Everyday Giving Blog

Mobile Gadgets Escalate Charitable Donations

What ever happens to mobile phones that are lost, found and unclaimed at theme parks? In Central Florida, home of some of the most popular park destinations in the country, many companies donate abandoned phones so that they aid others. Phones are donated to women's shelters or sold to generate revenue that other charity organizations receive.

Harbor House of Central Florida CEO, Carol Wick, claims that smartphones donated by Universal Studios Orlando and Walt Disney World alone generate nearly $50,000 each year when they are sold on sites such as eBay and Craig's List. This money is used to pay for food, medication, bus fare for relocation and other necessary supplies. Older mobile models are donated directly to women so that they are able to make emergency calls should dangerous situations arise. For what would otherwise become trash, Wick says this is a significant sum of money that impacts Harbor House efforts in an overwhelmingly positive way.

Former-Owner Considerations

But don't worry that you'll be denied a fair chance to reclaim your mobile device. Walt Disney World manager of community relations Betty Lowery says that unclaimed phones stay within the park for a full 90 days before they are donated. Several lost-and-found locations throughout the park allow visitors to collect their mobiles. If you're worried about privacy, rest assured that the phones' memories are wiped before they leave the park.

Lowery says that phone donations are not new for the theme park; however, in 2011 the process changed a bit. Strategic, thoughtful donations became the focus for Disney's unclaimed mobile devices. Many women that Harbor House serves have little more than the clothes they wear. Phone donations offer these ladies and their children a lifeline for emergent situations. Harbor House receives donations of mobiles from Universal Studios Orlando and, starting in December of 2012, Sea World, as well. Disney parks donate phones to Goodwill, Coalition for the Homeless, Salvation Army and other local Florida charities, according to Lowery.

Cameras Contribute to Charity, Too

Mobiles aren't the only electronic devices that are being put to good use, however. Unclaimed point-and-shoot, digital and video cameras from Disney World get sent to HOPE Helps, an organization that operates a food pantry and thrift store to help prevent hunger and homelessness. Joan Faulkner, HOPE Helps' executive director, said she was blown away by how many high-end cameras the theme park had to offer on their first drop-off. Not only would these cameras help countless families in need, but there were so many lost and never reclaimed that Faulkner and fellow workers felt a sense of sadness for the previous camera owners.

HOPE Helps sold the cameras for around $45 each, posting a picture of the Canon, Olympus, Nikon and Sony cameras on Facebook before they were placed on the thrift store shelves. Faulkner reports that sales that week were among the highest of any in the year.

So, if you should lose a mobile phone or camera during an Orlando vacation, consider that it may be working to help a family in need; it may take the sting out of paying for a new device.

by Jaye Ryan, a freelance author who enjoys writing about both mobile technology and good deeds.

Ways to Give to Charities When You Don't Necessarily Have Money to Spare

Tips For Giving Charity When You Are Facing Tough Times

When many people think about giving to charities, they tend to think that they need to have money in order to help. The good news is, it doesn't take much money to help out a great cause and even if you do not have a single penny to spare, there are still ways you can do your part. Today we are going to discuss a few of the easiest ways you can go about giving back even if you are in a tough spot yourself.

Spread the Word

Is there a charity that you feel strongly about but you do not have the means to give your money or time? Even simply spreading the word makes the world of a difference. With so many charities out there, a lot of the times people do not realize just how simple it is to donate or where they should donate or even how they should go about donating. Using your social networking sites as a way to advertise a specific cause can make a dramatic affect on the successfulness of a charity. The more friends or followers you have, the better. Word spreads fast on the internet.

If you have the drive and the ability, you may want to create your very own blog or website revolved around this charity or charity-related topics in general. You can write articles, post photos and share inspirational stories about ways you have given back or what charities you like the most. Even if you have never made a website or blog before there are many free options out there that do much of the work for you. You may want to check out Webs and Wordpress as places to get started. Both are extremely simple and reliable options.

Facebook Fan Pages are another unique option. This allows you a special place separate from your own Facebook Page where you can focus solely on charity-related topics. If you have your own business, you can start collecting donations for the charity of your choosing. This is a great way to give people simple and easy access to the causes that tug at their hearts the most.

