Giving BACK SALUTING THE NONPROFITS THAT KEEP GALVESTON COUNTY AFLOAT2 | The Daily News | Giving Back | December 2021December 2021 | Giving Back | The Daily News | 3 Contents How to find the right volunteering opportunity .................................4 3 tips for choosing a charity to support ...........................................4 How to help the homeless this winter ............................................... 6 How to give back to health care workers .........................................7 Simple ways to give back to the community every day ................... 9 The effects of volunteering on one’s well-being ...............................9 From global to local: How to give back when time is not on your side ...................................................................10 Where does my money go when I sponsor a child? ......................10 Volunteering as a family can make a difference in the community 15 7 ways to become an amazing volunteer .......................................16 Ways to give back to the military and veterans ..............................19 How to approach donating clothing and household items ............ 21 Deductions and donations: What donors should know ..................21 Combine food and fun to raise funds for charity ............................ 22 6 ways you can help nonprofit organizations from home ...............22 How to vet charities before giving ..................................................23 Wheelchairs for Warriors ............................................................. 2 United Way of Galveston ............................................................ 5 Bay Area Turning Point ...............................................................8 AMOCO Federal Credit Union ..................................................11 MI Lewis Social Service Center ................................................12 Childhood Cancer Connection Inc . ...........................................13 Christus Our Daily Bread ..........................................................14 Family Service Center of Galveston County .............................17 Access Care of Coastal Texas .................................................. 18 Newspapers in Education ......................................................... 19 Assistance League: The Bay Area ............................................ 20 Catholic Charities ..................................................................... 20 Bolivar Point Lighthouse Foundation ........................................23 Ronald McDonald House of Galveston .....................................23 Gulf Coast Big Brothers Big Sisters ..........................................24 CHARITIES & NONPROFITS INDEX4 | The Daily News | Giving Back | December 2021 V olunteering is a great way to strengthen communities and support good causes. Adults looking to volunteer for the first time may be over- whelmed by the sheer volume of opportunities to lend a hand. Finding the right volun- teering opportunity requires careful consideration of a host of factors, including some that people new to volunteering may be unaware of. • Time: One way to narrow down your volunteering op- portunities is to consider how much time you have to give back. If your schedule is often hectic, it may be hard to hon- or a commitment to weekly volunteering. In such instanc- es, signing up for a weekend park cleanup once per month or another opportunity that requires a similar commitment of time might make the most sense. Retir- ees, adults work- ing part- time or people whose employers allow flex hours might be more suited to time-consuming commit- ments like coaching youth sports or delivering meals to the elderly. • Interests: Volunteering and working can be simi- lar, but they’re also different. And the main difference may be related to the moti- vation to keep coming back. Many peo- ple may con- tinue to work at jobs they don’t like because those jobs pay for their homes, cars, etc. But if volunteers don’t like their volunteer work, then they can walk away without any financial fallout. Adults com- mitted to giving back to their communities should consider their own in- terests when looking for volun- teering opportu- nities. A passion for sports might inspire some to coach local youths. Men and women of faith may feel compelled to volunteer at their house of worship. An opportu- nity that incorpo- rates existing interests and benefits the local commu- nity is a successful formula for many long-time volunteers. • Safety: Safety should be a consideration when looking for a volunteering opportunity, but it’s taken on heightened importance since 2020. With the COVID-19 pan- demic ongoing, it’s important that prospective volunteers familiarize themselves with a charitable organization’s safety protocols prior to sign- ing up as a volunteer. Adults who are deemed low-risk for getting sick from COVID-19 must still prioritize safety, as friends, family members or neighbors may be more vul- nerable. Many organizations have gone to great lengths to protect their volunteers and the people they’re trying to help, so don’t be afraid to in- quire about protocols before signing up. No two volunteers are the same. When looking for vol- unteer opportunities, adults must give ample consider- ation to how volunteering fits into their lifestyles and how each opportunity aligns with their interests and concerns. — Metro Creative Connection How to find the right volunteering opportunity Do your research One of the best ways to narrow down your list is to access charity ratings and reviews through organizations such as Charity Navigator and Give.org. Such organizations vet charities based on various criteria, including the effectiveness of their programs and how donation dollars are spent. Donors may feel more comfortable donating to charities that have well-established reputations for making donations count. Find a cause you feel strongly about Adults who support organizations whose missions they feel strongly about likely will be more inclined to continue working with or donating to those organizations than those who choose charities based on a whim. Consistent volunteering and donations can help charities build more effective budgets, thereby supporting both their short- and long-term programs and goals. Don’t overlook local charities By supporting local charities, donors