Let’s talk about Giving

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You gave at the office, I know. Fortunately, for many of us, the office is but a distant memory. Your office with a view turned into a cubicle with little view, which turned into a shared space with no view, which turned into working from home where at least the coffee was better. So, the little sticker you put up in the window next to the door claiming participation in some charity, like the United Way at the office with a view, is neither available nor appropriate. This week I write about a local way to give and an international way a woman did give. And, in the interest of “full disclosure” I am on the board of the Jefferson Community Foundation, (JCF), and I am a member of Rotary.

“giveJefferson” is the local United Good Neighbors, (UGN), Annual Campaign plus several additional important features. JCF has joined UGN as the presenting partner helping to manage the campaign. As a part of the campaign all Jefferson County non-profit organizations were invited to submit proposals to be included in an online Giving Catalog which can be reached via the “giveJefferson.org” website. Over 50 organizations responded with proposals. In addition, donations can be made through the traditional brochure which should be in your mail either yesterday or today or your workplace campaign. There will also be some neighborhood outreach efforts as “giveJefferson” continues through the end of the year. This whole campaign is dedicated to reaching more folks who want to join in to make a difference in our county as well as make it easier for any donor to participate. Finally, donations can be directed at specific organizations for specific projects. Non-designated donations will be used for grants or operations.

Each week most Rotary Clubs have a program of one kind or another. It can be a subject of local or international interest. This past week the Port Townsend Noon Club had a program provided by Nancy Hughes, a Rotarian from Eugene, OR . She told the story of StoveTeam International. She noted that smoke from indoor cooking fires kills more people than AIDS and eight times as many as malaria.  Smoke is the one of the leading causes of death of children under age five.  This killer is virtually unknown as its victims are women and children in rural Central America. Nancy told how she and other Rotarians transformed a small Rotary club project into an effective international charity to help develop sustainable local factories in the developing world that produce safe, affordable, fuel-efficient stoves. The Ecocina stoves they produce reduce deforestation and carbon emissions while eliminating both burns and respiratory illnesses. In the nearly ten years since StoveTeam International's inception, over 70,000 stoves have improved the lives of more than half a million individuals in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Mexico. For her work, Nancy has been honored as a Rotary White House Champion of Change, has been featured on the PBS Newshour and in a 2017 National Geographic. She is a CNN Hero, and the recipient of the prestigious International Purpose Prize.

These are but two of the myriad number of ways to give today. I encourage you to find your own way of giving even though you may only be able to act on my weekly encouragement to:

Love a curmudgeon and have a great week!

NedLuce@sbcglobal.net