Being a preacher’s daughter, I grew up well-acquainted with a number of Bible verses, the oft-quoted and obscure alike.
But one passage that’s resonated more and more with me over the years is Matthew 25:40: In as much as you take care of the least of these, you take care of me.
I come from a family who showed me that, even in the leanest of times, you should give your tithe. And during times of blessing and abundance, it feels all the more like a natural reflex to seek out ways to share and give back.
It’s now two years and counting that I’ve set goals for NICABM’s charitable giving. Last year that goal was to donate $100,000 to charity. I still feel blessed and honored that we were able to beat that goal.
This year, we didn’t so much set a dollar figure, we just committed ourselves to keeping it in the forefront of our minds.
And here’s how we did:
o $37,500 – Charity:Water
o $23,500 – Save the Children
o $16,500 – The Citizens Foundation
o $15,000 – Nepal Youth Foundation
o $12,500 – Spirit Rock
o $6,000 – Windham Hospital Foundation
o $5,000 – Amnesty International
o $5,000 – The Bowery Mission – hurricane relief
o $5,000 – Covenant Soup Kitchen
o $5,000 – CT Public Broadcasting
o $2,000 – WAIM
o $2,000 – The Salvation Army
o $2,000 – FINCA
o $1,000 – Sierra Club Foundation
o $1,000 – Windham Region No Freeze Shelter
o $1,000 – Amherst NPR Station
o $1,000 – WGBH (Boston Public Broadcasting)
o $1,000 – Project Light Rwanda
o $1,000 – UConn Foundation – Joy donation
o $1,000 – Tibet Fund
o $1,000 – Oxfam
o $1,000 – Habitat for Humanity
o $1,000 – Amnesty International
o $1,000 – Insight Meditation
o $1,000 – Washington DC Insight Meditation
o $1,000 – ASPCA
o $1,000 – Doctors without Borders
o $1,000 – Barre Center for Buddhist Studies
o $1,000 – Smile Train
o $1,000 – Human Rights Campaign Foundation
o $500 – Charity Navigator
o $500 – The Mansfield Holiday Fund
o $500 – Taylor University
o $500 – Michigan State University
o $100 – Storrs Congregational Church/Windham No Freeze Shelter
o $100 – Mansfield Advocates for Children
o $50 – Arabian Horse Association of New England
Total: $156,250
I’m already looking forward to what next year will bring.
And in the meantime, we’ll soon be telling you about our Holiday Special. Not only are we significantly reducing the price of one of our programs, we’ll also be giving half of the sales to charity.
But which charity? Well, that’s something the staff gets to choose, so I’ll tell you how the voting went very soon.
How about you? Whether it be your money, time, or service, where do you feel most compelled to give? Please share your answer below.
My organization, SEASCAT, could use $, if for nothing else than to get our 501 (C)3 so we can apply for grants. SEASCAT stands for Supportive Environment for Adult Survivors of Child Abuse & Trauma. We were inspired in the 1990s when someone dear to me was told- “You are right, he is DID and we don’t treat DID. He’s no longer a patient here”. He’d been considered disabled since he was 4- when he was nonverbal- obviously severely mentally retarded. Then was labled childhood schizophrenic when he started talking because he did not address the 3D people around him, only alters which no one else could see.
I’m a former mental health professional who went into the field looking for answers, the walking wounded, myself. But I did very well structuring a program for BPD, which stopped the revolving door to in-patient.
In 2008, I had a cedar chest returned to me that had memories of my past that I did not remember. I was hospitalized twice that summer. I filed the papers to found SEASCAT in the state of NC. We’re just now getting a real board- not just more walking wounded looking for answers. We have an educational program and a lending library and right now a small thrift store which doesn’t begin to cover our costs. And I live on SSDI. I’ve lived more than 10 years beyond my life expectancy according to my estimated ACE score. Tomorrow I’m having my 2nd TV interview on a local station to explain the issues & struggles of adult survivors. And without adequate housing or an office of any kind- Think what I could do with a little funds. We have aboard member now who is ready to file the 501(C)3- as soon as we have the $ for it. 🙂
Besides the blog listed below, we have facebook pages: my personal page (Connie Jean Conklin), SEASCAT.org, and WNC Downsizing (for thrift store, sales).
Connie/Connie Jean
Connie J. Conklin, MEd
founder of SEASCAT
828 506-6141
Never would have thunk I would find this so inaespinsdble.
If you are looking for an additional ministry to support, I highly recommend Every Child Ministries, which has been rated by Great Non Profits as a 2012 Top-Rated Non Profit.
Please read some of the reviews if you have any doubts concerning the devotion and sincerity of this smaller Christian nonprofit organization that helps the children of Africa and frees slaves. You can support a child or give generally, and you will feel a personal connection and know that your money is going where it’s intended.
I am grateful for your generosity and the generosity of so many who have commented. It’s a nice Christmas gift to be reminded of the goodness in the hearts of men and women everywhere. A Blessed Holiday Season to all.
Rita
In which denomination were you raised?
How do your Christian beliiefs impact your definition of spiriituality?
I offer my Daily Living as a Prayer and since I believe it all happens at the same time, there are no firsts: it would be that My Family, My Friends, My Community, My World and the Universe, all It’s Creatures Great And Small, will have Peace and Happiness. Love and God Bless Merry Christmas and a Very Joyful New Year to You and Yours!!! Barbara B. Umpleby LMFT
I am moved most by Amnesty International.
They do the best job of making their case,
people who are the most disadvantaged
the most oppressed, the fewest options.
I am most moved to support Amnesty International;
they speak to the needs of the most oppressed,
those with the least options and resources.