can help members of their community. A successful local nonprofit benefits the local economy by creating jobs and also helps the greater community by assisting the underprivileged in the area. In addition, donors may feel a greater sense of satisfaction when seeing how their volunteering efforts or donations are helping to transform their own communities. — Metro Creative Connection tips for choosing a charity to support 3December 2021 | Giving Back | The Daily News | 5 food shelter · education · community · support · equality · mentoring · child safety · opportunity · mental health · having a voice · safety · healthcare · food · shelter · education · community · support · equality · mentoring · child safety · opportunity · mental health · having a voice · safety · healthcare · food · shelter · education · community · support · equality · mentoring · child safety · opportunity · mental health · having a voice · safety · healthcare · food · shelter · education · community · support · equality · mentoring · child safety · opportunity · mental health · having a voice · safety · healthcare · food · shelter · education · community · support · equality · mentoring · child safety · 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voice · 6 | The Daily News | Giving Back | December 2021 How to help the homeless this winter T he problem posed by home- lessness is considerable. On any given night in the United States, more than half a million people are experiencing homeless- ness, according to The National Alliance to End Homelessness. Many homeless people are single adults who have nowhere else to turn. Veterans make up approximately 9 percent of all homeless single- tons. While homelessness is challenging at any time of the year, winter is especially brutal for homeless individuals. Those who have no indoor places to sleep (shelters fill up quickly in the cold or are avoid- ed for other reasons) typically must confront harsh winter weather, which can increase their risk for hypothermia. Winter weather can prove fatal for homeless communities, which is perhaps one reason why the average age of death for a homeless person is 47, according to Art from the Streets, a nonprofit organization that strives to help the homeless. People who have the comfort of warm cloth- ing and shelter may not realize the plight of the homeless this time of year. But with some generosity and volunteerism, anyone can help the homeless community this winter. ALERT PROFESSIONALS Many different chari- ties help place homeless people in temporary shelters or get them a warm bed or meal. Do a quick search of home- less organizations in your area and give it a call to find out if they can assist someone you may have spotted on the street. DONATE COATS, SCARVES AND GLOVES In 2017, residents of Bristol, England, tied scarves to the city’s lampposts for homeless to use. Similar concepts can be implemented in towns and cities across the globe. In addition, look for organizations that collect warm cloth- ing for the homeless and the needy. VOLUNTEER WITH A SOUP KITCHEN Soup kitchens routine- ly provide hot meals for homeless visitors, and such facilities are often in need of volunteers. PARTNER UP WITH AN ORGANIZATION There are numerous nonprofits in the area that provide various items of comfort to home- less individuals. Many of these organizations collect toiletries, snack foods, socks, razors and breakfast bars and pack- age them up in bags to deliver to the homeless. PROVIDE HOT MEALS OR BEVERAGES Many times, someone who is homeless may benefit significantly from a small token of compas- sion. If you do not want to give cash to panhandlers, then instead buy a hot sandwich and deliver it to someone who is homeless. Helping homeless individuals and organiza- tions that aim to help the homeless takes on urgency when the winter arrives. It may not require much to provide comfort and safety to someone in need. — Metro Creative Connection As the world continues to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, charitable organizations and nonprofits may have a host of opportunities for prospective volunteers. Volunteer activity shifted considerably during the pandemic. This has left many charities and nonprofits in need of in-person volunteers. 81%35% In-person volunteers in 2019 In-person volunteers in 2020 SOURCES: METRO CREATIVE CONNECT; FIDELITY CHARITABLE GRAPHIC: LIZ DAVIS/THE DAILY NEWS If you do not want to give cash to panhandlers, then instead buy a hot sandwich and deliver it to someone who is homeless.December 2021 | Giving Back | The Daily News | 7 A s a global pan- demic took hold during the win- ter of 2019-20, millions of people found themselves battling a potentially deadly virus, while millions more found themselves out of work as the economy came crashing to a halt. Health care workers have been on the front lines in the fight against the COVID-19 virus for months on end. Stressful working environments and concerns about bringing the virus home and potentially infect- ing their families have made the challenges of fighting the pandemic even tougher for health care workers. Supporting such workers in these uncertain times can be a great way for people to show just how much they appreciate the extraordinary efforts of doctors, nurses, EMTs and others who continue to confront COVID-19 every day. • Keep it simple. Efforts to give back to health care workers need not be extraordinary. Simple gestures like pre- paring a weeknight meal for health care workers and their families, offer- ing to babysit on a week- end afternoon or tackle a few chores around the house can help exhaust- ed health care workers catch their breath. • Donate more than just your time and effort. An actively engaged general public can reassure health care workers that they’re not alone in the fight against COVID-19 and other potentially deadly virus- es and diseases. While blood is not used to treat COVID-19, various health organizations, includ- ing the U.S. Surgeon General’s Office, have expressed concerns that hospitals will not have enough blood on hand to treat accident victims and sick people who need blood to survive. Social distancing mea- sures may be keeping potential blood donors away, but the American Red Cross is urging peo- ple to continue donating blood so health care workers can meet the needs of patient care. • Support efforts to procure more funding for hospitals. