By Jillian Ryan on December 21, 2012 in
It is easy to get sucked into the consumerism of the holidays. We here at ConsumerSearch know this all too well, as we spent the last few months preparing gift guides and updating all of our reports so our readers know which product is right for everyone on their list. As an editorial staff, we wanted to step away from that and spend some time thinking about our favorite charities.
There are plenty of ways to give back: you can donate toys to children in need, or carefully follow our advice to give responsibly to an organization of your choosing. You can even use apps to contribute to the greater good. But if all else fails, you can pick our brains on which charities rock. Hey, if you trust us to tell you which tablets and blenders are best, you can follow our advice for charitable organizations, too, right?
Happy Holidays to you all and without further ado these are the charities we love!
“My go-to charity is Heifer International,” says Malorie Sellers, home and garden editor. “I love the idea of giving a goat, flock of chicks or even a llama to friends and loved ones. This is truly the gift that keeps on giving thanks to the group's mission of ‘living loans,’ requiring animal recipients to give offspring to another family in need. Make the gift extra-special by giving an accompanying animal ornament to commemorate the donation.”
“Our favorite (and the one that means the most to us personally) is the League for Animal Protection of Huntington and the Grateful Paw Cat Shelter,” electronics senior editor, Carl Laron explains. Speaking on behalf of he and his wife, Maryanne, he continues, “The League holds a special place in our lives. This non-profit agency, staffed entirely by volunteers, provides services to our town ranging from a no-kill, cage-free cat shelter to financial assistance to pet owners who are struggling with the cost of vet bills or even pet food.”
Family editor Kelly Burgess was thinking of her category when she picked Toys for Tots as her favorite charity. She explains, “Buying toys for kids is fun; buying a toy to give to a needy child makes it even better.” For more information on this great organization, check out the interview we did with Bill Grein, Vice President Marketing and Development at Toys for Tots.
Samaritan's Purse wins the golden crown from Khaled Morad, associate editor of fitness and sports. He breaks his reasons down in an insightful list:
- They are a Christian ministry-based organization.
- They have been around since 1970 and are large and powerful enough to be effective.
- They are often first on the scene of natural disasters, such as the earthquake in Haiti, with knowledgeable (often native-to-the-area) staff who work to improve the affected area long-term rather than simply throwing money at the problem.
- They work to empower the affected/poor with donations plus training to become self-reliant. For example: giving this poor young woman the training to begin raising livestock in Honduras.
- They have an awesome gift catalog.
- They do Operation Christmas Child where people send hundreds of thousands of shoe boxes filled with gifts to needy children around the world.
Social media editor Jillian Ryan holds St. Jude Children’s Hospital close to her heart. “As a collegiate, I was a member of Delta Delta Delta and on a national scale the fraternity pledged to donate $10 million dollars in ten years to the hospital. As a result, I spent a lot of time fundraising for the organization’s great cause: to be the world leader in advancing the treatment and prevention of cancer in children. The greatest part is that no child is ever denied treatment at the hospital because of race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.”
Portable tech senior editor Molly McLaughlin is a fan of the Make-a-Wish Foundation. “How can you resist helping kids get their wishes? Recent wishes that were granted include a little girl who wanted to meet ‘real ballerinas’ and a little boy who wanted to be a pop star and got to perform on the radio and record a track in Los Angeles.”
In the eyes of Gina Colonette, associate editor of health and beauty, Dress for Success takes the cake as her favorite charity. “Dress for Success is a key player in helping disadvantaged women become economically independence by providing them with professional attire and career advice. One suit from my closet can help put a woman on the path to success and give her the same opportunities as me.”
Some food for thought from managing editor Scott Nyerges: “You shop locally. You eat locally. Why not give locally, too?” That is why he named the Yorkville Community Pantry has his go-to charity. He explains, “It is the largest community-based food pantry in New York City, providing meals for the hungry, case management and social outreach for the needy, counseling and basic care services for the homeless, as well as teaching families how to make smart food choices. The goals? Reducing hunger and promoting dignity and self-sufficiency. YCP, which has been around since 1980, has been named a 4-star charity by Charity Navigator and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau.”
Editor-in-chief Carey Rossi donates to Project Angel Food. As she describes it, “The volunteers and staff of Project Angel Food cook and deliver more than 13,000 meals throughout Los Angeles county every week to those affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.” She gives because, “Food nourishes the body to fight disease, but Project Angel Food is more than a food delivery organization. For many of their clients, these deliveries are more than just food but a socialization with someone other than medical staff.”
