Dear Readers: This is my favorite time of year. I love the twinkling lights, goofy office parties, garish sweaters and sticky candy canes of the season. Holiday celebrations chase away winter’s gloom and provide occasions for us to review our many blessings.
Now it’s time to spread our blessings around a little.
I’d like to encourage readers to take some time today to research ways in which we can help one another.
Below is an eclectic list of charities, based on my own interests.
My hope is that it will inspire readers to find their own ways to give, according to their own interests and abilities.
Some of your most valuable contributions will be in your own communities, through volunteering, contributing money or goods, or by exhibiting simple acts of neighborliness.
Please don’t forget our fellow citizens who have been displaced, whether by forces of nature or by their service to the armed forces on foreign bases and battlefields.
Open your hearts.
Then open your wallets.
Fisher House Foundation (fisherhouse.org, or call 1-888-294-8560). Approximately 22,000 American soldiers have been wounded in action in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of these injured service members spend extended periods in hospitals in the United States while they receive treatment. The Fisher House Foundation runs “comfort houses” attached to every major military medical center, providing low or no-cost housing to wounded soldiers and their families. Fisher Houses provide shelter for 8,000 families a year in 35 houses around the country. One program I like is “Hero Miles.” Generous citizens can donate their frequent flier miles to help transport families of service members to medical centers to visit their loved ones (essential during the holiday season).
The Salvation Army (salvationarmyusa.org). It seems that whenever there is trouble, the Salvation Army quickly and quietly shows up. This Christian organization has been serving our most needy citizens for more than 100 years. This year’s online “red kettle campaign” allows individuals and groups to host one of the Salvation Army’s famous red kettles, virtually.
Care (care.org). The organization was founded in 1945 as a response to the plight of children affected by World War II. Since then, CARE has grown and operates in 70 countries, always concentrating its efforts on assisting people who are poor and hungry.
Refugees International (refugeesinternation al.org). Currently, 33 million people have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict or oppression. This small advocacy organization serves as an important voice – sometimes the only voice – for refugees and displaced persons around the world.
Boys and Girls Clubs (bgca.org). About 3,900 Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the country provide care, tutoring, sports and activities for 4.6 million young people.
Holland’s Opus Foundation (mhopus.org), which supports music education in schools. Several websites exist to help generous people locate worthy charities. These sites also rate charities and determine how well they use your money: charitynavigator.org; guide star.org; give.org; charitywatch.org
Send questions via e-mail to askamy@tribune.com or by mail to Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.