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, both the American Hos- pital Association and the American Nurses Asso- ciation have expressed hospitals’ needs for more financial support as they continue to battle the vi- rus. By supporting such efforts and encouraging others to do the same, people looking to give back can send a message to health care workers that they’re supported and that their voices are being heard. Health care workers continue to confront the COVID-19 virus every day. Giving back to these valued members of the community is a great way to show just how much their efforts are appreciated. — Metro Creative Connection How to give back to health care workers Stressful working environments and concerns about bringing the virus home and potentially infecting their families have made the challenges of fighting the pandemic even tougher for health care workers. 8 | The Daily News | Giving Back | December 2021 Bay Area Turning Point calls on community support for the Annual Christmas Store from November 23, 2021, to December 20, 2021. Help BATP turn the Webster Civic Center into a holiday toy factory where clients shop for their children at no cost. Often, domestic violence victims flee from their situations with little to no financial support. With a mission to advocate to end domestic and sexual violence for the last 30 years, BATP provides recovery services to clients. During the holiday, parents feel additional stress to deliver a joy-filled celebration for their children; that’s when we step in. Last year, with the help of community supporters, we provided 283 children with toys, a 77% increase from 2019. This year we seek to make a more significant impact by providing over 300 children with toys and other items. YOU CAN HELP! To make a monetary or toy donation to help BATP make Christmas magical for our families, click one of the QR codes below. Bay Area Turning Point celebrates 30 years of service in the Clear Lake community; including in Harris, Galveston, Brazoria, and Chambers Counties. Since 1991, Bay Area Turning Point has been committed to providing services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. 4-6 Age Group7-9 Age Group10-12 Age Group13-15 Age Group16-18 Age Group Advocating to end domestic and sexual violence - Since 1991December 2021 | Giving Back | The Daily News | 9 G iving back to one’s community strengthens towns and neigh- borhoods and makes them better places to live. Giving back to your community can require a big commitment, but there are simple ways to give back each day as well. Whether you’re strapped for time and can’t volunteer or simply want to do a little more than you already do to support your community, the follow- ing are some simple ways to give back every day. Support a local business Many small businesses have suffered mightily since the pandemic. Such businesses help communities thrive in many ways, including employing local residents. Nearly 62 percent of the country’s net new jobs between 1993 and 2016 were created by small businesses, according to the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy. By supporting such firms, whether it’s ordering takeout or buying from local retailers instead of their big box competitors, men and women are giving back to their communities while spending money they would be spend- ing anyway. Help a neighbor The pandemic turned many people’s lives upside down, and some people have had to overcome long periods of isolation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the elderly are at greater risk of getting se- riously ill from COVID-19 than younger people, while those with preexisting conditions such as type 2 diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary dis- ease, or COPD, are at increased risk as well. Because of that heightened risk, such people have been urged to stay at home as much as possible. If you want to give back, offer to help at-risk neighbors with their grocery shopping or other errands that could put them in danger of getting sick. Another way to help at-risk neighbors is to visit them and keep them company. If you do so, wear a mask at all times and stay at least six feet away. Donate used items Many people are still working from home full-time as employers remain hesitant to bring staff back into the office. That extra time at home has no doubt made people realize just how much clutter they have around the house. Rather than leaving items out at the curb for the garbage man to take away, donate lightly used clothing and still-functioning appliances to nearby charities. Unemployment figures remain high across the country, and more people than ever before are in need of af- fordable goods. Donating rather than discarding lightly used items can help the less fortunate in your community get through a very uncertain time. Giving back to one’s community does not require a significant com- mitment of time or resources. Simple things that can be done every day can strengthen communities and show sup- port for your neighbors. — Metro Creative Connection Simple ways to give back to the community every day A recent analysis found that volunteering is associated with a higher well-being as well as a positive change in well-being. A 2020 study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies examined 70,000 participants, each of whom received sur- veys that asked questions regarding their volunteering habits and mental health. The study found that, when compared to those who did not volunteer, people who had volunteered in the previous 12 months were more satisfied with their lives and gave their overall health higher ratings. The frequency of giving back to one’s community also may affect just how much volunteering affects mental health. Study participants who volunteered at least once per month rated their mental health even higher than those who vol- unteered but did so infrequently. Some of the health benefits often associated with volunteering include lower blood pressure, increased self-esteem, lower levels of depression and stress and great- er satisfaction with life — Cleveland Clinic; Journal of Happiness Studies; Metro Creative Connection The effects of volunteering on one’s well-being Rather than leaving items out at the curb for the garbage man to take away, donate lightly used clothing and still- functioning appliances to nearby charities.Next >