Donate Your Time

If you aren't able to give money but still want to help out a charity in a personal way, you may want to consider physically going to the charity location and asking what you can do to help out. Whether they need help filing paperwork, keeping track of finances, organizing food and clothing items for the needy or cleaning up; there is always a need for some form of help. Simply contact local charities and see what you can do. It feels great to do something out of the kindness of your heart and you are bound to learn some amazing life lessons along the way as well as meet people you are never going to forget; whether it be those who you are helping or the people you are working towards a cause with.

Have you ever considered giving back in your workplace? Many companies have the 'use it or lose it' rule when it comes to vacation time but will allow you to donate your vacation time to those who need it. Maybe your coworker has a sick family member and needs some time off to sort things out or they are struggling to find a new babysitter and are having a hard time keeping up. Giving someone else your unused vacation time is a great way to give back. For those of you who enjoy your job, you aren’t going to mind being at the office those additional hours. Plus, you can feel great knowing you gave your time to someone who truly needed it and appreciated your gesture.

Give Items You No Longer Need

If time and money aren't something you have readily available, you can always give personal items that you no longer need. Maybe you have clothing items that have been in storage for years or toys that your kids have grown out of. Donating these items to people who are less fortunate can drastically change their life. You get to clean out your home and feel good knowing that your donations are going to great use.

Maybe you have some extra canned food in your home that your family isn't going to get around to eating. Instead of letting the food go bad or gather dust in your cupboards, you might as well give it to people who desperately need food for their next meal. A surprisingly high number of people every single year are going hungry and not getting the proper nutrition.

Have you ever considered donating your hair or blood? Blood and hair are always in high demand. You may be able to help someone who was in a car accident and needs a blood transplant or a patient suffering from cancer who needs a new wig so they can continue living their life with a head full of hair.

Other Things You Can Donate

Maybe you've donated all the items in your home that you no longer need, but you still want to find new ways to give back. If you enjoy sewing or crocheting, you could make blankets for those in need. There are a surprisingly high number of people around the world who do not have the proper protection from the elements. Get creative with it. Contact local charities and ask them what types of items they are in most need of.

Ever heard of those local events where a large number of people come together and 'race for the cure' or walk for a certain cause? A lot of the time such events have a small fee to join or are completely free to participants. If you have a day off of work, why not do something that is going to help others instead of sitting on the couch and watching movies? Not only is it great exercise for you but you can also meet amazing people along the way. Bring your family and friends and it can become an event you will remember for the rest of your life.

Every Little Bit Counts

When it comes to giving back, keep in mind that every little bit counts. It doesn't matter if you can only afford to give a dollar or if you can only donate your time once a month. If you are passionate about helping out those in need, there are always ways to do so. Even if you are bedridden or handicapped, there are things that can be done. It doesn't matter where you live, what your income looks like, your sexual orientation, the color of your skin; any of that. Giving back is giving back, plain and simple. Never become frustrated because you 'cannot give as much as you'd like'. Trust us, the people and/or animals you are helping do not care how much or how little you can give; they are getting the benefits of loving and caring people such as yourself who take the time to give, even if they may be struggling themselves.

Not Sure What You Can Do In Your Area?

If you still aren't sure how you want to give back, contact local businesses that you enjoy such as that veterinary clinic down the road or that food bank and ask them for tips on how to give back. There are a lot of companies in need of help that do not have the money required to have proper advertisement. You may be able to give back by doing things you already do on a regular basis such as shop at certain stores or use a debit or credit card that gives a percentage to specific charities.

The above guest post is written by Jessy Law who is part of the team at Third Sector Jobs. The Third sector jobs, world leading charity recruitment company to get you right charity jobs easily.

3D images credit: LuMaxArt

7 Great Causes You and Your Bicycle Can Get Behind

Cycling is an excellent way to get a really good workout and do great things for your body while being outside and enjoying the scenery around you and all of the amazing fresh air. Burning approximately 400 calories in an hour, there really is no better workout, and biking is a great way to explore your surroundings as well.

There are an abundance of charities and groups that are using cycling and its enthusiasts as a way to raise money and awareness for their respective causes. By giving their participants ample motivation and cashing in on their philanthropic desires, they combine physical challenge and service opportunities, making a healthy and worthwhile combination for all who chose to partake of the experience.

