Exercise and Giving: A Perfect Pair
Nonprofit organizations are always looking for innovative and exciting ways to raise money. When organized exercise became popular in the sixties and seventies, nonprofits used the trend to gain enthusiasm for their causes. Americans loved the idea of using charity as a motivation to take on physical challenges, and the idea caught on quickly. Here…
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Thank You, Volunteers!
The very heartbeat of a non-profit organization is its volunteers. While some charitable organizations offer food delivery and nourishment for their communities, Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago volunteers provide nourishment to hearts and souls. Why You Are Needed Many people think kosher foods are simply blessed by a rabbi, but there is much more involved…
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Leaving a Legacy for the Future
You are following those who cared for you, taught you, loved you . . . The ones who left a legacy for you. Now, it’s your turn. Leaving a legacy is important! Think about the people who ensured a legacy for us: Grandparents Neighbors Men and women who pursued better lives for us and future…
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Top 3 Reasons to Give Locally
“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…
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How to Involve Children in Volunteering
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…” Tips to Involve Children in Volunteering Our friends at PBSparents offer…
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Tips to Keep in Mind When Donating Items
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,…
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Setting Your Charity Budget for the New Year
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…
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The History of Chicago Jews
“Jews came to Chicago from virtually every country in Europe and the Middle East, but especially from Germany and Eastern Europe,” says the Encyclopedia of Chicago. Jews immigrated to the United States to escape poverty, discrimination, and hate crimes. To say some Jews didn’t have “fond memories” of their homelands is an understatement. Chicago was…
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$50, $100, $1,000 to Give? Here’s Where Your Money Goes at Maot Chitim
“Maot Chitim” refers to the gathering of wheat, which was given to the poor for making matzo for Passover. Over 100 years ago, Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago began when Rabbis set up card tables in front of their synagogues to collect donations for the poor to assist with holiday meals. Because of the growing…
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