No Matter What The Day

Today is Giving Tuesday, apparently. It's part of the whole Black Friday/Small Business Saturday/Cyber Monday scheme to get people to focus their consuming in different directions as the heavy retail and gifting season begins. Since Tuesdays are also for 10 things I'll toss out 10 places one might give this, or any, time of the year.

1. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was set up by the family of a firefighter who died in the collapse of the World Trade Center on 9/11. Their organization is instrumental in getting aid to folks who have been harmed by the recent super storm. 

2. I give to The Lung Association every year in memory of Mrs. X. Lung cancer doesn't get as much press as a lot of other varietals but it'll kill you dead just the same. Yes, even if you never smoked.

3. Our JRH has done runs for the Dana Farber Institute. Again, wiping out cancer, not a bad thing.

4. Mrs. X was a big believer in Heifer International. She gave me a flock of chicks once. I gave Mr. X a hive of bees last year, I think. It's a group that works to improve communities and our natural world in one fell swoop. Pretty cool.

5. You can donate money or time to Habitat for Humanity. Auntie Blanche loved them. I don't know how much of that was about the importance of home and how much was about an admiration of Jimmy Carter and I don't care!

6. I talk about Donors Choose a lot. I come from a long line of educators. I'm going to keep talking about it until it's no longer something we need so, you know, don't hold your breath.

7. I've done a few performances over the years at Brooklyn Arts Exchange. I've also mopped the studios, run the lights, sold the tickets, and attended the shows. They are a great community-oriented group bringing arts and education and healing to everyone they touch.

8. I hadn't heard of the National Network of Abortion Funds until today. Perfect timing! From their site, "Nearly all abortion funds are grassroots organizations that work directly with women and families who face obstacles to abortion." Especially in light of what happened to Savita Halappanavar in Ireland this month I think we need to be expanding our outreach to help save women's lives.

9. Since the first step in reducing the need for abortions is reproductive health then let's not overlook Planned Parenthood's need for funds, either.

10. After yesterday's sad dog story I can't choose just one animal rescue organization. I talk all the time about Rescue Ink, Seer Farms, BARC, Sean Casey, the NHSPCA, and plenty of others. They all need your help but you know what? So does your local rescue. Please give of your time, goods, and money as much and as often as you can.

Thank you. I know you're all generous people and I appreciate that.

*See also my posts from earlier this month detailing good places to support people recovering from Superstorm Sandy.