Written by: Amritha Selvaraj & Sonali Ratnasinghe

3/8/2021

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Yay! So you have decided to help your community out and donate to a nonprofit organization. Now, here’s the dilemma: Which nonprofit does your precious donation go to? This article will work on breaking down a few of the amazing nonprofits that put hard work into helping others in need so that you can choose a local or partner organization that’s perfect for you! 

 

First things first, we need to look at your interests or who YOU think you want to donate to, consider who would benefit the most from the donation from your point of view. Just choose one or more from the list below so we can narrow down your interests! 

 

• Education

• Health and Wellness

• Food Insecurity

• Homelessness

 

Now, let’s get down to business, shall we? 

 

Education Charities

These nonprofits focus on helping students of all ages get their education no matter their situation. These organizations usually work on emphasizing their mottos that everyone deserves a good education regardless of their background. Some really good education charities include Crayons2Calculators who “provide free school supplies to the classroom” (C2C) for teachers who purchase them out of pocket, Note in the Pocket who clothe school children as “[They] believe that it is unacceptable that children are limited in their educational and social development because they do not have appropriate clothes for school.” (NITP), and Book Harvest whose motto is to “provide an abundance of books and ongoing literacy support to families and their children from birth... to ensure that children are lifelong readers and learners” (BH).     

 

Health Charities

These organizations focus on helping aid the sick and  also direct their aim to help those with disabilities. They center their attention towards supporting the most marginalized groups in the area to really dig deep and help others discover the reason for their health problems. These nonprofits also assist with hospital bills and provide financial aid to those who can’t afford them. Two amazing health charities include Carolina For The Kids whose purpose is to “provide major emotional, medical, and financial support for the patients and families served by UNC Children's Hospital.” (CFTK), and International Cancer Care and Research Excellence Foundation who “delivers cancer care to those who can’t afford it” (iCCARE) in Tanzania. 

 

Food Insecurity Charities

Nonprofits battling food insecurity are run by similar-minded people that have a passion for assisting all who are low income or impoverished have access to three proper meals a day. They operate with the purpose of making sure people have the basic necessities of life. Some incredible charities to assist in creating a hunger-free community include Inter-Faith Food Shuttle to “recover and distribute food to our impoverished neighbors” and provide “programs designed to empower people with skills to meet their own food needs” (IFFS). Meals on Wheels of Wake County is part of a larger program serving to “allow older adults in Wake County to maintain their dignity and independence and remain in their homes” (MWWC). Finally, Urban Ministries of Durham has several focuses including “providing three free meals a day, to shelter residents and anyone else in Durham that is hungry.” (UMD) alongside its food pantry.      

 

Homelessness Charities

Nonprofits fighting homelessness are led with the charge of ensuring the welfare of those in their community by working to help people get back on their feet. These organizations assist them to have access to basic immediate needs, but also have programs to help people find jobs, homes, and more. Some inspiring charities include the Oak City Cares who is a “hub for connecting individuals and families, who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness, to coordinated services that create a path to stable housing and renewed hope.” (OCC), Urban Ministries of Durham, who alongside fighting food insecurity assists those who are homeless through their shelter and “uses assessment tools to pair the person with the best Journey Program case manager to help end their homelessness” (UMD). Lastly, The Green Chair Project is an organization that “reuses essential furnishings donated by our community to help neighbors in need facing the challenges of homelessness, crisis or disaster” (GCP).

 

There are obviously hundreds of thousands more amazing charities to choose from but these are just a few of the best and are only meant to get you started on your journey to giving back to the people, animals, and the earth. Happy Donating!

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