Next to that, support for two Catholic priests,
who’ve integrated Focussing and Christian ideology —
the body of Christ as a unifying model for the Universe.
and the Focussing Institute, as promulgated
by Gene Gendlin.
Edwin heartfulSoul,
PK — preacher’s kid.
Charities find me. I don’t need to look for them. I suppose as is the case for all your readers, every week there is a request for donations…Salvation Army, Lung Association, church etc. The hardest part is having to say “no” to someone. I am inclined to give locally.
Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year To ALL!
Ruth, what a blessing you are to so many! God loves a cheerful giver! We also love World Vision, International Justice Mission, Young Life, to name a few. This year we are giving to help educate women worldwide. There is an organization that helps build wells, so girls don’t have to walk so far for water, and can go to school instead! We also love to support Compassion International where we support two children in India. We were fortunate enough to visit these children in Chennai last February. Blessings to you as you continue your work….
Ruth, thank you for your question. When I took the time to look, I realized I gave more than I initially thought and it was in all three areas of giving. This comment is not about bragging, but your question made me aware that I am walking the’right path’. I am one of those self-critical people. Besides service, I believe in gratitude. Thank you for giving me this Christmas some self-appreciation! Wishing you and your staff a wonderful holiday season.
Have a Happy, Healthy 2013!
Joyce
I first think of Pencils to Promise, my friend’s son, Adam Braun, started this charity, under 30 years old, he is traveling the world negotiating with third world nations and building schools. Look up the website, it is fantastic!
May you all live in a world of peace.
Happy New Year!
Fritzi Winter
I give to Amnesty International, Greenpeace and have money lent in Kiva as a monthly giving. Whilst I’m intensely secular, I give to the Sallies when I see them, for they have always worked among those that others wouldn’t. Usually donate to buskers as they brighten the city and remind us to stop and smell the music. 😉
Thanks Ruth for your organisation – excellent seminars, and you also make them available free if people can make the effort to tune in. Up until now, I have paid for the gold in your gold series, however I have just retired after many decades of professional like, so I will be tuning in free.
Thank you, Ruth and the staff of NICABM. Looking over the list of recipients warms my heart.
Dear Ruth,
Thank you so much for sharing this goal and for the wonderful gifting that has been made by you and NICABM- both by supporting the healing professions through the deeply informative and uplifting webinars, and by providing funds for these deserving the organizations.
I so appreciated seeing the detail on the list of organizations. As I know that you have, no doubt, done your usual careful and heartful investigation of their work, I am looking forward to exploring these groups’ works. I know I will be inspired.
THANK YOU! Peace and Blessing for this new year….
Alison MacLeod
Arts-in-Medicine
University of New Mexico
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing. In our current environment, is great to know when
organizations are true to their stated purpose.
wishing you all a wonderful holiday.
Halina Hale
Dear Ruth,
I am grateful for all your efforts to make these programs going. On my side what I try to do is to give some of my time and my services for free to those in need, in my capacity, and hope they have some meaning for those people. Again in my capacity I try to help support some students financially.
Thankyou Ruth for all you do!
I support Greenpeace in the hopes that there will still be a functioning and beautiful bountiful planet for our grandchildren and great grandchildren to enjoy in peace and sufficiency.
Greenpeace activists are very brave and dedicated and Greenpeace has so many successes with their targeted campaigns – I feel grateful that my small contributions along with many others are having an effect.
When I buy a gift for a friend or family, all of whom really have more than they need, I feel a little guilty, so I then make a contribution to a charity that does important work. My favorite two charities are Compassion International (a child-sponsorship program that does tremendous work for individuals from the cradle through college, plus their families and community), and EAPE (Tony Campolo’s group, which supports many different missions for the “least of these”).
Yes! I agree and so I donate to not-for-profits that so often get ignored: organizations that provide support for homeless individuals and families; domestic violence agencies; and places (i.e., hospices) that provide bereavement support. Money isn’t the only (or even the most important) thing we can donate. I facilitate support and expressive arts groups while also providing counseling for clients, staff members and volunteers.
Ruth, That is fabulous! I believe many blessings will be returned to you and yours in return.
Posted on I’m pretty sure I’m going to run out of novel berofe I hit 50,000 words. So I’ve been taking spare moments here and there to think about how I’m going to flesh out some of my earlier scenes to up the word count. It won’t just be padding; there’s plenty of room for growth. But I’m not even halfway through, and I anticipate getting to the end within another 10,000 words. That’s a bit earlier than I’d planned. Good luck with your plotting
Wow, That’s Awesome Ruth!!
I am so grateful to be a part of this. Thank you for sharing your news. And Thank You for being So Generous!!
My favorites charities are: Mercy Corps, where you can buy gifts of a cow, goat, clean water, or other essential to help a family thrive; and also Kiva, where you can make a loan to a start-up or struggling business.
I know I need to give more of my tithe and time. Thanks for the Reminder.
Merry Christmas to you all.
Terri
What God wants most from us is : OBEDIENCE . God’s greatest command is to preach His gospel
to the world . John 3:16. we are to humble ourselves and remember everything we have is from Him.
I have heard many unbiblical practises without hearing about the Truth. The greatest healer is Jesus Christ , has anyone mentioned that? without Him, we have nothing.
prayer reaches our CREATOR only in the name of Jesus Christ, who was born to die for our sins.Sin is the factor in all of our lives and it has to be dealt with to find ultimate healing from eternal death .
fine to present other’s opinions but why not use this platform to share God’s facts ?
Couldn’t have said it better myself. You nailed the issues!
Blessed – to be a blessing!!!!
Thought for this Season:
God wants a Word with us.
Roy