Organization: The American Red Cross
What Is It: Disaster Relief Services, Family Emergency Services, Domestic Preparedness for Bioterrorism, Critical Lifesaving Services, and 24-hour military assistance.
How To Help: go to this web site- http://www.redcross.org/donate/volunteer/, type in your zip and find a local chapter. Disaster volunteers are sent all over the United States to help victims. Blood banks need blood and plasma donations to save lives. Monetary donations are tax deductible under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Plus many companies will match dollar to dollar what you donate. If you donate, be sure to check if your company matches donations.
Organization: Easter Seals
What Is It: 550 U.S sites that offer services to people with disabilities or special needs.
Primary Easter Seals services include-Medical Rehabilitation, Early Intervention, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Hearing Therapy, Job Training and Employment, Child Care, Adult Day Services, Camping and Recreation
How To Help: Volunteer your time for any of the many services they offer or donate funds. Like the Red Cross, this is a tax deductible donation.
Organization:Habitat For Humanity
What It Is: An international non profit group that devotes its energy to ending homelessness and poverty housing by correlating volunteer services, sweet equity, and affordable costs.
How To Help: Visit this site to locate an affiliate near you. http://www.habitat.org/how/factsheet.aspx . Then volunteer labor, materials, or cash. You can also become an advocate, through encouraging government solutions to solve poverty housing. Also ask about company matching if you make a donation.
Organization: The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
What Is It: Mainframe of non profit health organizations that are dedicated to helping people with rare diseases through programs of education about disease, advocacy, research grants for treatment, referrals to patient organizations, assisting patients obtain certain drugs they could not otherwise afford.
How To Help: Http://www.goodsearch.com is an Internet search engine by which each search counts toward a one cent charitable donation for a non-profit organization designated by the user. It works just like any other search engine, but for a good cause. When you buy online flowers from “ FromYou Flowers ”enter NORD's reference code (785) and NORD will receive 20% of the purchase price. Make a private donation. Through the “Health 1st - America's Charities” program donations can be taken directly from your pay check, if your company is enrolled in the program.
Organization: American Cancer Society
What It Is: 3,400 local offices and a head quarters in Ga serve to promote research into cancer and cures, provide information about cancer, establish community programs and services, and work as an advocate for laws and legislation affecting cancer.
How To Help: Make a monetary donation, participate in cancer awareness events (most areas have annual walks, runs, etc..) contact lawmakers and advocate on behalf of cancer, volunteer your time for anything from an awareness event to giving a chemo patient a ride to therapy.
Organization: Make A Wish
What Is It: Children with life-threatening medical conditions receive a “wish,” one thing they want the most . Some kids choose a trip to their favorite destination or meet an idol. Others may choose to get a dog or ride a bike. Over 161,000 children have had wishes granted since 1980.
How To Help: Donate frequent flier miles, car, business services, building supplies, money, etc. Donate your time as a volunteer. Adopt a wish or become a sponsor. Shop for products with the “Make A Wish” logo and a fraction will go to the foundation. Look for events at local businesses, where you can make a donation.
Above are six specific organizations that serve to help others. However, there are thousands of agencies that are in need of volunteers and donations. "The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others." -- Ghandi
