|
1. Help Someone Study or Stay Employed...
Imagine not being able to see well enough to read in school, hold a job, not being able to see clearly the faces of your loved ones or a beautiful day. Donate y our gently used prescription eyewear and non-prescription sunglasses. OneSight recycles and hand-delivers them in their Global Clinicsaround the world. Drop off yours at any LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, Target Optical or participating local practitioner. Find the donation location nearest you.

2. Give Happiness to an Ill Child...
Granted wishes give seriously-ill children (and their families) the chance to have fun outside the rigors of long-term treatment. Over half of the wishes involve some type of travel: visiting theme parks such as Disneyland, meeting entertainment or sports celebrities on-location, or attending camps with children facing similar challenges. Visit the Make-a-Wish Foundation and easily donate your expiring or unneeded frequent flyer miles or hotel and loyalty points.

3. Make a Soldier's Day...
No soldier should feel forgotten or that their hard work and sacrifice is unappreciated. Operation Gratitude accepts letters year-round for Currently Deployed Service Members and Wounded Warriors. It takes only a few minutes to write a note, but it will bring joy to a soldier that will last a lifetime. For guidelines and mailing address, visit Operation Gratitude.com
4. Remove One Barrier for Women...
For women in financial need, the path to entering or returning to the workplace is blocked because they don't have the appropriate attire. For our Spring Suit Drive, California Concierge is partnering with Haven Hills, locally providing safety and support to victims of domestic violence, while working to break the cycle of abuse. If you're in the Los Angeles area, just email or call California Concierge at 818-883-8550 by April 30th to schedule a FREE pick up of your clean, gently-used business attire and accessories. (Haven Hills also accepts women's and teens' casual-wear.)
5. Provide an Emergency Lifeline...
A cell phone, improperly discarded, is toxic waste. But, RECYCLE it and give an important emergency link for senior citizens living alone with disabilities and limited incomes or could save a life by giving victims of dom estic violence instant access to emergency services. Because, even without a wireless service plan, any working mobile phone can dial a 911 call center (an FCC requirement). Exchange your old phone when you upgrade, or, if you have a mobile phone or two in a drawer at home, simply toss your unwanted mobile phone into a "recycling bin" in stores such as Best Buy, Lowes, Office Depot and others. For the nearest location, visit Call 2 Recycle.
Or DONATE it to send care packages to U.S. soldiers. Operation Gratitude receives at least $30 for every cell phone collected. Sending in an old phone is easy - just package it up and attach a free mailing label.

6. Supply Places to Run & Play...
Nike, through its Reuse a Shoe program , grinds up and turns your old athletic shoes into playgrounds, running tracks and basketball courts, among other things. Give new life through your old shoes. Visit their website for a collection drop box near you or to learn how to mail. (Note: They don't accept dress shoes, sandals or flip-flops.)
7. Offer Human Kindness...
Too often, prejudices and fears may keep us from acting compassionately towards a homeless person - who is, after all, a human being just like us. Rabbi Charles A. Kroloff, in his book 54 Ways You Can Help The Homeless, dispe ls the myth that most homeless people are drunks, drug abusers or former mental patients. Most are willing and able to work, but are not making enough for a place to live. The fastest growing group in the U.S. is families with children. When you encounter a homeless person in a safe environment, respond with kindness. Make eye contact and give the same respect as you would to any other person you come across during your day. If you don't feel comfortable giving money, carry fast-food certificates or granola bars as an alternative. |