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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 23, 2005)
CHARITABLE GIVING A Holiday Do-Gooder’s Goodie Bag NONPROFIT GIFT GIVING GUIDE • By Cindy Ingram C all it karma, the holiday spirit, charity, civic engagement, being neighborly or just plain nice. This time of year we are all reminded of the joy of giving to strangers. You have multi- tudes of ways you can go about choosing which vehicle of goodwill to activate. With the current state of need both domestic and international, the only right thing to do is to choose at least one and give what you can. You’d be surprised at the incredible impact a little gift can make on one’s quality of life, especially your own. In fact, the selfless act of philanthropy feels sooo fabulous you may even get hooked! Here is a list of incredible nonprofits located right here in the Eugene/Springfield area that would love to be on your Christmas list this year. Remember, all gifts to registered 501(c)3 organizations are tax deductible. Ho! Ho! Ho! abortions are legal, but unfortunately many woman just can’t afford to receive this important medical service. Marti Black, NRO board member, says that donations of “good green money” will go directly to the Women in Need fund which provides funding for low-income women throughout Oregon. PFLAG (Parents and Families of Lesbians and Gays) www.pflag-es.org, PO Box 11137, Eugene 97440, 338-9661 PFLAG (Parents and Families of Lesbians and Gays) promotes the health and well-being of queer and transgender folks and their families and friends through education, advocacy and support. When asked what PFLAG would like for Christmas, Anita Stelling, board treasurer replied, “Board members! In fact, we could use three or four!” They could also use some additional funds to purchase books for their community resource library. Safe & Sound Youth Project Amigos Multicultural Services www.amigosmsc.org, 746-6022 Amigos Multicultural Services (former- ly known as Amigos de Sobrevivientes) is overcoming big changes and re-growth. Now located in Springfield, Amigos has expanded their specialized services to assist more than just survivors of political torture and their families. Zenia Leyva of Amigos says, “We are now a service of referral and case management as well.” Currently a sin- gle mother from El Salvador and her three children live in the Amigos residential pro- gram. They have asked for a donation of firewood so that they can reduce their monthly heating costs by utilizing their wood stove. Birth to Three www.birthto3.org, 349-7784, sknez@bithto3.org Birth to Three, an internationally rec- ognized provider of parenting education since 1978, serves about half of the Healthy Start Families in Lane County. “Many of our families have several chil- dren and are in real financial hardship over the holidays,” says Stana Knez, Bto3 development director. “We ask that readers pass the hat at their next gathering of friends, colleagues or faith community, and come together to sponsor families in need.” You can also call Stana to learn more about the holiday wishes expressed by Bto3 families such as a push toy and diapers for an 18-month-old just learning to walk. Please send gifts or cash worth $25 per child by Friday, Dec. 16. Center for Appropriate Transport (CAT) on your holiday giving list, and promote sustainable transportation. What more could a bike lover ask for? Geeks Without Borders (GWoB) www.gwob.org, 344-6220 Program Director Chantel Saban laughs out loud as she explains the activities of this science fiction-lovin’, international border- crossin’, techno-savvy nonprofit established in 2003. “What we do is serious, but we’re a bunch of goofy geeks!” GWoB receives donated computers and ships them off to non-governmental organizations in far off places like India and Africa. Like many Lane County 501(c)3s, it’s not about the big bucks, it’s about getting the work done — even if it means all the volunteers pitch in both time and money to make it happen. They could really use, you guessed it, used computers, as well as cash donations to cover the cost of shipping. HIV Alliance www.hivalliance.com, 342-5088 ext. 25 HIV Alliance provides a comprehensive array of much-needed support, advocacy, case management and counseling for those affected by HIV and AIDS in Lane County. Thanks to their staff’s tireless efforts in serv- ing the highest of risk populations, through testing, education and needle exchange pro- grams, Eugene/Springfield has seen an incredible decline in HIV/AIDS. Because it costs a whopping $1,500 to $5,000 a month for treatment and medication for each HIV+ individual, gifts of grocery baskets, gift cer- tificates, toys, games, personal items and anything special would be a treat for clients on a limited budget. Located on First Street in Eugene, open 12- 6 Tu.- Sat. 334-1197 & 683-3397 Network for Reproductive Options (NRO) Center for Appropriate Transport is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustain- able transportation, particularly human powered. Their retail store, Eugene Bicycle Works, serves as a primary source of income for their groovy educational pro- gramming. Knock off some of those names www.NRoptions.org, PO Box 10894, Eugene 97440 www.eugeneweekly.com Network for Reproductive Options (NRO) was created as a response to the closure of All Women’s Health Services in 2002 and has fast become Oregon’s largest abortion funder. Remember folks, 132 East Broadway, Suite 103, Eugene, 97401, 868-2084 Safe & Sound Youth Project, a coalition effort among private, nonprofit and public partners providing a coordinated response to homeless, runaway and at- risk youth certainly has their hands full. With partners including HIV Alliance, Planned Parenthood, Direction Services and Looking Glass, donations given directly to the coalition get distributed to all its mem- bers. It’s a one-stop shop for helping homeless teens in Lane County! Donations of gift certificates for coffee shops, fast food restaurants, clothing stores and movie the- aters, as well as bus tokens, are much appreciated. so volunteer ski patrollers function on an annual budget of about $1,000. It’s just enough to buy bandages, sleds and the supplies they need to keep the warming hut open and running. A 20 x 30-foot U.S. Forest Service log cabin in the Gold Lake Sno Park welcomes chilled noses and frozen fingers to a cup of hot cocoa and educational presentations. They ask that when visiting their cabin, open weekends throughout the snow season, you remember to drop a buck or two into the donation jar. Womenspace www.enddomesticviolence.com, 485-8232 Womenspace, a local favorite nonprofit, is more than just a shelter for domestic vio- lence survivors. They also work to end domestic violence by empowering women and children, and changing community standards regarding intimate partner abuse. Through the end of November you can swing by your area Target store and partic- ipate in their house warming gift registry in preparation for Womenspace’s new loca- tion. Other items on their wish list include diapers (all sizes), children’s school sup- plies and warm winter clothing. Donations can be dropped off at 1553 Oak St., 8-5 pm Monday through Friday. The Science Factory Children’s Museum and Planetarium www.sciencefactory.org, PO Box 1518, Eugene 97440, 682-7888 Amigos Multicultural Services: The Science Factory Amigos volunteer Zenia Children’s Museum and Leyva sits with Emiliana Planetarium Director of Aguilar Sosa and her baby Education and Outreach Tojil Sosa Aguilar. Tracey Edmundson says “Come on. It’s cool to give to With more than 1,300 registered non- the Science Factory!” With a donation of profits in Lane County, there’s got to be at $50-$100 you can provide a partial or full least one that you are drawn to! Here are scholarship to local low-income children to a few more of the many worthy organiza- attend a hands-on, educational summer tions to consider when doling out some camp of their choice. holiday cheer: Doulas Supporting Teens (607-0487), Mount Pisgah Willamette Backcountry Arboretum (www.efn.org/~mtpisgah), Ski Patrol www.wbsp.org, 942-0824 Cherry Willamette Back Country Ski Patrol volunteer Josie Elting has been a first responder for about 10 years. “We like the quiet swoosh, swoosh of the snow, rather than the loud vroom, vroom of the snow mobiles.” Josie and the other 15 or (www.cblossom.org), BRING Recycling (www.bringrecycling.org), Cascade Raptor Center (www.eraptors.org), and The Stoves for People in Guatemala Project (nancyineu- gene@yahoo.com). ◆ Blossom Musical Arts Eugene Weekly’s GIFT GUIDE 3
