On the sidebar, you'll notice we've added a number of links to Organizations We Care About. If you find yourself looking for charities to support, or just want to know more about some of the issues close to our hearts, feel free to check them out. Here's what's currently listed:
The Weston A. Price Foundation. Named for a dentist/anthropologist who advocated eating food that was whole, local, and traditionally cultivated. Advocates for traditional diets (including foods like raw milk and butter from grassfed cows) instead of dietary fads based on the presence or absence of spotlighted nutrients (eg high in Omega-3s, low in saturated fats, etc). Also work for the rights of small farmers and consumers. Our dietary philosophy has slowly shifted from one that was just primarily vegetarian to one that now focuses not just on what categories of food we do or don't eat, but where that food came from and how it was raised. As a result, we've come to agree with many (though possibly not all) of the premises espoused by WAP. That's why you'll notice that in the past six months or so, we've started to consume more eggs, milk, butter, and even meat upon occasion, because we've found a local farmer who provides humanely raised animal products of exceptional quality, and whom we're proud to support with our food dollars.
Women for Women International, whom I've mentioned before. Individual sponsorship programs are a great way to feel like your donations are really making a difference to another human being.
The Society of St. Andrew, named after the apostle who brought Jesus the boy with the loaves and fishes that fed the 5,000, represents a perfect marriage of our burgeoning interest in Christian charity and our passion for high-quality food. Through donations of cosmetically imperfect produce, as well as taking part in the biblical practice of gleaning, they provide thousands of pounds of fresh produce to homeless shelters, Indian reservations, and other groups in need. We're hoping to take part in a gleaning operation nearby sometime soon.
The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) is the largest ant-sexual assault organization in the country, and a clearinghouse for support, resources, and action. I'm currently undergoing training to staff their online sexual assault hotline (a better choice for me than manning the phones like I did in Iowa City, since our basement apartment doesn't seem to be friendly to cell phone reception). Sexual assault has always been a topic close to my heart, and I've seen firsthand how devastating it can be to victims--also how much hope and healing can be offered by appropriate counseling. I'm excited to take part in this newer front for helping victims of sexual violence, particularly for those who may not have a local rape crisis center to help them, and donations to RAINN help strengthen laws and do a variety of other important grassroots work. Of course, donations to local rape crisis centers do the same (and keep them open for person-to-person support), so don't forget about them!
Some of my best childhood memories are of the summers I spent at Grace Youth Camp (now Grace Adventures) in Mears, Michigan. I spent many happy times, as well as some tumultuous times, in my life there, and I know they've touched literally thousands of other lives as well. My godfather (who married us) used to be the director at that camp, as well as the one where he met my mom as a camper many years ago. Matt and I are both huge believers in the value of outdoor skills and recreation for kids, and it's also where I learned a lot about faith and the Bible and met some truly outstanding people. You can donate for general needs or a scholarship fund for kids and families who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford summer camp. Both are important!
I was introduced to the Heifer Project by one of my former oboe students who gave in my name as a Christmas present. Basically, you donate money to purchase an animal or animals (such as a cow, goat, sheep, flock of geese, etc) that will provide a moneymaking enterprise for a family in a developing country. Throughout their projects are woven their values of agroecology, animal wellbeing, gender equity, HIV/AIDS education, urban agriculture, and youth initiatives.
Kiva.org is a little bit different because it's an international microlending company--meaning that after a year, you get your donation (usually $25) back, or, if you give it as a gift, your recipient will get $25. You can browse projects by enterpreneurs in a variety of developing countries and make a small loan to help them lift themselves out of poverty. Not a true donation in the sense that you get it back, but a wonderful cause and perhaps a good steppingstone for those having trouble completely parting with their money.
This is just a sampling of a few organizations which are doing really good work for people in need. Matt and I really enjoy finding out more about the incredible things people are doing to help others, and doing our small part to help that along. It's a fun and meaningful thing each month to choose a couple of agencies to help together--so much more so than if we took that money to the mall or out to dinner (though we do budget for those things, too). I would encourage you to consider a one-time donation to one of these organizations or one of your choosing, and to consider making such a gift a regular part of your monthly budget. Feel free to leave a comment if you do, or if there's another great organization you think we should know about!
