There are many, many facets to giving.  Certainly donating money to your favorite charity is an important and continuing channel for giving.  So are other behaviors that are easy to integrate into day-to-day life.  Giving of yourself by sharing your interests, passion and time, contributes to the overall wellbeing of all.  So reach out to your family, friends, community, country and plant.  Here’s the end of the alphabet with a few suggestions.

 

S uperheros – Be a superhero and volunteer with or donate to City Year which unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, giving them skills and opportunities to change the world.  Check out www.cityyear.org/give.aspx

 

T alent - Donate your talent and your time to non-profits in need.  Do It Pro Bonowith a team of your peers organized by the Taproot Foundation, www.taprootfoundation.org/volunteering.  You can find other tips on how to get started from the Corporation for National and Community Service at www.nationalserviceresources.org/probono

 

U nplug – Standby power, the instant-on feature of your TV and other electronics, uses electricity all the time.  You can save energy and give back to the planet (and your wallet) by changing how you power your TV, computer, phone charger, etc.  Learn more at http://financemanila.net/2008/06/how-to-eliminate-electricity-vampires-and-save-on-your-bills/

 

V egetables – Get outdoors, play in the dirt, get to know your neighbors, augment your meals, and contribute to local food banks with a plot in a community garden.  Take a look at www.communitygarden.org

 

W ater – Water is life and for over a billion people getting clean water on a daily basis is difficult and time consuming.  A PlayPump uses a merry-go-round to pump water near a school in Africa, keeping kids healthy by letting them play, go to school and have access to clean water.  Take a look at www.playpumps.org

 

e X ercise – Give a little back to your heart, lungs and brain: take a 20 minute walk.

 

Y outh – Support safe places for kids through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America at https://secure2.convio.net/bgca/site/Donation2?df_id=1180&1180.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr006=83x26z2o31.app44b

 

Z ydeco, etc. – Support your local music scene.  Go see some live music, try something completely new on your iPod, or donate to Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation which donates new and refurbished musical instruments to underserved schools, community music programs and individuals at www.mhopus.org