Charity vote

[GypsySorcerer]

Some Ledgies thought it was a good idea for us to band together and support a charity this holiday season. Here are some of the suggested charities that people expressed ineterest in donating to: American Cancer Society, Hospice America, International Rescue Committee, St. Jude's, and Toys for Tots. We'll collect votes over the next few days, and hopefully, we'll have a chosen charity.

Also, if anyone wants to help collect donations, feel free to respond here.

[ShangriLaTroubl]

I'd be more than happy to help in whatever way fitting with the donation, and putting it all together. I have a paypal account...let me know

[GypsySorcerer]

Originally Posted by ShangriLaTroubl

I'd be more than happy to help in whatever way fitting with the donation, and putting it all together. I have a paypal account...let me know

Thanks, Chris.

[DavidMn]

American Cancer Soceity

[ShangriLaTroubl]

I voted for Toys for Tots, I think it's an incredible organization that does a lot of good that you can actually SEE.

[ShangriLaTroubl]

Here's a little toys for tots info from their site :


U.S. MARINE CORPS RESERVE TOYS FOR TOTS PROGRAM

MISSION: The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.

GOAL: The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a shiny new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of Toys for Tots are to help needy children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation's most valuable natural resources - our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.

ACTIVITIES: The principal Toys for Tots activities which take place each year are the collection and distribution of toys in the communities in which a Marine Corps Reserve Unit is located and in communities without a Reserve Unit that has a Marine Corps League Detachment or group of men and women, generally veteran Marines, authorized by Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to conduct a local Toys for Tots campaign. Local Toys for Tots Campaign Coordinators conduct an array of activities throughout the year, which include golf tournaments, foot races, bicycle races and other purely voluntary events designed to increase interest in Toys for Tots, and concurrently generate toy and monetary donations.
-----------------------



The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is directed by the Commander, Marine Forces Reserve, with the assistance of his staff, from the Marine Forces Reserve Headquarters in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, an IRS recognized 501(c) (3) not-for-profit public charity, is the authorized fund raising and support organization for the Toys for Tots Program. The Foundation provides the funding and support needed for successful annual toy collection and distribution campaigns. The foundation staff is located in an office suite aboard Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia, about 35 miles south of Washington, DC.

Local campaigns are conducted annually in nearly 500 communities covering all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The Commander, Marine Forces Reserve has under his command 280 Marine Reserve Units located at 183 Marine Reserve Centers and seven Marine Corps Bases/Air Stations covering 46 states. To cover all 50 states and more communities in each state, the Commander, Marine Forces Reserve authorizes the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to permit selected Marine Corps League Detachments and Local Community Organizations (generally veteran Marines) located in communities without a Marine Reserve Center, to conduct Toys for tots campaigns as part of the overall U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.

One individual, either a Marine, member of a Marine Corps League Detachment, or member of a local community organization, is designated the Toys for Tots coordinator for that community. The coordinator is responsible for planning, organizing and conducting the campaign in his/her community.

Local toy collection campaigns begin in October and last until December 22. Toy distribution normally takes place on December 23 and 24. Members of the community drop new, unwrapped toys in collection boxes positioned in local businesses. Coordinators pick up these toys and store them in central warehouses where the toys are sorted by age and gender. At Christmas, coordinators, with the assistance of local social welfare agencies, church groups and other local community agencies, distribute the toys to the needy children of the community. Over the years, Marines have established close working relationships with social welfare agencies, churches and other local community agencies which are well qualified to identify the needy children in the community and play important roles in the distribution of the toys.

While Toys for Tots coordinators organize, coordinate and manage the campaign, the ultimate success depends on the support of the local community and the generosity of the people who donate toys.

Local business leaders play key roles. They allow coordinators to locate drop-off/collection boxes in their stores; provide free warehouse space for storing and sorting toys during October, November and December; provide vehicles to collect toys from drop off sites; sponsor toy raising events; and help coordinators arrange media exposure for Toys for Tots in the local community.

