January 2019 Organizations

I like to promote organizations that are doing good work. Observe these national days by supporting organizations such as the below.

January is National Blood Donor Month
In honor of my friend who had blood cancer as a child, consider signing-up to donate bone marrow through www.bethematch.org or www.dkms.org. This is a big decision and not everyone qualifies so, if you can't donate bone marrow, there are other ways to support these organizations. Check their websites for more information.

January 3 is my father-in-law's birthday
He chose Divine Alternatives for Dads Services to raise money for on Facebook. Their vision is: To model healthy relationships as a means of creating healthier fathers and families. To stop the cycle of family violence and brokenness in order to improve the lives of children. To encourage fathers to become agents of change in their communities.

January 6 is National Technology Day (created by a tech company, AXEL)
Consider donating your old technology (from DVD players to computers) to a local organization that will provide them to organizations in need. One such organization in Seattle is InterConnection who accomplishes their mission by "providing high-quality refurbished computers to nonprofit and non-governmental organizations." You can mail, for free, some items to them as well.

January 9 is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
I'm going to actually promote a company for this day because it was founded and is operated by police veterans and they donate a lot to various law enforcement-related charities. According to their website, "ReLEntless Defender exists to be a platform of support for our brothers and sisters in blue." They also have their own foundation.

January 15 is National Hat Day
I feel obligated to mention National Hat Day as one of the first things I learned about my sister-in-law is her love of hats. So in honor of her, celebrate National Hat Day by wearing a hat and donating one to a homeless shelter or an organization that provides hats to cancer patients such as Crochet for Cancer. They have chapters throughout the US, Canada and even Australia.

January 29 is National Puzzle Day
Donate a new puzzle to Ronald McDonald House to support families with kids needing hospital care.

(The national days/weeks/months are according to nationaldaycalendar.com).

Happy New Year!

Seattle Children's Hospital

Normally, I look for small organizations to benefit - the ones that not many people have heard of but are doing great work. Seattle Children's Hospital is the exception. Even before I had kids, I was a fan. They took care of my neighbor growing up during a very scary time. Then they took care of my other neighbor's baby girl who, unfortunately, passed but they stayed in contact with my neighbor to support her. Then they saved my Russell with open heart surgery. All three kids have spent the night there at least once and I'm at Children's a lot between appointments for the kids and my parenting class. They've always been so nice and supportive.

There are so many ways to help patients and families. Below are just a few of the ways. See their Ways to Help page for more.

In-Kind Donations

You can donate gift cards (Target, gas, book store etc.), new toys, handmade blankets, and even Bibles. For their updated list, you can go here or shop their wish list on Amazon.

Guilds

You could also join a fundraising guild or a guild's event. They have a lot of events coming up all over the Puget Sound.

Summer Camp

They also have a summer camp for kids with its own wish list: Stanley Stamm Summer Camp.

 

Child Life Toy Fund

If you would rather let Children's do the shopping you can donate to their Child Life Toy Fund

 

Holiday Giving - Act Now!

If you're thinking about donating to Children's for the holidays, don't delay! Getting donations in early helps them plan and match patients to gifts.

 

How to Donate

For those of you in Seattle or nearby, you can drop off your donations at the Hospital:

River, Level 3 entrance at:

4800 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98105

Please note due to infection control and privacy, you can't delivery presents to patients.

or mail:

 

Seattle Children’s Hospital

Volunteer Services

M/S RC.3.820

4800 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98105  

June Organizations

When I was getting my Masters in Nonprofit Leadership, I decided I was going to start a website called Gemini Search that would match organizations with people who want to donate in-kind items. Instead, I started a blog and only wrote 2 posts. :)

I'm always looking for ways to promote nonprofits organizations that people can donate money or items (my favorite way) to or volunteer with (cumulatively referred to as giving). Normally, I would only promote organizations that fit my values and I've done extensive research on. However, it is now June 4 and I'm a little behind.

Here are my suggested organizations for June corresponding to holidays. Remember, I haven't done extensive research on every organization so do your homework. If you don't like my particular organization choice, find one that connects to you. Also, obviously, you don't need to do something for each organizations - just providing ideas....

June 2- In honor of National Doughnut Day, give to your local Salvation Army. Read the backstory, it's quite interesting. (Although I don't like their tagline of "Doing the Most Good." Says who? How was that determined?)

 

June 3 - Pentecost Sunday - University of Washington Catholic Newman Center - my college church that I dedicated a good part of my non-school life to for 4 years. I don't think any church will replace Newman as my favorite or most life-changing church.

 

June 4 - Antioch Adoptions - In honor of my big brother's birthday, this is an organization that he likes started by his former Pastor.

 

June 5 - World Environment Day - EarthCorps based in Seattle, my classmate in my NPL program worked there and they do good work.

June 8 - National Best Friends Day - so technically, this day is about human best friends, but I can't help myself - what better organization than Best Friends - Utah (a pet adoption center)?

June 11- Trinity Sunday - Catholic Community Services of Western Washington

June 14 - National Flag Day -  The American Legion

June 17 - my birthday! One of my new favorites that is dear to my heart to the Down Syndrome Community of Puget Sound. (Watch for the October 1st Buddy Walk announcements - I'm on the planning committee this year).

June 18 - Father's Day - I can't find one supporting and celebrating Fathers - there should be one! - but anyone who knows anything about my Dad knows he loves Alabama football. Current Coach, Nick Saban, has a Foundation called Nick's Kids (My dad doesn't know I selected this one and, therefore, I can't put his seal of approval on it)

June 20 - World Refugee Day - ShelterBox provides supplies and shelters to communities around the world.

June 21 - International Yoga Day - Yoga Behind Bars - "We share yoga and meditation with incarcerated people to promote rehabilitation, personal transformation, and a more just society for all." I don't do yoga but whatever works to help rehabilitation and transformation.

June 26 - International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking - find a treatment center near you

June 27 - In honor of Russell's 3rd anniversary of successful heart surgery. consider Seattle Children's Hospital. They have an Amazon list




 

Soles4Souls

Founded in response to the 2004 tsunami that hit Southeast Asia, Soles4Soles has been donating shoes to areas that need them the most.

They collect new or gently-worn shoes from companies and individuals and send them both to places in the US and internationally.

Gemini Search believes this is a good organization with an unique idea.  We recommend you finding the local drop-off point or working with Soles4Souls to setup a shoe drive.

Jen

Donate Greeting Cards

Even with the popularity of e-cards, you still receive greeting cards at Christmas, birthday, and other special days. You may also receive them from various charities as a fundraiser. What do you do with all of these cards? Donate!

So far, I have found two great places to donate greeting cards: the Wenatchee Senior Center in Wenatchee, Washington (http://www.wenatcheeseniorcenter.com/volunteer.html) and St. Jude's Ranch (http://www.stjudesranch.org/help_card.php).

Both groups have members who recycle and bundle donated cards into groups and resell them to raise money for their organizations.

Jen