We all want to make the world a better place but when it comes down to donating, it can be difficult to nail down who you want to help and how. Today, I want to share with you some reputable charities you might want to consider:
St. Jude’s Research Hospital works to advance cures for deadly illnesses affecting children through research and treatment. Their mission is “no child should ever die in the dawn of their life.” They provide complete monetary support for families who can’t otherwise pay for their children’s medical bills. Donations to St. Jude are what keep families from ever receiving a bill. Unlike other hospitals, they rely solely on donations to support their mission. St. Jude’s is unique in that you get to see where your money is going. Donations directly support families seeking treatment for their children and provide them relief during an incredibly difficult time in their lives.
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the largest and oldest organization led by blind people in the country. They work to let the world know that blindness is not what defines someone and to continually raise expectations for what their community is capable of. Proceeds to the NFB go toward training and education for blind youth, advocacy for the community, and investing in accessible technology.
Mental Health America (MHA) works to educate the public on mental health and reduce barriers to diagnosis and treatment. They’re doing the work to reduce the stigma around mental health and provide solutions and resources to those who live with it. MHA has raised over one million dollars to support mental health programs, screened eight million people for mental health conditions, and reached 31 million people through public education programs. Those who suffer from a mental health condition may sometimes suffer in silence and organizations such as MHA are striving to start the conversation on mental illness.
Helping others in an effort to make the world a better place, or Tikkun Olam is an important part of my Jewish heritage. These are just a few of the many great charities that put in the work to educate the public and aid vulnerable communities. At the end of the day, by contributing to a charity, you make a contribution in someone’s life.
My wife was recently volunteering at one of the city’s great charities
– Wayside
Waifs. The organization is filled with
amazing individuals who work tirelessly to rescue animals within the community
and provide them with loving families. It is a charity that is very dear to her
and myself, and I highly recommend any fellow readers in Kansas City to
consider donating or volunteering (even if you’re not an animal lover).
But while I was thinking about the organization and how amazing the
service is that they provide – it got me thinking about the concept of charity
and how it becomes increasingly important to an individual who spends their
time or hard-earned money on giving back.
Today, I’d like to share my thoughts on some of the personal benefits
of participating in charity.
It is Personally Gratifying
It is often said that giving is a greater joy than receiving, and I
have found this to be absolutely true. When you actively choose to dedicate
your time and resources to benefiting the lives of others or your community –
you see the effects of positive change that you, as an individual, can make on
the world around you.
Even if it’s merely a couple of dollars or making small deposits of
time at a local organization like Wayside Waifs – it all matters, and it gives
you an unmatched enjoyment that cannot be gained through typical notions of
“success.”
Charity Gives You Another Perspective
There’s really nothing that can give you a new
perspective like making a positive difference in another person’s life. Whether
that’s through helping organize a clothing drive, donating food for struggling
families or even dropping off old items that can be useful to someone who needs
them.
When we make the effort to participate in an act of
charity, we undergo an immediate shift in how we think about our lives. It
opens us to learning about the experience of another individual. This can be
extremely humbling and give us the chance to reflect on all of the things we
have to be thankful for. It also shows us how easily someone can fall into
unfortunate circumstances outside of their control.
This type of perspective shift can be a very moving
experience that we can take with us as we go on with our lives. It makes us
better versions of ourselves.
Gratitude
Perhaps the most personally rewarding benefit that we
all gain from charity is the enormous sense of gratitude that it bestows upon
us.
Often times we get so caught up in the day-to-day
drama that we lose touch with reality and create needless headaches for
ourselves. We get bent out of shape over cancelled flights, annoying traffic
jams, slow WIFI, and other little inconveniences all the time. We’ve all seen
someone lose their mind when their favorite sports team loses the big game.
This type of behavior is a normal part of being human.
The problem is that without a little grounding, we can get carried away and
find ourselves in a toxic, negative feedback loop. We start to focus on
negativity and soon even start looking for reasons to be upset.
Charity is a powerful way to instill gratitude and
gives us a chance to refocus our perspective. It is hard to feel sorry for yourself
and get upset over minor inconveniences when you understand that there are
people who are really in need of help in the world.
This type of clarity brings us peace and thankfulness
for the many things that we tend to take for granted. You then start to notice
just how amazing and blessed you are to be in your situation. As a result, the
negative feedback loop that you may be carrying around dissipates and things
like traffic jams become a lot more tolerable.
Simply put, charity is a doorway to joy.
Choosing to Make a Difference
Charities are also a great way to make a difference in
the issues that you care about.
We all have interests in the world that we would like
to make an impact on. Charity is a direct way to that impact. Even if it’s a small
contribution – it adds into the larger scheme of things that brings about real
effects.
For example, with Wayside Waifs, we help distraught animals find loving homes, and help bring happiness to families who are searching for a pet. But there are other charities that pertain to specific challenges that others might care deeply about. Pollution of our oceans, helping rehabilitate wounded veterans, providing resources to impoverished peoples in local communities – there are plenty of charities that specialize in addressing worthy causes that we face as a planet.
Charity is a tool that we can use to make the
differences we wish to see.
Charity is Worthwhile
There are countless other aspects in which charity
provides a direct benefit to the individual, as well as our world. Charity
reduces stress, helps our friends and neighbors, improves our communities in
ways that we can enjoy, gives us hope and makes life better for everyone
involved.
I would highly encourage readers to consider taking
the time to think about ways that they can give back – large or small. It all
makes a difference.
If you have a specific charity that you are involved
in, or if you can think of more ways to contribute – let us know in the
comments below.
Michael Gortenburg 