1.      Kindness Suggestion

SUPPORT A FAVORITE ORGANIZATION OR CHARITY

If you’re reading this, you are blessed!  You have the gift of sight, the ability to read and decipher language, the use of your fingers, and the ability to type or work a computer.  You have computer access and probably access to food, lodging and transportation.  

That’s a lot more than many people in our world have which makes contributing to charities or organizations a very important practice.  Contributions can be in the form of money, but they can also be your time, your old clothes or blankets, or many other much needed items. 

Below is a list of charities submitted by our authors and readers, as well as a link from Earthlink to an evaluation page of many different charities. If you’re not in a position to give right now, that’s OK.  Please continue to read on. Perhaps you’ll find an organization that can help you or someone you know.  Or you’ll find a worthy cause that will inspire you to work toward helping them in the future.  It never hurts to look!

And it never hurts to give within your means to help others!  J


The Animal Rescue Site

Help save shelter animals by giving a bowl of food — at no cost to you. All it takes is a click of your mouse. Please make visiting The Animal Rescue Site part of your daily routine and help spread the word to your friends and family!


The Breast Cancer Site

Help save lives by donating a free mammogram at no cost to you. 


The Child Health Site

Simply click on the "Help a Child" button every day.  Your efforts will help prevent childhood diseases and blindness, and aid young amputees around the world.

 
Dream Foundation

The mission of the Dream Foundation is to enhance the quality of life for individuals and families battling terminal illnesses. Since 1993 the Dream Foundation has granted thousands of dreams nationwide.


HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Discover the joy in helping others through Habitat for Humanity!  For over 25 years, Habitat for Humanity has helped low-income families reach their dreams of a place to call home. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat constructs and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner-partner families. Habitat houses are sold to these families at no profit and financed with affordable, no-interest loans. The homeowners' monthly mortgage payments are used to build even more Habitat houses.


THE HEIFER PROJECT

In 1944, the first shipment of 17 heifers left York, Pennsylvania, for Puerto Rico, going to families whose malnourished children had never even tasted milk. They now ship a large assortment of animals all over the world.

Why heifers? These are young cows that haven’t yet given birth – making them perfect not only for supplying a continued source of milk, but also for supplying a continued source of support. That’s because each family receiving a heifer agrees to “pass on the gift” and donate the female offspring to another family, so that the gift of food is never-ending.

This simple idea of giving families a source of food rather than short-term relief caught on and has continued for almost 60 years. As a result, millions of families in 115 countries are experiencing better health, more income and the joy of helping others.



Helping Hands Loving Hearts

I have been working with this special group since October doing whatever I can to raise money, cooking for benefits, and now wrapping gifts at the Mall to raise funds.  Their mission is to provide funding for children and those in need, for education, medical, and  disaster relief.

Please give a look.  They can use prayers and/or donations. I know where ALL the money goes...to these special kids...Read their stories and you will love them like I do. 

Here is their non-profit 501 (c)(3) # for tax-deductible donations. It is NJ Charitable Reg. # CH2363800

        Carole D.



HUMANE SOCIETIES & ANIMAL SHELTERS

When my cat Max died back in 2000, one thing that truly touched my heart was that a friend of mine made a donation in his name to their local humane society. I received a nice card from the humane society advising me of the donation. On a practical note, being a charitable donation, this kind and thoughtful gift is also tax deductible.

I have (unfortunately) had a few friends lose their pets in the last week. Some in NY state and some in Fort Myers, FL. I did some research online and was very easily able to locate the websites for their local humane societies. I have made donations to those societies in memory of their pets and yes, will be able to add these to my tax deduction pile.

I bring this up not to toot my own horn but rather to remind you of something that might both touch someone's heart and help you as well. Had I not been the recipient of such a touching gesture, I would never have thought to do it myself.

— Kimberly



The Hunger Site

Help reduce World Hunger with the click of your mouse.  It costs you nothing but a second of your time.  Every time you click the button, a sponsor will donate food.



JoAnn Cayce Charities

315 South 2nd St.
Thornton, Arkansas 71766
.

We don’t have a website for JoAnn, but she is a registered charity, so all of your costs are tax deductible.   JoAnn, her daughter, and grandson, provide for the needs of the people of Thornton, Arkansas, a very poor rural area that does not have the funds or facilities of larger cities.

