United Way time again!

[fullygoldy]

This year, I was more specific with my contributions.  In addition to the regulars:  Habitat for Humanity, Planned Parenthood and the Wheelchair Recycling folks, I added Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation, Second Harvest Foodbank, and was delighted to find Be the Match (the bone marrow registry).  I don't know how I missed them before - maybe they're new, or maybe I hadn't looked in awhile because I haven't specified more than 3 organizations before.

I also love that my employer matches my contribution.  It makes it possible for me to direct more money to the campaigns I care about most, and to spread it around a bit further.  I couldn't contribute meaningfully to 6 orgs on my own.

The breakdown:  Food, Shelter, Mobility, Women's Health & Reproductive Rights, and something personal - Bone Marrow Donors.  All of these are near and dear to me, and I've directly benefitted from a couple of them.  50% Healthcare, 30% Home/shelter, 20% Mobility.  I'm breaking out Mobility for the first time because it's not totally healthcare, and it's not totally home, but it's also critical to a happy, healthy lifestyle.

It's a painless way to contribute and it feels good to do so.  And almost every organization I've named in the past has send a thank you card or newsletter at some point in the following year.  It's a nice reminder on a rainy day that I took 10 minutes to do a good thing.

Comments

contributing w/money

[bibliofile]

sounds like a fine plan to me! I too heart employer matching.

[jesse_the_k]

As a three-time user of Wheelchair Recycling, thank you thank you thank you!

They changed their name to the unhelpfully hard-to-remember
Independence First Mobility Store

[fullygoldy]

so this is weird - I was used to specifying Independence First, but this year I couldn't find them by that name. Being the completest that I am, I read the entire 8 page list to find Wheelchair Recycling and figured if they weren't the same group, at least they had the same mission.

Aaaandd, You're welcome! I feel kinda weird telling you this, but I started channeling funds their way the year I met you. It was definitely because of your access activism. You made a giant light bulb come on over my head. So. Thank you.