Welcome to “Write to Give,” my newest regular blog feature! My current plan is to post these one or two times per month on Wednesdays.
“Write to Give” is an opportunity for us to work together to make a difference. Every post will feature a charity or non-profit. I’ll explain how they’re making the world better, and I’ll link to their ratings so you can be confident they’re doing good things with the money they receive.
I’ll start things off by making an initial donation to the featured charity. Then, it’s your turn.
If you can afford it, make a donation. If not, that’s okay too. You can give just by commenting on my post. For each comment, I’ll donate an additional $1, and for each donation you make, I’ll match it, up to a max of $200 USD.
Second Harvest Heartland
Today’s “Write to Give” is in support of Second Harvest Heartland.
Second Harvest is a food bank in my home state of Minnesota. They distribute more than a hundred million pounds of food every year to people who would otherwise go hungry. They don’t just distribute canned and boxed foods. They focus on sourcing fresh food, working with local farms, coops, and local retail. You can read about their programs here.
Second Harvest acts as a distributor, providing food to local food shelves, shelters, meal programs, and even after-school programs.
With the myriad problems caused by COVID-19 over the past year and a half, more people than ever are depending upon food banks. Now is the perfect time to help.
Giving
I’ll start by giving $25.
Now it’s your turn. Just comment on this post! For each comment, I’ll give an additional $1.
Or, you can donate to Second Harvest Heartland here. Send me your receipt by email, DM me on Twitter, or comment with a link to somewhere like Imgur. I’ll match it dollar-for-dollar.
I’ll cap my matching/comment donation at $200. Show me your generosity and let’s see if we can hit that cap.
More Ways to Help
There are lots of ways you can help Second Harvest, or your own local food shelf. You can donate food, or even organize a food drive at your workplace, school, book club, or other get-togethers.
Many food shelves are in desperate need of volunteers to load/unload, organize or distribute food. Even if you can’t give financially, consider giving your time.
Other Considerations
Donations to non-profits are tax-deductible in the US and many other places. Keep your receipts if you want to claim the deduction on your taxes.
Many companies will match employee contributions to non-profits. Check with your employer to see if you can make your donation go even further.
Suggest a Non-Profit
Do you know of a charity or non-profit organization doing great work? Leave a comment on this post and tell me about it. I might pick your favorite non-profit for my next “Write to Give” post.
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