The Weston A. Price Foundation. Named for a dentist/anthropologist who advocated eating food that was whole, local, and traditionally cultivated. Advocates for traditional diets (including foods like raw milk and butter from grassfed cows) instead of dietary fads based on the presence or absence of spotlighted nutrients (eg high in Omega-3s, low in saturated fats, etc). Also work for the rights of small farmers and consumers. Our dietary philosophy has slowly shifted from one that was just primarily vegetarian to one that now focuses not just on what categories of food we do or don't eat, but where that food came from and how it was raised. As a result, we've come to agree with many (though possibly not all) of the premises espoused by WAP. That's why you'll notice that in the past six months or so, we've started to consume more eggs, milk, butter, and even meat upon occasion, because we've found a local farmer who provides humanely raised animal products of exceptional quality, and whom we're proud to support with our food dollars.
Women for Women International, whom I've mentioned before. Individual sponsorship programs are a great way to feel like your donations are really making a difference to another human being.
The Society of St. Andrew, named after the apostle who brought Jesus the boy with the loaves and fishes that fed the 5,000, represents a perfect marriage of our burgeoning interest in Christian charity and our passion for high-quality food. Through donations of cosmetically imperfect produce, as well as taking part in the biblical practice of gleaning, they provide thousands of pounds of fresh produce to homeless shelters, Indian reservations, and other groups in need. We're hoping to take part in a gleaning operation nearby sometime soon.
The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) is the largest ant-sexual assault organization in the country, and a clearinghouse for support, resources, and action. I'm currently undergoing training to staff their online sexual assault hotline (a better choice for me than manning the phones like I did in Iowa City, since our basement apartment doesn't seem to be friendly to cell phone reception). Sexual assault has always been a topic close to my heart, and I've seen firsthand how devastating it can be to victims--also how much hope and healing can be offered by appropriate counseling. I'm excited to take part in this newer front for helping victims of sexual violence, particularly for those who may not have a local rape crisis center to help them, and donations to RAINN help strengthen laws and do a variety of other important grassroots work. Of course, donations to local rape crisis centers do the same (and keep them open for person-to-person support), so don't forget about them!
Some of my best childhood memories are of the summers I spent at Grace Youth Camp (now Grace Adventures) in Mears, Michigan. I spent many happy times, as well as some tumultuous times, in my life there, and I know they've touched literally thousands of other lives as well. My godfather (who married us) used to be the director at that camp, as well as the one where he met my mom as a camper many years ago. Matt and I are both huge believers in the value of outdoor skills and recreation for kids, and it's also where I learned a lot about faith and the Bible and met some truly outstanding people. You can donate for general needs or a scholarship fund for kids and families who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford summer camp. Both are important!
I was introduced to the Heifer Project by one of my former oboe students who gave in my name as a Christmas present. Basically, you donate money to purchase an animal or animals (such as a cow, goat, sheep, flock of geese, etc) that will provide a moneymaking enterprise for a family in a developing country. Throughout their projects are woven their values of agroecology, animal wellbeing, gender equity, HIV/AIDS education, urban agriculture, and youth initiatives.
Kiva.org is a little bit different because it's an international microlending company--meaning that after a year, you get your donation (usually $25) back, or, if you give it as a gift, your recipient will get $25. You can browse projects by enterpreneurs in a variety of developing countries and make a small loan to help them lift themselves out of poverty. Not a true donation in the sense that you get it back, but a wonderful cause and perhaps a good steppingstone for those having trouble completely parting with their money.
This is just a sampling of a few organizations which are doing really good work for people in need. Matt and I really enjoy finding out more about the incredible things people are doing to help others, and doing our small part to help that along. It's a fun and meaningful thing each month to choose a couple of agencies to help together--so much more so than if we took that money to the mall or out to dinner (though we do budget for those things, too). I would encourage you to consider a one-time donation to one of these organizations or one of your choosing, and to consider making such a gift a regular part of your monthly budget. Feel free to leave a comment if you do, or if there's another great organization you think we should know about!
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