Top Five: Utah charities
Christian Leikam
Issue date: 11/18/09 Section: Opinion
Winter is coming at us like a train, and with winter come the holidays. Thanksgiving and Christmas aren't too far off, which makes this is a popular time to give to charities. The list of charities one can give to is huge and there is a charity organization for nearly any cause or group. It's hard to choose which charity is worthy of your time or money. Here are a few Utah organizations which could be considered a worthy cause.
Guadalupe Schools: According to the Guadalupe Schools' website, Guadalupe-schools.org, the Guadalupe Schools are Salt Lake City non-profit organizations that provide education to financially disadvantaged children and non-English speaking adults. Among other services, the Guadalupe Schools teach non-English speaking adults language skills that aid them in providing for their families and participating in their communities. This program is called the Voluntary Improvement Program (VIP).
Another service the Guadalupe Schools provide is the Early Learning Center (ELC). ELC provides children with educational services from birth through third grade. 100% of the children in ELC are living in poverty, 92% are minority, 67% are learning English, 65% are immigrants, and 3-4% are homeless. The Guadalupe Schools' motto is "Fighting Poverty Through Education," which is a very noble cause. Guadalupe schools accept donations and volunteers.
The Road Home: The Road Home operates out of The Salt Lake Community Center, which is the largest homeless shelter in the state. The Road Home helps the homeless by counseling them and teaching them self sufficiency. The aid offered by The Road Home includes help with employment, debt resolution, and after school programs for kids. The Road Home website says that this is all to help the impoverished "develop the stability necessary to obtain and maintain housing."
The Road Home's mission is "To help people step out of homelessness and back into our community." While providing the homeless with vital supplies, The Road Home also helps people get on track so that they are able to provide for themselves. This month, the top items on the list of things The Road Home needs are pillows, blankets, towels, hats and gloves. The Road Home accepts donations of needed items, money, and volunteer time.
Utah Food Bank: The Utah Food Bank's website, utahfoodbank.org, says that Utah is ranked fourth in the nation for the highest rate of food insecurity. Almost 460 thousand people are at risk of having to skip a meal because of a lack of resources. The Utah Food Bank is there to help those who can't feed themselves. According to the website, the Utah Food Bank collected and distributed over 19 million pounds of food last year, in addition to providing other impressive services to the community. The Utah Food Bank accepts donations of money, food, or volunteer time.
No More Homeless Pets In Utah: People aren't the only ones who need help. No More Homeless Pets' mission is "to end the euthanasia of homeless dogs and cats statewide and to promote humane alternatives for feral cats." On their website, Utahpets.org, No More Homeless Pets reports that from January 2009 through May 2009, euthanasia was reduced by 34% and adoptions were increased by 36% in the state of Utah. If you have a soft spot for dogs or cats, you can donate money, cars, boats, or R.V's.
Volunteer work is available, or you could just drink beer to help man's best friend. People are encouraged to save bottle caps from the Squatters Pubs & Microbrewery beer, Chasing Tail. For every Chasing Tail bottle cap returned to a Squatters location, Squatters donates five dollars to No More Homeless Pets In Utah at the end of the year.
The Christmas Box International: The Christmas Box International works to improve the quality of life for children who have been abused or neglected, and to prevent child abuse. Christmas Box Houses provide temporary shelter for abused, neglected, abandoned and exploited children. They also assist older youth make the transition from foster care to adult life. The Christmas Box International accepts donations, and their slogan is "Every child deserves a childhood."
Guadalupe Schools: According to the Guadalupe Schools' website, Guadalupe-schools.org, the Guadalupe Schools are Salt Lake City non-profit organizations that provide education to financially disadvantaged children and non-English speaking adults. Among other services, the Guadalupe Schools teach non-English speaking adults language skills that aid them in providing for their families and participating in their communities. This program is called the Voluntary Improvement Program (VIP).
Another service the Guadalupe Schools provide is the Early Learning Center (ELC). ELC provides children with educational services from birth through third grade. 100% of the children in ELC are living in poverty, 92% are minority, 67% are learning English, 65% are immigrants, and 3-4% are homeless. The Guadalupe Schools' motto is "Fighting Poverty Through Education," which is a very noble cause. Guadalupe schools accept donations and volunteers.
The Road Home: The Road Home operates out of The Salt Lake Community Center, which is the largest homeless shelter in the state. The Road Home helps the homeless by counseling them and teaching them self sufficiency. The aid offered by The Road Home includes help with employment, debt resolution, and after school programs for kids. The Road Home website says that this is all to help the impoverished "develop the stability necessary to obtain and maintain housing."
The Road Home's mission is "To help people step out of homelessness and back into our community." While providing the homeless with vital supplies, The Road Home also helps people get on track so that they are able to provide for themselves. This month, the top items on the list of things The Road Home needs are pillows, blankets, towels, hats and gloves. The Road Home accepts donations of needed items, money, and volunteer time.
Utah Food Bank: The Utah Food Bank's website, utahfoodbank.org, says that Utah is ranked fourth in the nation for the highest rate of food insecurity. Almost 460 thousand people are at risk of having to skip a meal because of a lack of resources. The Utah Food Bank is there to help those who can't feed themselves. According to the website, the Utah Food Bank collected and distributed over 19 million pounds of food last year, in addition to providing other impressive services to the community. The Utah Food Bank accepts donations of money, food, or volunteer time.
No More Homeless Pets In Utah: People aren't the only ones who need help. No More Homeless Pets' mission is "to end the euthanasia of homeless dogs and cats statewide and to promote humane alternatives for feral cats." On their website, Utahpets.org, No More Homeless Pets reports that from January 2009 through May 2009, euthanasia was reduced by 34% and adoptions were increased by 36% in the state of Utah. If you have a soft spot for dogs or cats, you can donate money, cars, boats, or R.V's.
Volunteer work is available, or you could just drink beer to help man's best friend. People are encouraged to save bottle caps from the Squatters Pubs & Microbrewery beer, Chasing Tail. For every Chasing Tail bottle cap returned to a Squatters location, Squatters donates five dollars to No More Homeless Pets In Utah at the end of the year.
The Christmas Box International: The Christmas Box International works to improve the quality of life for children who have been abused or neglected, and to prevent child abuse. Christmas Box Houses provide temporary shelter for abused, neglected, abandoned and exploited children. They also assist older youth make the transition from foster care to adult life. The Christmas Box International accepts donations, and their slogan is "Every child deserves a childhood."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Best Friends hurts the environment
posted 11/19/09 @ 12:21 AM MST
Humane alternatives for feral cats do not include re-abandoning them to live and die in the wild. They are still homeless - neutered or not.
Awake
posted 12/05/09 @ 10:45 PM MST
This year is a perfect opportunity for ALL of us with the means to help during a time where it's needed more than ever. Yes us the ones with flat panel tv's, foreign cars, designer clothes, and parents that trip on the excessive toys laying around our houses. (Continued…)
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