If you have never donated to charity, you have been missing out. There are so many positive reasons to donate. You can donate money, food, used clothing, furniture, books, vehicles, stocks, and mutual funds. You can donate your time to help organize, hold a fundraiser, or work in a Thrift Store that raises money for charities. Plus so much more. There are so many benefits to giving to charities.
Maybe you have never donated because you felt like you can’t afford it. That is between you and God. I cannot force you to donate, but I believe that if you do, you will be blessed, even if, in your opinion, it is only something small. Giving of your time is also a donation. This can be once a week or once a year. I have seen people that are retired turning to one of their local charities to volunteer part-time.
“He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘I tell you the truth,’ He said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'” Luke 21:1-4
1. Smile, be happy
On days when you feel like life is OK, kind of boring. Or maybe you are feeling sad or lonely. Donating to charity can put a smile on your face. Maybe It’s time to donate something to charity. Load up the trunk of your car with items you don’t use that are still in useable condition and bring them to your local Thrift Shop or Homeless Shelter. If you don’t feel like getting out of your house, you can mail off a check or two to your favorite charity. This always puts a smile on my face.
Does donating to someone else so that you can be happy seem like a selfish thing? Not really. Donating will put a smile on your face and also bring happiness to the recipients.
If you are able, donate your blood. This doesn’t cost you any money. One donation can help up to three people. There is a constant need for blood. And you can donate your organs, some while you are alive (kidney) and others upon your death. Add it to your driver’s license to donate your organs. Also, sign up to be a bone marrow donor.
“It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” Mother Teresa
2. Help someone in need
When you see a homeless person walking down the road, possibly you think, “I wish there were something I could do.” There is something you can do. Giving them a few dollars is not the answer. Support a local homeless shelter. By entering a homeless shelter, a person will receive three meals a day, access to showers, clean clothing, a bed to sleep on, plus skills to help them get back to supporting themselves. In my town, some homeless people stand on corners asking for money. They are brought there each day to stand there for hours in the sun to collect money. The person who brought them, basically a human trafficker, will pick them up at the end of the day and take a share of the money. I don’t know the percentage, but I’m sure it’s nothing close to fair.
Donating food to a food bank will also help someone in need. When you go to the grocery store, pick up a few items that you can share. If you like to go to Costco and buy items in quantity, take some of those to donate.
“The Lord Jesus Himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” Acts 20:35b
3. God requires it
Anything you donate to charity is giving to God. To me, this is the most important reason to give to others. There are verses scattered throughout the Bible that tell us to give according to how we have been blessed. Most people living in the United States have been blessed with more food, clothing, furniture, and money than they need. Sharing your blessings with others is what God intended.
“Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.” Deuteronomy 16:17
4. Make the decision as to where your money goes
When you die and have no heirs choose the charities you would like your money to go to, rather than having it go to the state you live in. Giving through your will is a very common way to give to a charity. Even if you have heirs, maybe you don’t want to give all your money to your children and grandchildren. So give a portion to your favorite charities. Your children should be proud of the fact that you considered others in your will. It’s a great way to finish off your life.
Depending on your tax bracket and other deductions, any money you donate might save you some tax money. If your only reason to donate is for a tax write off I’m guessing your heart isn’t in the right place. But feel free to donate anyway, since there is such a great need.
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'” Martin Luther King, Jr.
5. Support a cause you believe in
Do you have a favorite charity? Maybe it’s an organization that is dear to your heart because someone you know has struggled with a health problem which that charity supports. This could be St. Judes, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, etc. Or possibly you belong to a group that helps others in need, like Doctors without Borders. Your children’s school can be a charity that you give school supplies, volunteer in the classroom, or helping with a fundraiser. Or perhaps a group that helps animals like the Humane Society.
I have changed the charities I support now and then, and you might, too. There is nothing wrong with that. You can’t support every charity, and sometimes your heart can go out to a charity you have never supported before. I always support my church. If you attend a church, that may be where you want to give the most of your donations.
