Holiday Giving… On a Budget
Let’s face it: times are tough and giving to your favorite charity just may not be in the budget this year. But, for those of us that still want to make a difference without making a huge dent in our wallets, here are some great local charities where every dollar goes a long way:
Charity: Girl Scouts
How to Give: Drive through the Winter Wonderland Holiday Light Show and your $12 admission fee is your donation. “All proceeds benefit our Girl Scout Outreach programs and services” says Christine Terzella, Communications Manager for Girl Scouts of Suffolk County. “Our newest display-a big castle-is making its debut this year. It is really beautiful and elaborate,” she adds. The light show, the only 3-D one on Long Island, is open daily from 5 to 9 pm now through December 23.
Winter Wonderland Holiday Light Show
1500 Lakeview Avenue, Bayport
www.holidaylightshow.org
Charity: Long Island Cares, Inc. – “The 16th Annual Check-Out Hunger Campaign” which runs now through January 1, 2009
How to Give: At your local Fairway, Food Emporium, Foodtown, Kings, ShopRite, King Kullen, Wild By Nature, Pathmark and Waldbaums supermarkets. When you are checking out your groceries, look for the “Check-Out Hunger” donation slips in $1, $3 and $5 denominations; the cashier will scan the ticket and add the amount to your bill. “Check-Out Hunger is a wonderful campaign that generates between $80,000 and $90,000 annually”, says Robin Amato, Director of Development at Long Island Cares. “It is a unique partnership between the area supermarkets, Long Island Cares, the shoppers and our over 80 volunteers”, she adds. In addition to donating money at a store, those interested in giving to Long Island Cares can donate directly on their website. Another popular way to give to this charity, especially during holiday time, is to make a donation as a gift in honor of a loved one; Long Island Cares will send a card to the honored individual on the donator’s behalf.
Long Island Cares, Inc.-The Harry Chapin Food Bank
10 Davids Drive
Hauppauge, NY
(631) 582-FOOD
www.licares.org
Charity: New York City Rescue Mission
How to Give: Charity accepts online donations and checks mailed to their New York City location.
Local businesses, such as Marchand’s School of Dance in Miller Place, have chosen NYC Rescue as their charity of choice for this holiday season. Owners Marjorie and Sommer Marchand have a goal of “feeding 500 people” with their students’ donations. To entice the students to give, the studio “sells” raffle tickets for $2 each (to represent the $1.94 average meal cost the charity boasts) and uses the tickets to raffle off a “surprise gift” at the end of the holiday season. “We have the money to feed over 320 people so far! It is great to see even the littlest dancers understanding our dream; we are receiving a lot of the students’ own money!”
NY City Rescue Mission
90 Lafayette Street
NY, NY 10013
(212) 226-6214
www.nycrescue.org
