Keeping your charity stamina going

We are halfway through January, but you still have time to set your resolution(s) for the year. As last week’s column suggested, that may include volunteering, but did you know that charitable giving declines drastically from December to January? If your wallet is still recovering from a holiday spending spree, it may be hard to imagine opening it up again to make a charitable donation but this is a great time to start thinking about what matters to you and align your yearly giving to your 2023 charitable goals. To do this, our friends at the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound offer these suggestions:

• What matters most to you, or what change(s) do you want to see over the next year? This thought exercise may help you determine what values, causes and wishes are most important and help you align your 2023 giving.
• Review your will or estate plans and see if any edits are needed to promote your generosity in perpetuity through legacy or planned gifts.
• Generosity through volunteerism is another excellent way to support the things that matter to you. Is there a nonprofit you are acquainted with that you would like to volunteer at, or is there an event you attend every year and think you want to volunteer at this year? Now is a great time to reach out to those teams and to volunteer at, or is there an event you attend every year and think you want to volunteer at this year? Now is a great time to reach out to those teams and express your interest!

As always, their team is available to help you further your philanthropic goals.

Just a Little Blood

Of course, there are numerous ways to support our local nonprofit organizations and that does not always require making a “monetary” donation. January is National Blood Donor Month so why not celebrate by donating blood? January is always a critical time for blood centers however as of today, our local blood Center, Bloodworks Northwest, has issued a Code Red Emergency Blood Shortage and is asking everyone who is eligible and feeling healthy to donate. A Code Red is declared after four consecutive days of emergency levels. Hospitals have been advised to conserve the limited onsite supplies to maintain a supply for emergencies, especially Type O blood and platelets. According to Bloodworks Northwest Executive Vice President of Blood Services Vicki Finson, "A Code Red means we’re running out of blood fast. Our community must act quickly to stabilize the blood supply and ensure patients experiencing cancer can receive transfusions, surgeries aren’t delayed, and our trauma centers can respond to emergencies.” Same-day blood donation appointments are available at most locations, and appointments in the next three weeks are just as vital. Right now, universal Type O blood is extremely important, especially for trauma and emergency situations when the patient’s blood type is unknown.

Bloodworks offer these “fun” (their word not mine) facts about blood donation.

• Currently over 6,300 open appointments are left to be filled in the next 12 days.
• Showing up for your appointment is just as important as making it. People not showing up to appointments impacts the ability to collect enough blood.
• All regions of the U.S. are currently experiencing a shortage, so assistance from other centers is uncertain or minimal.
• Responding to emergencies requires blood that is already collected, tested, on the shelves, and ready for immediate use by first responders and medical staff.
• 39% of the population has O+ blood, and only 9% of the population has O- blood. You do not need to know your blood type to become a blood donor
• Most people in good health, at least 18 years old, and who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate whole blood every 56 days.
• Donors can donate blood ten days after COVID symptoms resolve, and COVID and Flu vaccinations do not affect your ability to donate blood.
• It takes about an hour to give blood from check-in to post-donation cookie.

Information about who can donate and where is available at http://www.bloodworksnw.org

Can We Count You In?

United Way of Thurston County needs volunteers as soon as possible on behalf of Thurston County Public Health & Social Services (TCPHSS) for the annual Point in Time Homeless (PIT) Census. According to United Way of Thurston County, the PIT is an annual effort to count all individuals experiencing homelessness in Thurston County. While the survey takes place every year during the last 10 days in January. There is an initial night count, followed by a week of surveys and sampling. The main events in support of the PIT will take place January 27– February 2 and will include 4 distinct senior events focused on different populations in the community: a large service event for single adults and couples, a senior services event, and a youth and young adult event. In addition to these, there may also be 2-3 warming centers that will be set up at different times over the course of the week. TCPHSS will provide training for all volunteers and will have staff present to manage each of the events. The final training session is Thursday, January 19th: 4- 5. For more details go to https://www.unitedway-thurston.org/volunteers-still-needed-point-time-survey-new-positions

Soliciting your ideas

If you know of a nonprofit that is doing something great, celebrating a success, needs some outstanding volunteers, or hosting an event, let me know! This column (aside from a little education) celebrates nonprofits!

Mary Beth Harrington, CVA (Certified Volunteer Administrator) lives in Tumwater. She travels the country speaking at conferences and to individual organizations articulating issues facing nonprofits. Send your ideas to her at  MaryBeth@theJOLTnews.com