Here is a look at 7 of the most popular rides hosted for a good cause:

American Lung Association

The Big Ride across America is a seven week, cross country bike ride hosted by the American Lung Association of the Mountain Pacific Region. This non-profit organization requires riders to raise a minimum of $6,000 and also charges them a $150 registration fee. Once the cyclists are registered, they gear up to make the cross country trip from Seattle, Washington to Washington D.C. Over the course of the seven weeks, riders travel approximately 3,300 miles from beginning to end.

Parkinson’s Disease

This ride hosted in Maine annually, was started by a man named Chris Woods after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. This ride is particularly interesting because studies have shown that tandem bike riding can actually help to ease the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. The ride offers a variety of mileage options, allowing for any level of cyclist to participate. Participants must raise an minimum of $100 to participate and all proceeds go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

The American Diabetes Foundation

The American Diabetes Foundation is perhaps one of the foundations with the greatest amount of rides being hosted for its cause, these are individually as a Tour de Cure. There are annual rides in 43 states that allow for riders at any skill level to participate and help raise money and awareness for the foundation. It is essential to raise awareness for this cause as diabetes is a disease that affects people of all ages and it can be prevented in a lot of cases. These rides have hundreds of participants each and most of those participating either suffer from diabetes themselves or know someone who does.

Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong Foundation

The Livestrong Challenge is an annual event held one day a year in San Francisco, Philadelphia and Austin, Texas to raise money for cancer research. There are varying distances offered for riders to accommodate any skill level. All participants must raise a minimum of $250 and pay a registration fee of $50. Austin hosts a special event called the Ride for Roses which allows any of the cyclists who raise over $10,000 to participate and at the finish line all of the cancer survivors are presented with a yellow rose.

Arthritis Foundation

The Amgen California Coast Classic is a weeklong bike ride hosted by the Arthritis Foundation to help promote awareness for their cause. The ride is for cyclist of all strengths and is promoted as a week for these bikers to celebrate the sport while getting to know one another and enjoying the great outdoors. The route for the ride is from San Francisco to Los Angeles annually and many of the bikers that participate in the ride end up enjoying themselves and having such a great time that they return year after year to participate and help a great cause.

Multiple Sclerosis

If you are interested in biking for this cause, you should look up all the possible events being hosted by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Annually they host a wide variety of events nationwide in order to raise money for their foundation. Their particular events are a great option for anyone looking to bike for good because they put together events that cater to cyclist at all skill levels. Depending on your location, you may have the opportunity to participate in half day, day or multiple day trips, whatever suits your personal level of comfortability.

San Diego Center for the Blind

The San Diego Center for the Blind hosts the annual Cycling for Sight, which is a 200 mile ride through southern California that benefits the Center for the Blind. What makes this ride particularly emotional is that there are a great number of tandem bikes that participate in the ride and those bikes generally have a blind person in back and a seeing person leading from the front. Participants are required to raise a minimum of between $100 and $1600.

Hillary Rose is a writer and bicyclist. She works with Racor to find storage solutions for bicycles. When not working you can find her out on the road with her weekly cycling crew.

5 Charity Ideas for This Summer

Charitable giving, like most other things in our modern world, has become a highly complicated and often difficult endeavor given the vast number of organizations and causes vying for your dollar. While simply picking and choosing between them can often lead to regrettable contributions, narrowing your focus to causes and situations that work for you will help you to be sure that your charitable donations are contributing to the best possible cause.

If you're looking to combine sunny fun with thoughtful giving this during the warm months to come, check out these five charity ideas for this summer:

1. Book Your Hotel, Save a Child

If you're planning a summer vacation that will see you travel abroad, one excellent way to give while saving is to book your hotel with CheapHotels.org. Besides offering some of the lowest hotel rates in the world for a wide variety of locales around the globe, CheapHotels.org automatically donates 1% of each and every booking to OrphanAid Africa, an organization that helps disenfranchised children in Ghana to grow up in safe, secure and loving environments with a focus on education and family stability.

Save money and donate to a worthy cause at the same time - now that's an excellent way to start your summer!

