Donate to a different charity each month

This month, I donated to the Animal House Fund. They are working to create a new, LEED-certified, cheerful animal shelter in St. Louis, to replace the really old, depressing animal shelter that currently exists. This would really improve the lives of the poor creatures that end up at the shelter…it might even make them more “adoptable,” because potential adopters might be more willing to visit a new, architecturally interesting shelter. www.animalhousefund.org

I’m late posting, but in January I donated to a local nonprofit called Neighbors Assisting Neighbors. You can learn more about them at www.nanstl.org. Basically, they organize volunteers who help pick up trash, clean up neighborhoods, and empower residents to take action in their communities.

But I’m keeping this on my new shorter list of goals, because I think it is really crucial to put your money into causes you care about.

Harder than it sounds when you are also trying to pay off student loans (another one of my top goals), but I can do it if I cut down spending in other parts of my life (going out for lunch, etc.)

...but I have given some donations. To my local farmers market and to some local community groups.

A little late on the entry…Feb donation to the AHA in honor of heart month.

This month’s charity:

Project Linus is a 100% volunteer non-profit organization with a two-fold mission.

First, it is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers”.  
Second, it is our mission to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.

I’m LOVING reading everyone’s entries. Sadly, I did not do so well November or December 2007. I’ve actually given to various charities, but only bits of money here or there. ‘Tis the season that lots of people are asking for money! And also, money is tight right now in general. I’ve got several charities I’m psyched about for 2008, so I, too, will start the new year off with a bang…and by then, hopefully I’ll have more money, too. (My “pay student loans” goal interferes a bit with this goal…)

Work was sponsoring a drive for this local hunger-relief organization (Second Harvest) and I thought it would be a great place to start this goal. I wish I had researched it on Charity Navigator first though, it only received a 2 star rating. I would have donated food rather than money, but the donation will still help.

The new year will fo off with a bang….already have ideas for charities.

This month’s donation is to:

Africare…bringing grassroots efforts for self=sufficiency to 25 countries in Africa.