Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, and what better way to express such thankfulness than giving back? Between gearing up for Christmas shopping and making the perfect turkey dinner, put some kindness back into the world by supporting one of these organizations that help those in need. This holiday season, opt to make a donation to a cause near and dear to your heart from the selection of charities below.
November is Native American Heritage Month, so now is an opportune time to donate to the oldest, largest nonprofit legal organization defending the rights of Native American tribes, organizations and people (not to mention the consideration of the honest history of the holiday). Your donation goes toward an organization that has defended the most important rights of Native Americans and their tribes and reached significant milestones for tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, natural resource protection and Native American education.
Political attacks on reproductive rights make the work of the National Network of Abortion Funds more important than ever. Remember: one in four women will have an abortion by age 45, but not everyone has the financial and logisitcal access. This organization works to remove those barriers and support the intersections of racial, economic and reproductive justice.
BCRF is the largest private funder of breast cancer research and the highest-rated organization of its kind in the country. Considering about one in eight U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime, it’s a worthy cause to support.
See also: The 8 Best Places To Go Out The Night Before Thanksgiving In L.A.
While the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization accepts financial donations, it also can connect you to a local food bank. Be part of the nationwide network that turns just $1 into 10 meals and distributes 4.3 billion meals each year throughout the U.S. Their biggest goal is to ensure equitable access to nutritious food for all Americans.
If you are a generally healthy person who hasn’t gotten a tattoo or piercing recently, find a local blood donation drive. The American Red Cross operates across the country, so all you need is a hearty meal beforehand and less than an hour of your time and you’ll be on your way to helping the emergency blood bank shortage.
There’s a different, innovative way to make use of your unwanted clothes. For when you can’t donate your stained t-shirt or worn out jeans, consider Retold Recycling, a textile recycling service that allows you to easily clean out your wardrobe without adding to your local landfill. Just order a bag (or sign up for their subscription), fill it up and send it right back.
Looking to support animal rights? Donate to The Humane League, an organization that fights to end the abuse of animals raised for food by influencing the policies of the world’s biggest companies. Already, 26 percent of hens in the U.S. are now cage-free, which is double that of three years ago.
This volunteer-run, Phoenix-based organization is focused solely on funding more effective treatments for childhood cancer given that childhood cancer receives less than four percent of federal funding. Particularly committed to improve treatments for kids with neuroblastoma, any donation ultimately helps improve survival outcomes.
Photography by: Joel Muniz/Unsplash
