So, we’re at the end of the year. Seems everyone is putting together their Top 10 lists, and I’m just late to the game. So, I’m totally stealing an idea from Steve Knight here, and giving my list of top charities to give to on this last day of the year.
Remember, charity giving is a tax deduction, but you only get that deduction for 2009 if you give today…so you might as well cough up some cash right now before it’s too late.
So without further ado, I present to you thejakers’ Top 5 Stupendously Unbelievable Smorgasbord of Year-End Giving Opportunities:
Praxis Church (Really, Any Local Church Will Do)
Chances are that good things are happening at your local church. Believe it or not, year-end giving is a big part of the budgets at most churches. If you’re on the fence for that big year end gift – get off it, and give. Your church is doing good things in the community, and those good things take support from people just like you. If you want to give to Praxis, you can do so here. If you are part of a local church, give to that church. (I’d post a link, but that would get kind of long…)
Vision Abolition
Did you know that over 1 million children are sold into the global sex trade each year? Some of them as young as five years old? Slavery didn’t die with the Civil War; it just slipped off the radar. The global sex trade is alive and well, even here in Phoenix, where we are the #2 city in the nation for the epidemic. Vision Abolition is a non-profit, faith-based organization dedicated to the prevention, rescue, and restoration of victims of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation worldwide. I’m proud to say that in the month of December Praxis Church raised $46,000 to fund a counseling center that Vision Abolition is helping build in Fiji for victims of the sex trade industry, but they could always use more resources. You can give to them by clicking here.
One Day’s Wages
One Day’s Wages was started by Pastor Eugene Cho and is an international grassroots movement dedicated to ending extreme global poverty. According to their website, 25,000 children under the age of 5 die each day due to poverty-related causes, unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of all sickness and disease, and kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war, and Nearly 900 million people do not have access to clean water. Eugene’s plea is simple. Help stop global poverty by giving one day’s worth of your wages to the cause. You can make a donation here.
Phoenix Rescue Mission
Each year, thousands of homeless people in the Phoenix metropolitan area depend on The Phoenix Rescue Mission for food, clothing, and shelter as well as safety, spiritual support, addiction recovery, and a new start in life. Their work is almost entirely funded by donations from people like you and me. There are a range of opportunities to contribute to on their website here.
TOMS Shoes
Per their website, “TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we’re all about.” You probably already know about TOMS, especially if you’re a hipster. Why not buy some new shoes with that Christmas stash, and help provide some shoes for a kid in need too? Have at it here.
[Photo by Mr. Kris]