Charities That I Support.

My new year’s resolution is to not give consumer products as gifts for birthdays or Christmas. I have chosen instead to donate in honor of the recipient to organizations such as http://www.heifer.org/, http://www.nature.org/, and http://www.ocenconservancy.org/. As I see that most people, including me, do not need another dust collector in their abode, I have decided this is the best way to go. I also think that in lieu of flowers/plants in honor of a deceased loved one/friend, that I will contribute “in honor of” to such charities as these.

I am tired of being a pack rat, a collector or consumer goods, and I am tired of feeling guilty in having to keep the gift so as to not hurt the giver’s feelings. In order to not overburdened the already busting at the seams landfills, I can recycle the gift(s) by sending it to Goodwill/Salvation Army, which are good causes, but eventually they may need to toss such goods as their warehouses/stores become overcrowded with such products.

I also donate to http://www.organicconsumers.org/, http://www.votehemp.com/, http://www.arborday.org/, and http://www.npca.org/. These organizations fight for nature and environmental rights. They keep our government from enacting laws that will be harmful for the environment (Mother Earth), which will eventually be harmful to us, as what happens to our environment happens to us.

Vote Hemp is an organization that is removing barriers or misguided beliefs to industrial hemp farming in the US by educating the public and standing up to the lawmakers/our government. Check out http://www.votehemp.com/ for more info as to what they are doing and why we should support this cause/organization.

Organic Consumers Association informs you of what is going on in the organic world, news about food safety, health issues, genetic engineering, etc. To find out more of what they do, go to http://www.organicconsumers.org/. Sign up for their newsletters to keep yourself informed as what is going on with these issues listed plus much more.

Heifer International, through donations such as mine, will provide families with chicks, lambs, sheep, bees, etc. These animals help the families become sustainable by providing eggs, wool, milk, honey, beeswax, meat, etc. These products not only provide food, clothing, wax, etc. but they provide cash in the selling of the products so the families are able to purchase items that are needed to sustain their way of life or to the betterment of their lives. Check out http://www.heifer.org/ to see what it is all about.

Maybe the next time that you are planning to purchase a gift, you may want to stop and think about buying another dust collector for that special someone. These organizations or those of your choosing are very appreciative in your donations, which they will put to good cause. So there will be no dust colleting going on here or guilty feelings about having to keep said gift, etc., etc.

Brenda Miller

http://www.designsbybrenda.net/
Author of Curiosity Expands Your Mind