Plan a party with a purpose. Charities do it all the time, and you can too! Plan a dinner with single-serve desserts and have an auction. Plan a bingo night with proceeds to the food bank.
Let people know what the plan is up-front, and enlist a friend to co-host.
Throw a fundraiser Find Out How »
It’s graduation season! Gift new grads a year’s subscription to a local newspaper, national magazine, foreign paper, or the PBS station! Learning doesn’t have to stop when the classes do!
Goodwill is convenient, but commercial, and religious charities may discriminate in distribution efforts. What to do? Most areas have at least a few thrift stores designed to benefit a specific target cause: DV victims or immigrants or animals. Some stores accept specific goods like home building or pet supplies that others won’t take. Research local options and take another step away from commercialism!
Recommended by food banks and Charity Navigator, Feeding America runs a nationwide food distribution network, channeling unsold “waste” food to food banks who distribute it to local charities. As we face yet more economic disruption, they have the infrastructure to respond at scale. Donate today.
Feeding America Find Out How »
In many areas you can buy home-made meals cooked by local people through networks. It’s a popular side-gig, particularly with immigrants whose daily food is exotic restaurant fare here. From trunk Tamales and private chefs to networks of home cooks, shift your purchases from large take-out chains to good food cooked by neighbors. Or ask about a barter, if you know a great cook!
Get Fresh Meals Find Out How »
Take a class to build resilience (cooking, sewing) or meet people (art, sports) to build community, defeat burnout, and keep the local economy going. Start at your library or community college and look for something interesting! Many classes are sliding scale and taught by local people.