2. Become a Summer Fundraiser

The warm months of summer open up endless opportunities for outdoor fun, making it the best time of year to organize a fundraising event in your own community! Whether you opt for a bike-a-thon, a car wash or a bake sale, heading the effort to raise funds for a worthy cause, whether a local or international one, allows you to offer a helping hand to others while enjoying a fulfilling time yourself.

3. Lend a Hand on Your Vacation

The Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms organization connects organic farms around the world with people looking to stay and work temporarily to the benefit of all, presenting any able bodied wanderer with a unique way to enjoy a summer vacation! Learn about permaculture and agricultural stability while developing the skills required to grow food, all in a foreign land that offers exposure to exciting cultures and ways of life and helping to further the cause of sustainable growing in the process.

4. Clean House and Help the Needy

There is no better time than summer to take stock of your belongings and reorganize your material life, offering up the items you no longer need to those less fortunate as you go. Whether you choose to donate via a Goodwill foundation or in person, you can take pride and pleasure in the mutual benefit that cleaning house offers!

5. Be a Volunteer

If you've got some free time on your hands this summer, consider becoming a local volunteer in order to gain valuable experience while lending a helping hand to those around you. With national volunteer databases available to people in most countries, choosing a volunteer opportunity that suits your skills and desires is a breeze, ensuring that you are able to bring your very best to the table each and every day.

Conclusion

Whether you've got free time to kill or a deep, residing passion for helping others, using the time that summer frees up for many of us towards charitable causes is a fantastic way to grow as people, both in skills and life experience, brightening the lives of others along the way. Given the easy availability of opportunities both local and abroad via the internet, becoming involved with a cause that suits your abilities is a cinch once you narrow your focus, leading you to new opportunities and memorable moments that will last a lifetime!

Image Credits: 1, 2.

Arthritis Research at Duke University

The Arthritis Foundation provides funding for a number of arthritis-related research projects.

I had the privilege of seeing several of those on-going projects that are happening at Duke University. I was able to meet many of the researchers behind these important projects and ask questions about their work.

I am excited about what I experienced. It was obvious that the researchers enjoyed what they were doing and were also excited about the possibilities the research could bring to millions of people in the future.

I wrote a little about what I learned on two of the projects at:

• This is No Ordinary Gel for Arthritis Relief
• High Tech Knitting to Eliminate Need of Artificial Joints for Arthritis Sufferers

Most of us either suffer from arthritis or know someone who is. This is because 50 million people have already been diagnosed with it in the U.S. (1 in 5 people). My hope is that this sampling of research the Arthritis Foundation supports will excite you to the point you will see the benefit of supporting the organization.

Please support my efforts to help the Arthritis Foundation fight arthritis. Go to my Richmond Arthritis Walk fundraising page at http://www.charitywalksblog.com/arthritiswalk and make a contribution.

Thanks,
Roger Carr

Three Avacados

Hey Everyday Givers,

I want to alert you to a group of people who are making a difference in the lives of people in Uganda. They are called Three Avacados (known as @nonprofitcoffee on Twitter). Why am I highlighting them here? Because of the story behind their name. Check out this excerpt:

"Our story begins in the humble village of Bulopa Uganda. Bulopa, like many other villages in Uganda, is a very remote and extremely poor village. There is a small church there, which amounts to nothing more than a few sticks in the ground and some benches. We had been invited to worship with the people of Bulopa. Despite the fact we were over four hours late, the entire village was there to welcome us.  It had been a long day, we were all tired and..."

(Read the entire account)

I trust this story inspires you. Participate by getting some coffee. Start your own service to others. Or look around and find excuses to give. And may God bless your holiday season!

Sincerely,

Scott Couchenour (guest blogger for Everyday Giving) http://servingstrong.com

The Ship Has Come In

A Canadian couple won over 10 million dollars in a lottery back in July of this year. What did they do with it? They gave 98% of it away.

Read the entire story here

 

What would you do if you were suddenly given 10 million dollars?

The Size, Depth and Breadth of Nonprofits

Nonprofit organizations impact your life every day. You might not realize how big the nonprofit world is.

