Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: childhood, donation, hospital, sick child, St. Jude's Childrens Hospital
In elementary school I can remember doing a math competition to raise money for St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital. You would find people to sponsor you, most likely your family and family friends, on the day when packets were handed out and everyone would take this “fun” exam. I was so excited that the fact that math was, and still is, my worst subject. Yes, I can still be found counting on my fingers from time to time. Yes, I abused my TI-89 and all of its storage functions. But that minor fact didn’t let the enthusiasm run amok or bring my down when I didn’t win by getting the highest score in my classroom. I don’t remember how I ranked but you can be sure that it was one of the lower ones. Oh well, no harm there.
Recently I have been seeing more ads and commercials from St. Judes asking for donations. It’s not as though there are more sick children who need our help. It is just easier to ask for donations when you can see video image of the youngsters who have to spend their childhood inside the albeit colorful halls of the famous hospital. And those images can be so sad despite a smile on the beleaguered child’s face. Their freshly shaven pate is reminder enough of their sickness.
There isn’t really anything about today that made me think of St. Judes Hospital. But I feel so much better setting up a monthly donation to their organization because I know that there will, unfortunately, always be sick children and I have only to look at the healthy faces of my nieces and nephews to realize how fortunate I and my family has been. To all the children and their families at St. Judes, my thoughts go out to you today.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Charities, Charity Navigator, donation, Ten Highly Paid Ceos at Low-Rated Charities, Ten Slam-Dunk Charities
As I have mentioned before, on the days that I am unable to physically get out into my community and help out I choose a different charity to donate a small sum to (scouts honor, I am really doing this!)
So this weekend, due to some family friends being in town, I was unable to volunteer anywhere. This left me with the task of finding a charity that I felt was worthy of giving my small donation to. One website that I have come to again and again is Charity Navigator, “Your Guide to Intelligent Giving.”
They have a wealth of articles about different nonprofits, top ten lists that range from “Ten Slam-Dunk Charities” to “Ten Highly Paid CEOs at Low-Rated Charities.” For people who are serious about donating with the peace of mind that their money will go towards the greatest good, this is a great site. It is sad (but true) to think that there are still organizations out there claiming to be legitimate non-profits who funnel money back into the hands of the haves, rather than the have-nots. As I was browsing it a pop-up ad told me that they were actually in need of funds to keep the website going. So, of course, you know what I did.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: CFF, Cystic Fibrosis, donation, Great Strides, Kohl's, picc line, Providing Tomorrow Every Day, vest, volunteer
For a few years now I have volunteered for the local chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation where a good friend of mine works doing fundraising. Like any other nonprofit they never turn down a volunteer as there is always something to be done around the office. Creating packets for their annual Walks, calling stores for donations or entering data are all examples of things that can be monotonous yet time-consuming, a burden for people who already give so much of their week (and often weekends) to such a wonderful cause.
When I went in today I was quickly sent to work creating packets for Team Leaders of their annual Great Strides campaign. As I was filling up the folders two more volunteers came in. These girls were about 19 and I soon realized that one of them actually had CF herself. She was so cheerful and the two of them just chatted away about different things in their life, bickering a little and then teasing one another while they adhered stickers to packets. After a while everyone got talking about different things related to CF such as picc lines ( peripherally inserted central catheter), scars from injections and vests.
That reminded my friend of a flight that she took once where she just happened to sit next to the man who invented the vests that CF patients use daily to clear excess mucus from their lungs. We all commented on what a coincidence that was. Then the young girl with CF said that she had a spare vest she wanted to donate. “When I got this vest it was when they were first coming out, so it cost around $20,000.” My friend thanked her profusely and quickly got on the phone to another CF office to let them know about the donation.
Right after that happened they started talking about other donations when they realized that the other young volunteer worked for Kohl’s A-Team, one of the organizations that donates to the CFF, and in fact, Kohl’s is giving away even more money this year. My friend called her co-worker into the office and they all stood around speaking loudly and excitedly about what good fortune they had happened to meet this way.
I was struck by a few things today. First, I was so pleased to see members of the younger generation volunteering, and on a Friday to boot! Secondly, that someone with the disease was donating their time back to the cause, time that is already too precious for them. And lastly, how appreciative everyone in the room was for the little victories that occur in the nonprofit world, when an unexpected donor shows up with a generous donation or that a few people are willing to come out on a beautiful sunny day and sit inside stuffing envelopes.
Until my friend started working for the CFF, I knew nothing about Cystic Fibrosis. Now, I know enough to understand what people afflicted with it suffer through daily, how so many of them are taken away too soon. But I also know that there is a cure that is so close to surfacing, it could literally be tomorrow that someone finds it. Their slogan, “Providing Tomorrows Every Day” is so true, you can feel it and hope for it every time you meet someone new with CF, and say goodbye to someone who battled bravely against it. I hope for the day when my time is no longer needed volunteering for them. To learn more, visit their website today: http://www.cff.org .
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: clothing, donation, Salvation Army, tax-return
When I arrived for my assignment today, I walked around the department store and, like a fool, realized that I had walked right past the table. There was an older gentleman sitting there in a white Salvation Army jacket and he smiled when I said that I was there to relieve him. He carefully explained what I was to do. For each piece of clothing donated the store would give one coupon for twenty percent off, up to four coupons. If the customer wanted to get a tax-return slip I was to fill it out for them but, when he was walking out he confided that “if someone asks for that paper, they aren’t really donating, they are selling their items.” And to that, I smiled, because I secretly felt the same way.
As I sat down, I knew I was in for a long four hours. The soft elevator music threatened to put me to sleep but was I pleasantly resurrected every time someone came up to my table with an armful of clothes. One woman told that she had donated to the Salvation Army every year for a long time, because when she was a young nurse they had often helped her with patients and their families. Another smiled as she handed me a bright pink-infused wardrobe and said “I tried to bring clothes for spring.”
At first it took me a moment to figure out why there were so many donations of four items, and why there were some sheepish faces along with them. These were women who, appeared to be, able to donate more than four but were unwilling to part with their items without a coupon. Others brought in small bags of clothing while two women walked through the door with large black garbage bags bulging to the brim. “I lost a lot of weight so I was able to give you all of these!” “Well, then it is a win-win situation for both of us.” She beamed back at me and happily accepted her four coupons. About an hour later she walked by and told me that she had bought some smaller sizes and thanked me for doing my part. What a great feeling, for both of us.
At the end of my shift, I had around one hundred pieces of clothing spilling out of the cardboard box next to my table. It was well worth it to listen to elevator music, watch the customers go by and have so many people comment on all of the good things that the Salvation Army does. I know one thing for sure, when Christmas rolls around this year I will definitely be giving some money to the bell-ringer that dutifully stands outside our Walmart. It takes an Army, not just of volunteers, but staff and everyone else that makes the cogs of the Salvation Army turn. And for a day, I was proud to be one of them.
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