Natural Disaster Relief

Donating to Habitat for Humanity to Make A Difference in Communities

Most people know Habitat for Humanity as a charitable organization that builds homes for people in need. More than providing a “free home,” Habitat uses volunteer labor and donated supplies to improve communities by sharing resources, teaching skills and making home ownership affordable.

Image via Wikipedia

To support their goals, local chapters of Habitat for Humanity accept donations of building mat erials, supplies and tools that will be used to produce or refurbish new homes for the people they serve. Because of the quantities needed and the logistics of getting materials to the work sites, Habitat accepts tools and materials from corporations who can donate and deliver large quantities at once. In addition to construction materials, items like hand and power tools, paint, work gloves and eye protection are always appreciated.

Leftover or unneeded items from small home remodeling projects can still be donated to support the cause. Habitat for Humanity operates many resale stores that sell donated items and reinvest the proceeds into their mission. This is a way to donate single items to a good cause. Wrong-sized windows, extra rolls of wallpaper and leftover drywall can usually be used by someone, and donating them keeps them out of landfills.

Habitat for Humanity projects typically involve lots of volunteers, so restaurants often provide lunches and other refreshments to the job site. This is a great way to become involved in community projects, and also to generate publicity for a local restaurant. It’s also a fantastic way to show support for the project, even if the donor is not in the home-building business.

Filed Under: Habitat for Humanity, Natural Disaster Relief Tagged With: Charitable organization, Donation, Habitat for Humanity International

Ways to Help Your Local Soup Kitchen

The soup kitchen and other organizations that provide food to people in need have been around since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Sadly, the need for these types of agencies has continued to grow even though the country has emerged from that economic catastrophe. In many areas of the country, people still rely on soup kitchens and food pantries in order to eat.

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Because of the demand for the service they provide, soup kitchens, food pantries and other agencies that provide food to the disadvantaged are faced with a constant struggle. These facilities are generally operated by not-for-profit agencies such as churches, homeless shelters or other charitable organizations. As a result, they usually have shoestring budgets and rely on donations from corporations and the general public. Soup kitchens and food pantries always need donations of food, particularly institutional-sized cans of vegetables. Canned goods don’t require refrigeration, and are easy to prepare. Canned fruits, applesauce, vegetables and high-protein foods such as peanut butter are the most asked-for items.

Because soup kitchens can serve hundreds of people per day, large cans or cases of food products are the easiest and most convenient way for them to plan menus. In addition to food, these facilities also need cleaning supplies and food preparation items. Donors often overlook the items that are necessary for running a large-scale food preparation operation such as dishwashing detergent, paper towels, plastic wrap, latex gloves, hairnets and take-out containers.

Remember that soup kitchens rarely have a paid, full-time staff. Sometimes the best way to help is to become a volunteer and help the hungry by donating your time, service and compassion.

Filed Under: Habitat for Humanity, Natural Disaster Relief Tagged With: Donation, Food bank, Soup kitchen

Suggestions for Donations: Clothing Guidelines

It’s an assumption of simplicity: offering your once loved styles to charity seems to be a quick process, demanding nothing beyond a smile. Reality requires precision instead, however. There are rules to adhere (and good sense to follow):

Conditions and Care

The desire to donate is a worthy one. That worthiness shatters, however, when you offer pieces that are burdened by stains, rips and gaping button holes. All items — from Coogi clothing to those kitten heels you used to favor in the office — must be wearable. They should be cleaned thoroughly and mended of any tears. This is not a law of charity but it is one of decency.

Trekking With Totes

It’s an all too easy impulse: stuffing clothes into garbage bags, shoving them into the already hastily filled confines of your car. There can be no harm in this, you’re certain. Wrinkles are no great sin. They are, however, a great frustration. Donations should be brought to centers with care. All pieces should be folded neatly into baskets or boxes (consider offering these as well, if they serve no purpose within your home). They should also be labeled, allowing employees to sort them quickly.

Drop-off Demands

The span of a clothing bin seems endless, tempts you to toss all of your items inside — including ones that aren’t made of fabric. When dropping donations at a charity site you must be certain to obey the rules. Garments aren’t to mingle with glass; accessories aren’t to be flung in with furnishings. Keep all items divided instead.

Remember these guidelines before making any donation. They will save all charities time, effort and aggravation.

Filed Under: General, Natural Disaster Relief Tagged With: Charitable organization, Clothing, Coogi, Donation

Good Deeds Indeed Pay Off while You File Your Taxes

If you are like most of the Americans, giving away your hard earned money in form of tax can be painful. This is where you start looking for the ways that can help you claim deductions on the payable tax. In order to maximize your tax refunds these deductions should be mentioned while filing your tax returns.

According to the U.S. laws, you can claim deductions on the contributions you made to the charitable organizations during the fiscal year. Whereas these donations to charities help you receive a larger tax refund, they also bring you a feeling of satisfaction that you are helping those in need. However, only the donations made to the qualified charitable organizations will count towards your claimable deductions. Also, various kinds of charitable organizations, such as public charities, fraternal organizations, private charities, private operating foundations and so on have varying deductibility limitations. For instance, public charities (one with the public sources of funding) such as churches, medical research organizations, or hospitals have the deductibility limit of 50 percent. Some examples include:

Cancer Free Kids Pediatric Cancer Research Alliance
Answer International, Inc.
Herald Ministries
Network for Jewish Care and Chaplaincy

You can visit the IRS website in order to identify if the charities you donated to are listed as the receivers of deductible contributions. Also, you can find out the deductibility codes applicable to them and calculate your tax deductions based on their deductibility limits and the amount of contributions you made. In order to find an accurate amount of payable tax, you can use a free tax calculator.

The free tax calculators available online can give an almost accurate estimate of what refund amount you should expect considering your income, deductions, tax rebates, and all the other parameters. You can enter the qualifying sum of money you contributed to charities, other applicable tax rebates, and your income in order to find out the payable tax and the expected amount of refund.

Filed Under: Natural Disaster Relief, Red Cross Tagged With: Internal Revenue Service, Tax, Tax deduction, United States

Donating to Habitat for Humanity to Make A Difference in Communities

Ways to Help Your Local Soup Kitchen

Suggestions for Donations: Clothing Guidelines

Good Deeds Indeed Pay Off while You File Your Taxes

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