“Charity begins at home.”
“Give where you live.”
There are so many global situations that hurt our hearts with their stark need for food, medical care, clean water…and the list is never-ending. For many, this is a time of year for giving and personal reflection. For many of us, making a difference – a positive impact – that will live beyond our years here is what we strive to do.
The smallest local gesture or donation can have far-reaching consequences! You never go how far hope will travel. Here are three additional reasons to give to Chicago-area charitable organizations:
We need financial support, but we also need people to pack food items and deliver them to Chicago-area people in need to help them celebrate the holidays. The date for Passover Delivery is March 25th. You CAN help! Contact us or call 847-674-3224 to give your legacy of dignity for others.
The concept of volunteering is difficult to explain to a small child, but they appreciate that helping others is a good thing. By the age of 4, most children understand, “I need help with dusting furniture,” and many can say, “I need a volunteer…”
Our friends at PBSparents offer the following tips to help you teach your child the value of volunteering:
We need volunteers to package and deliver food to those who are unable to afford sometimes-expensive foods need to worship in a traditional, Jewish manner at home. Our Passover Delivery Day is March 25th, 2018. It’s a wonderful experience for the entire family. Contact Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago to learn more.
Charitable organizations appreciate non-monetary donations; in fact, some of them are more clothing- or home accessory-based than cash-based. Unfortunately, sometimes people use these charities as a dumping ground for items that are too worn or damaged to be donated. “People will donate all kinds of garbage to thrift stores thinking that because people are poor, they’ll take anything,” observed one Quora blogger.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when donating items to thrift stores or charities:
“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones.” -Shannon L. Alder
Every charitable organization requires cash donations and volunteers to complete their mission. Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago needs YOU. If you are not financially able to donate money to our efforts, consider leaving a legacy. Your caregiving and support will live forever, touching lives every generation, and your blessings will be remembered. Call 847-674-3224 because we need your support . . . and your prayers!
According to Forbes, economically, 2018 is going to be an okay year for the U.S. For most household budgets, charitable donations fall under the category of “disposable income,” and that indicator isn’t quite as strong. Income is rising, but the growth rate of disposable income has been slow.
Most how-to-donate advice says to stop donating sporadic, small amounts and focus on one or two charities, building your donation into your budget so they can build their budget based on your donation. It makes sense! But make no mistake – there are no charities that will turn away donations of any size, and we’re not too proud to beg, either!
How to Help in 2018
Even if you’ve never made regular donations to a charitable organization, you can build financial support into your budget for 2018. Here’s how:
“The more you can align your actions with your beliefs, the happier you will start to become in every area of your life.” –Kate Dillman
Focus on your values and explore your passions. If easing hunger or preventing animal cruelty is something you would like to support, go that direction and research local, state, national, or international organizations.
Create a savings account called “Donations,” and begin stashing money in it every paycheck. No matter how tight you are that particular pay period or month, there’s always something; buying a grocery store pizza vs. home delivery saves you $10, for example. Ten dollars may not seem like much, but it adds up.
“Your sacrifice doesn’t have to be big.” –Jennifer Bernstein
Your venti mocha latte is almost $5/day or $150/month. Maybe you can make an adjustment in your budget and sacrifice one or two items often enough to make a difference to those who are needy.
If you’re like most people, it’s easier to save money when it is paycheck-deducted. Try to set up auto-deductions into your “Donations” savings account. Once you’ve built up a respectable amount, decide how much you want to donate, how often, and set it up on autopay. Your charity will jump for joy because your monthly or quarterly donation is something they can depend on! They can better balance their own budget, thanks to you.
If your company does not have a matching gifts program, make a case for your charity and their help! Even “We’ll think about it,” is better than nothing and may lead to…something.
Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago
If charity begins at home, you have Chicago-area neighbors who will need food and support for the upcoming Passover Holiday. a You can help us help them. Contact us to learn more.