You can help by sending a dollar (or two) so JoAnn can make some choices as to where best to help.  They are now able to buy blankets from the Salvation Army for $1 apiece. (Last year, along with donations, they were able to give away about 2000 blankets.)  For some families, a blanket is their only source of heat (no fuel).  And you can supply one for a dollar.

If you would prefer to send a check, make it out to: JoAnn Cayce Charities

You can also send WalMart gift certificates or some Clothes, especially for children.  The most precious items are underwear and socks. Of course, coats and warmer clothes in any size are also needed.

Toothpaste and toothbrushes are also appreciated as some families in Thornton share one toothbrush.    — Joan W. A.



THE LITERACY SITE

Help provide books for children at no cost to you.  Simply click the button and help give the gift of literacy.  Your efforts do make a difference. On December.14, 2004, visitors who clicked on the "Give Free Books" button helped 8,102 children get a free book of their own!


OPRAH’S ANGEL NETWORK

To date, Oprah's Angel Network and its support foundation have raised over $17 million: five million dollars from viewers responding to The Oprah Winfrey Show: ChristmasKindness South Africa; 5.1 million dollars from viewer donations; and an additional seven million dollars from celebrity contributions and sponsors such as Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com and Paul Newman of Newman's Own. Oprah personally covers the administrative costs of the organization so that 100% of all funds raised go to charity.


THE RAINFOREST SITE

Individuals from around the world visit the site each day to click the "Save Our Rainforests" button and help rescue imperiled land. In just its first year of operation, The Rainforest Site generated funds to purchase and preserve over 5,650 acres of endangered land.


Texas CASA

In 2001, 2,014 CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteers advocated for the best interests of 11,684 abused and neglected children in Texas who were involved in the court system. This network of community volunteers provides advocacy and support services for some of the most vulnerable residents of the state. Texas CASA is the umbrella organization for this network of programs, providing training, technical assistance, public awareness, resources and resource development, and program expansion and new program start-up assistance so these organizations can focus on what is truly important -- the kids.


Toys for Tots Foundation

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is one of the nation's flagship charitable endeavors and the U.S. Marine Corps' premier community action program. Over the past 52 years, U.S. Marines have distributed thousands of toys to needy children. 

A NOTE From the Editor:  Many grocery stores and malls have Toys for Tots drop boxes right there so you can purchase the toy and simply drop it in the box while you’re doing your other shopping.   Talk about convenience!


Tu Nidito

Tu Nidito is a non-profit organization which provides individual, family and group support through emotional, educational, social and spiritual services to children and their families as they deal with serious illness and death. 



The Wings Foundation

The Wings Foundation is a non-profit organization funded and operated by American Airlines Flight Attendants to help care for the needs of fellow flight attendants who are seriously ill or disabled.


WORLD VISION  (SPONSOR A CHILD)

Choosing a child or family, sponsorship begins between $30 - $40 per month and will help provide: Clean Water, Nutritious Food,  Health Care, Better Housing, Loans and Tools for Starting a Family Business,  Educational Opportunities, Spiritual Nurture, and AIDS/HIV Counseling for “HOPE” children.


* * *



Charity Navigator

Check up on your charities

You're ready to spread good will. But before you donate to that needy cause, wouldn't you like to know how they'll spend your money, and whether they'll sell your address? Charity Navigator lets you check up on the spending and privacy policies of over 3,200 of the nation's largest charities.

Go there now.


 A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR:  Not ALL charities are listed on the above site.  It is merely a guide and should not be used as the sole decision as to whether or not to contribute to a charity.


— © JMP & SFPNNers, http://www.sfpnn.com/kindness_suggestion.htm



2.      SFPNN CHALLENGES YOU TO KINDNESS!

Living through the words of Gandhi, we must be the change we want to see in the world.  We must also acknowledge those who are in the act of creating those changes.   Therefore, we have two challenges for you.

Challenge # 1:  Do something kind today and every day.   It doesn’t have to be of earth-shattering proportions to make a positive difference.  Simply saying “Thank You” or letting someone know they’re appreciated can have a tremendous impact.   Find little ways to be kind and to make our world a kinder place.  And feel free to tell us about your kind act!

E-mail: “KINDNESS

 

Challenge # 2:  Share something kind someone has done for you!   People are kind to us in a myriad of ways on a daily basis.  But we often overlook their kindness.  Become aware of acts of kindness and acknowledge the person performing them.  Then share their kind gesture with SFPNN. 

E-mail: “KINDNESS

For more Kindness Suggestions: http://www.sfpnn.com/kindness_suggestion.htm