Here’s how to give thanks and give back

December 2, 2009

By Morgan Conover

A few days ago when I sat down to write this article, I brainstormed a few lighthearted topics, nothing too heavy, but none of them seemed to fit.

So, keeping that in mind I would like to start out on a more serious note.

I feel like living in Sammamish, we have a pretty high standard of living, and as the holiday season approaches I feel compelled to think of those who are facing tough times.

A while back I heard a saying, and it really stuck with me.

It was that when you give food to a food drive, don’t clean out the pantry and give away all the food that grosses you out (e.g. pickled radishes) because sometimes life takes unexpected turns, and one day you could be stuck receiving that same gross mystery food.

So with that theme of picking out good food for food drives I found some local charities that desperately need your help for the holiday season:

One great charity that I have volunteered for in the past is Northwest Harvest.

Northwest Harvest’s programs provide food to those in need, with emphasis on going from temporary crisis, to stability.

Last year alone, they collected over 24 million pounds of food, but that is still not enough to feed everyone that comes to their locations.

If you would like to make a donation you can go online, visit one of their many locations in the area, or check their Web site.

A second organization I looked into is Childhaven. This is an organization which provides services for children who are victims of domestic abuse and neglect.

The best way to help their cause is through donations, either online or over the phone, and volunteer positions are available. To learn more about this great cause you can visit www.childhaven.org.

A third dedicated cause is St. Martin de Pores, located in Seattle, which has been dedicated to assisting the elderly homeless. It provides 212 homeless men with a place to stay overnight. The shelter provides them with a hot meal and amenities such as laundry, showers, medical care, transportation to medical appointments, employment assistance, and even drug and alcohol counseling.

They rely heavily on the generosity of the community and greatly need donations of toiletry items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors and shampoo.

There are also many volunteering opportunities on their Website www.ccsww.org.

Keep in mind that these are only three of the countless charities in the area. Organizations such as these rely on your help in order to keep their doors open.