Gayle Gifford shared the below video at The Butterfly Effect and I just had to share it with you. Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think of the video and how it might have changed your perspective of the nonprofit sector.

It's Not My Birthday

Here is an excerpt from Seth Godin's latest blog post:

"Some of you may have discovered that today is supposed to be my birthday. No longer. I've never really liked birthday hoopla, especially mine, so I've given my birthday to Scott and the folks at Charity:water...."

Click to continue reading

Maybe you and I could trade in our birthdays for some good... hmmmm.

...this post by guest blogger, Scott Couchenour

Leave The World A Better Place

I recently attended my son's National Honor Society ceremony at the high school where he attends. The ritual is for several seniors to present speeches dealing with character, leadership, service, etc.

One speech, in particular, caught my attention. The presenter, student Beth Kerlin, delivered a simple, yet profound idea: leave the world a better place. I gained her permission to share it with you on this blog. I trust it inspires you to continue giving everyday of your life.

"When I was about 6 years old and in the 1st grade I lived right next door to the church where my father was a pastor. The only thing separating our yard from the church yard was a sidewalk. One Sunday after church I remember running down that sidewalk feeling like I was flying. This is my first memory of service. I don't remember who it was that I helped other than that it was an elderly woman from my church. I can't even remember what I did for her. All I remember is that I felt like a superhero. I know it sounds kinda cheesy but that was how I understood service as a child.

"Whenever I helped someone I would get this warm fuzzy feeling in my heart; like if I closed my eyes I would be soaring above the earth. I couldn't get enough of this high feeling, so I jumped at every opportunity to help someone. I would even wash the dishes after church luncheons for hours when I was barely tall enough to reach the faucets.

"Now 12 years later I am still washing dishes for the church, but I know longer do it because it makes me feel like a superhero. You see somewhere along the way I learned that serving someone isn't about the way it makes me feel but the way it makes them feel. It isn't about you feeling like you’re flying, but making others feel like they’re flying.

"Inductees over the next year you will be involved with things through NHS that will help you to understand more of what I am talking about. You will help out with the mitten tree around Christmas. I remember the day of the deliveries, walking into Mrs. Toy's room and almost crying at the beauty of a room filled with gifts. On that day you will get to play Santa Clause because you will be bring a little magic into the homes of complete strangers and makes some dreams come true.

"For some it may have been delivering a bike to the little boy who asked for one. Or maybe seeing the face of a mother light up when she knew for once her children would have more than enough. For me it was the moment I made my first delivery. I was carrying presents into the home of someone I had never met before and placing them under her tree.

"Her Christmas tree that looked exactly like the one I see on Christmas morning. A real live tree that you have to water every day. Covered with homemade and antique bulbs and more tinsel and icicles than you can imagine. The branches were literally sagging from all the weight. But to me this was beautiful. I remember looking at that woman as I left and hearing, "Merry Christmas!" and replying, "Merry Christmas to you too!"

"In that moment there was nothing different about us. We were two human beings just doing our best to leave the world a better place after we were gone. I believe that it was in that moment or maybe awhile later when I was remembering it that I learned what true service is. It's not about giving money, or possessions, or even time, though you can give all those things, but true service is about a relationship; about making someone else higher, even if it means making yourself lower. It was the look in that woman's eyes as they lit up with joy when she thought we were done bringing things in and she hears that there's more. It was the opportunity to make her life a little brighter, even if only for a moment. A true servant sees an opportunity like this and takes it. Yes there will be times when you are tired and would much rather be sleeping then making countless trips in and out of the cold to load cars with groceries and gifts, but in the end, when it is all over, you will be able to look back and see that you did something worthwhile; that you helped your fellow man.

"Service to your fellow man is one of the reasons why being in NHS is such a unique and high honor. There are plenty of other awards and scholarships you can get for getting good grades in school or having a high G.P.A. But NHS is more than that. It is an award that says you have strong character. That not only can you study hard and be successful in school but also that you spend time doing things for others. NHS is a group of servant leaders, so it is my honor to tell you that this evening represents that you are one of them. So congratulations and be proud of yourselves."

Scott Couchenour is a guest blogger for the Everyday Giving Blog.

www.servingstrong.com

www.servingstrong.typepad.com