National corporations support Toys for Tots by establishing affiliations with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. These corporations make donations to the Foundation or conduct cause marketing initiatives from which they share royalties with the Foundation. In almost every instance, the marketing initiatives of these corporations give significant added visibility and name recognition to Toys for Tots. Such visibility enhances the campaign at the national and local levels. The funds emanating from these affiliations enable the Foundation to purchase toys to supplement local collections; purchase promotion and support materials: and defray the costs of annual Toys for Tots campaigns.


ELEMENTS OF TOYS FOR TOTS

United States Marine Corps
Marine Forces Reserve*
Marine Toys For Tots Foundation
Marine Corps League Detachments **
Local Community Organizations ***



Footnotes:
* Marine Forces Reserve consists of 34,000 Marine Reservists, 2,000 Active Marine Reservists, and 4,000 Regular Marines for a total of 40,000. Typically, 15 to 20% of this force is involved in annual Toys for Tots campaigns.

** The Marine Corps League (MCL) is a veteran's organization of men and women who have served in the U.S. Marine Corps. There are 775 MCL Detachments located throughout the nation. The MCL has 43,000 members. A Detachment typically has about 55 members.

*** Local Community Organizations (LCOs) are created in communities which do not have a Marine Reserve Center or a Marine Corps League Detachment. LCOs are typically composed of veteran Marines and other socially conscious members of the community

[ontheEdgeof17]

Hospice.

Let's remember the elderly and the dying. Not everyone on Hospice is old.

[wondergirl9847]

I picked Hospice because when my grandfather was close to dying, they came out to help him and my grandmother. Also, those other charities have TONS of publicity, so they get lots of love. I would say, let's give to the one that not many may know about.

Also, some of us may also be giving to those and other charities this holiday anyways.

[ShangriLaTroubl]

Originally Posted by wondergirl9847

I picked Hospice because when my grandfather was close to dying, they came out to help him and my grandmother. Also, those other charities have TONS of publicity, so they get lots of love. I would say, let's give to the one that not many may know about.

Also, some of us may also be giving to those and other charities this holiday anyways.

good point...I also like the idea of donating to a lesser known charity. Can you provide some general information in this thread about the Hospice charity?

Chris

[estranged4life]

the American Cancer Society...But I also like the idea of donating to Toys for Tots (Which we do every year) & Hospice.

Maybe we could just collect the $$$ and divide it up 3 ways (I'm a sucker for giving to organizations).

[wondergirl9847]

Not sure if this is what you are wanting, but it tells a little about Hospice here. Basically, they help out when people are close to death, with counseling, nursing among other things.

http://www.hospicenet.org/html/concept.html

[WelshWitchPMD]

Originally Posted by wondergirl9847

I picked Hospice because when my grandfather was close to dying, they came out to help him and my grandmother. Also, those other charities have TONS of publicity, so they get lots of love. I would say, let's give to the one that not many may know about.

Also, some of us may also be giving to those and other charities this holiday anyways.

Yeah, I picked Hospice because I agree that the other charities get a lot of publicity. I know that Toys for Tots is all over RI. I would like to do something for the elderly or people that are in need.

[jannieC]

Yay for Hospice! I am a patient volunteer for Hospice and I am SO proud to be a part of such an incredible organization.

[ontheEdgeof17]

I'm glad this thread has opened ppl's eyes on Hospice.

My grandma died of cancer. Without hospice, she would have died in the hospital.....but since my family decided to go with the Hospice decision, she was able to peacefully die in her own bed.....her own house....without all the commotion of a hospital floor.

The nurses that work for this organization are caring individuals. Having a nurse vist the home on a daily basis (or every other day...or weekly...depending on the extent of the illness) helps with the care tremendously. Hospice provides all the pain managment, the dressings, and other medical equipment necessary.


I had a patient when I was doing my rotation through Hospice during Nursing School. The organization bought him one of those motorized wheelchair thingies so he could still be about to go outside and "walk" up and down the street like he did for many years before he couldn't walk anymore. It's great...and needs funds desperately!

[ShangriLaTroubl]

Originally Posted by jannieC

Yay for Hospice! I am a patient volunteer for Hospice and I am SO proud to be a part of such an incredible organization.

What are some of the things you do, other than just counseling and spending time with the patient and/or their family. And if you dont mind me asking, in your opinion with extra donations would more could your organization do?