I get it, we all want to newest iPhone even if the cordless headphone thing is weird. We want it so much, that we think we need it. Our current phone has been through the ringer. It has been dropped both on the floor and into the toilet, but it has somehow survived. And it will continue to survive until our next upgrade. So, instead of asking for the newest phone, maybe instead, look into donating to some very worthy charities.
Before ever donating, it is important to look into how much of donations actually go to the cause. Charity Watch has a list of the best charities to donate to based off of calculations that match their criteria. They give the charities listed a grade and if you click on the charity's name, you can see the work behind the grades. This site is a good place to start, however, your research for a charity worthy of your donation should not end there.
You can also try using Charity Navigator by searching the charity you are interested in into the search bar and it will pull up that charity's page with its financial performance record. These two tools should be used together to narrow down your search. Now, the most important thing is to make sure the charity you are donating to is something important to you. Here are just some suggestions!
1.) Make-A-Wish
Make-A-Wish is a foundation that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses to enrich their life experience with hope, joy, and strength. My brother had his wish granted by the wish granters. They sent my family and I to the Cayman Islands so he could go deep sea fishing (his most favorite thing). He was treated like a king and had the absolute best time ever. They do more than just send kids places. They let them live their dream. Some kids wish to meet celebrities, others wish to be things (occupational wise), others wish to give. You can donate here!
2.) UNICEF
The United Nations Children's Fund is a program that provides humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries. 90% of money raised and donated goes to the actual cause. As far as charities go, this is pretty good. You can make a 100% tax-deductible donation here to give children nutrition, water, and medical supplies that they so very much need.
3.) American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that provided emergency assistance and disaster relieve. 73 countries are helped by the American Red Cross and 1.1 billion children have been vaccinated by them. If you don't have money to give, you can also donate your blood. There are blood drives everywhere all the time, just keep your eyes open and you can get a free cookie! However, if you can give money here is where you can do so! You can even choose where your money goes!
4.) Feeding American network of food banks
It is a nationwide network of food banks and is the leading domestic hunger relief charity. They serve roughly 46 million people, secure 4 billion meals, and deliver 800 million pounds of produce. Every dollar you give, helps to provide 11 meals. Feel free to donate here. If you can't donate money, you can always donate your time! Anyone who is over the age of 13 can volunteer at a local food bank or soup kitchen!
It is totally okay to ask for presents this holiday season. Hey, I asked my parents to help pay for my spring break! However, we must keep in mind that others are not as fortunate as us and that we should be giving what we have to help those in need. These are just some organizations very worthy of our time and money, but look for ones that interest you. Happy holidays everyone!