The cause that I really believe in is rescuing children from human trafficking. I give money to two different non-profits. One is working in the United States, and one is working worldwide. I have been to conferences about human trafficking and have read many books about it. I have met girls that have survived human trafficking. It is heartbreaking but also something I can’t ignore.
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.'” Matthew 25:40
How to choose a charity
Supporting local charities helps your community. This is a great place to start. Consider groups that help the homeless, people who do not have sufficient food, or people who need a hand up. Your local food bank may be a great starting charity. They usually provide food for people who could not feed their families otherwise. Plus, they are known for providing the fixings for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, which is a huge blessing to needy families. Another great project to donate toward would be a toy drive to give children Christmas gifts. Angel Tree is an organization that provides gifts to children who have a parent in prison. The present is “from” the parent, purchased by someone like you. This helps keep the children in touch with an absent parent.
I believe it is important to support a charity or charities that you know about. What are they doing with the money? How much of the support they receive is going to the people in need? Make sure that most of the money isn’t going to the administration instead of the cause. It’s easy to get caught up in something that seems like a good cause, but once you do some investigating in how they spend their money and what their true beliefs are, you might want to stay away from them.
There are a few charities that rely on monthly donations from sponsors of children in another country. I am currently supporting two boys who are turning 16 this year. One is in Romania and the other in Zimbabwe. By supporting a specific child, you will learn about them and their country and see them grow. If you have children, it is a great learning experience to sponsor a child about their age. They can exchange letters. And it’s a great way to donate money. I have been sponsoring these children since they were little. If this interests you, I would recommend World Vision and Save the Children. Keep in mind that this is a commitment to the child until they turn 18. In an emergency, they can find another family to sponsor a child you had been sponsoring.
My favorite local charities
I support several local charities. One is my church, which I think is an important charity for all church members.
Another local charity is an organization that supports disabled adults of all ages to live a more independent life. The organization buys homes and revamps them for its residents. They make the houses handicap accessible. The residents have someone staying with them in the home. The residents spend their time learning to cook, do laundry, clean the house, use public transportation to get around, and even getting a job to help support themselves. They become a family. They learn to become independent instead of always relying on their aging parents.
And I support the local food bank and homeless shelter. My father was an example to my sisters and me. He believed in the potential of everyone. He and my mom supported the local Gospel Mission. I believe that supporting locally helps make your community a better place for all.
My favorite nationwide/worldwide charities
When I became aware of the horrors of human trafficking, I became involved with New Day for Children. They were located in California at the time. They have since moved to another state, but they still maintain their California mailing address. Our church went to their location to do service projects like painting the inside or outside of their buildings. We helped maintain the grounds. Then and now, I have also supported them financially. They take rescued girls from age 10 and up from anywhere in the United States. Their referral of girls usually comes from the FBI. They give these children an education, health care, and the childhood that they missed out on.
In the same category, I support a worldwide organization called International Justice Mission. They help people that are trafficked throughout the world. They help rescue children from working in farming with dangerous equipment. And they work to get women jobs to support their families, other than be sold for sex.
Addresses in case you want them
I wanted to give you the address of the two human trafficking organizations. Also, here are links to two articles that I have written about human trafficking:
New Day for Children P O Box 439, Alamo, CA 94507
International Justice Mission P O Box 96961, Washington, DC 20090
https://growingoldereveryday.com/slaves-how-many-are-providing-for-your-needs/ and also: https://growingoldereveryday.com/human-trafficking-todays-slavery/
I hope this gave you ideas of charities to donate to, whether actual products like food and clothing, cash, and/or your time as a volunteer. There are so many people in this world that are in need. You can be part of the solution to problems in your own community or throughout the world. Give what you can. I believe you will be happy that you did. And you will be following God’s desire, as written in the Bible.
Do you have a charity that you have a passion for? Have you been looking for a new place to donate your time or money? There will never come a day when there will be no need for volunteers and financial support. Be sure you know who you are supporting so that your money will go to a good cause, and you can be confident the money is used wisely. Please feel free to write any comments you have in the reply section below.
