good blogs to link up with