(NC) Many of us have different causes that are near and dear to us. We might support organizations seeking social justice, championing environmental causes, tackling health-care issues that have affected a loved one, or all of the above. Here are four ways you can support your favourite charities this year.
Volunteer your time
There is an almost endless array of options for volunteering your time. Food banks and soup kitchens can always use an extra set of hands for sorting food or dishing it out. Environmental organizations regularly hold events to clean up local parks and waterways or to remove destructive invasive species. For a more informal approach, you could offer to shovel an elderly neighbour’s sidewalk or organize a meal train for a family going through a traumatic experience.
Look for matching donations
Many charitable organizations have partnerships with corporations or government agencies that provide matching funds, sometimes multiple times. So, for every dollar you donate, the charity will received several times that amount. Don’t forget to ask for a charitable donation receipt. You’ll get a bit of a break on your taxes, meaning you’ll have more money available to give next time.
Shop with a cause in mind
There really is power to the phrase, putting your money where your mouth is. Where you choose to shop – or not – sends a message to retailers. You can choose to purchase from retailers that actively support the same causes you do, follow sustainability practices or are run by under-represented groups.
There are also opportunities at the cash register. Most grocery stores, for example, give customers the option of adding a small donation to their purchase to support children or families who don’t have enough to eat. Note, however, that you don’t get a tax break for this kind of donation.
Repurpose with purpose
There are many options to repurpose articles of clothing that you no longer want or need. Throughout the year, Canadian company la Vie en Rose collects used bras under the Be Your Own Breast Friend program. The bras are given a second life and, for any that can’t be reused, the materials are recycled. Throughout the month of May, the company donates $1 to a variety of breast-cancer-related charities for every bra dropped off at one of their stores.
Learn more about the program at lavieenrose.coin/en/be-your-own-breast-friend.
