Helping the Poor

Published March 29, 2023

Donations do not really need to have an accompanying letter. But if you have special requests or a message to the organization you’re donating, attaching a letter can help.

If you’ve been racking your brain trying to craft the perfect letter to accompany your donation, this post is for you. Here, we’ll list down the things you need to include in your letter as well as some tips on how to write one.

But first, you need to determine why you’re writing an accompanying letter for your donations.

Why Write a Letter to Accompany Donations?

A donation-accompanying letter can serve various purposes, such as:

1. To communicate your wishes

People usually include a letter in their donation if they have particular requests or special instructions.

Let’s say you want your donation to go to a single-parent family, or you wish to stay anonymous. You can put all that in the letter to let the organization or recipients know your wishes.

2. For documentation purposes

In most cases, donations to charitable organizations are tax deductible. Including a letter can help you document your donations and keep track of them. This makes it easier to do your taxes at the end of the year.

3. To express your gratitude

It’s not easy to run a charitable organization. That’s why most people also write letters along with their donations to express their gratitude or praise the charity for their efforts.

Published March 17, 2023

Being a parent is already hard enough. But for some families, having to worry about what to feed their babies makes it all the more challenging.

According to this article, the recent formula shortage has hit low-income families the hardest. With fewer formula milk on store shelves, parents are scrambling to stack up their supplies. This led formula milk prices to skyrocket, making it less affordable for low-income families.

So if you’re wondering if you can donate formula milk, the short answer is you can. In fact, doing so will be a huge help for parents struggling to find or buy formula milk.

However, you can’t just donate any can of formula milk you have lying in your pantry. Most charitable organizations will only accept unopened and unexpired formula milk. As a side note, the CDC recommends not donating formula milk in emergency situations when relief organizations handle this.

So if you have some extra cans of formula milk you’d like to donate, here’s where and how you can do so.

Where Can You Donate Formula Milk?

Here are some of the charitable organizations that accept formula milk donations:

1. Salvation Army

Most Salvation Army branches have family services or infant care programs that provide basic needs to families with infant children. Sometimes, they also partner with local food pantries to distribute infant needs to families affected by disasters. Some branches also offer donation pick-up services.

So if you want to donate, coordinate with your local Salvation Army first to see if they’re accepting baby formulas and make pick-up arrangements, if any.

2. Baby2Baby

Based in Los Angeles, Baby2Baby is a non-profit organization that provides essential items to children in need all over the country. Aside from diapers and formula milk, they also distribute clothes, wipes, and other hygiene items. Most of the children they’re helping are in homeless shelters, foster care, and hospitals. They also support children in domestic violence programs and underserved schools.

To donate formula milk, you can either host a donation drive or drop off your donations at one. Get in touch with them to know if they have any active donation drives in your area.

4. Free Formula Exchange

As the name suggests, this program connects parents wanting to donate formula milk to parents in need of them. The transaction is completely free of charge. Any monetary exchange between the donor and recipient is also strictly prohibited.

The best thing about this program is you can directly communicate with the families in need of those formulas. So you’ll know who gets to benefit from your donation.

To make a donation, just go to their website and click on the “Donate Formula” button. You’ll be taken to a page that lists down the formula brands that families are requesting as well as the location of those making the request. Just click on the listing that matches the brand you have, and you’ll be given instructions on how to get in touch with that family.

5. Local Charities

If you want your donation to benefit your local community, you can also look for local charities that accept formula donations like:

• Coahoma County Diaper Bank – Clarksdale, Mississippi
• Greater DC Diaper Bank – Washington, DC
• Moms Helping Moms – Warren, New Jersey
• WeeCycle – Colorado
• L.I.F.E. Houston – Houston, Texas
• Homeless Prenatal Program – San Francisco, California

You can also reach out to your local food pantries and homeless shelters to know if they’re accepting infant formula donations.

Published February 28, 2023

In a previous article, we talked about why donating expired foods is a bad idea. But what we didn’t talk about was that there are different types of food expiration dates.

If you take a quick peek at your pantry, you’ll notice that “expiration dates” are worded differently for different food products. Some bear the words “expiry” or “use by.” While others have “best before” and “sell by” dates instead.

However, not all of these dates indicate food spoilage date. Some are mere suggestions of when the food is best consumed.

So, can you donate foods past their “best before” date?

Yes, you can donate food items even after they’ve passed their best before date. If the label says “best before”, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the food will spoil on that date. It just means that the food is best consumed before that date.

What you cannot donate, however, are foods that are past their expiry date or are already spoiled, as they can cause health (and even legal) consequences.

To help you understand which “expired” foods can still be donated, you need to understand how food expiration dates work.

Understanding Food Expiration Dates

Not all foods have a fixed expiration date. Besides, there is no standard or uniform format for food product dating in the US. As such, food manufacturers use different phrases to convey the estimated date by which the food is still good for consumption.

Some of the most commonly used ones are:

1. Best Before

As mentioned, the “best before” date does not indicate when a food can be safely eaten. Instead, it shows when that food product is best consumed. It means that before that date, the food product will have the best texture, color, and flavor.

For instance, if the label says “Best Before: February 15, 2023”, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t eat it after that date. It just means that the food product may not look or taste as good.

This dating phrase is usually found on:

• spices
• canned goods
• cookies
• crackers

Most of these products can still be eaten even months after their best before date. However, if not properly stored or if the packaging has been damaged, it might not be ideal to eat it so long past its best before date.

2. Sell By

Sell-by dates are mostly for sellers rather than consumers. It tells them when to take the product off their shelf. This usually applies to dairy or fresh produce like eggs and salad mixes.

Most foods that are past their sell-by date are still safe for consumption. However, most of these food products have short shelf lives and need to be refrigerated. You should consider these factors if you’re thinking of donating them.

3. Freeze By

As the phrase suggests, a “Freeze By date” shows when the product should be frozen to maintain its highest quality. Obviously, this is applicable to frozen goods like sausages, hams, and the like.

As you know, frozen foods can last for years. So food products that are past their “freeze by” date are still safe to eat as long as they are kept frozen the entire time.

Donating them, however, is a different story. You need to remember that not all charitable organizations have enough resources to store those items. Plus, bringing them from your fridge to the donation site can present logistical challenges.

4. Quality Assurance Date

This phrase is similar to the “best before” date. It means the manufacturer can assure the food item’s quality until this date. After this, the food product may lose its flavor or texture. Though they may still be safe to eat.

Quality assurance dates are usually found on the labels of food items with a long shelf life, such as:

• cereal
• peanut butter
• mayonnaise
• ketchup

5. Expiry Date

The phrases “expires on,” “use by,” or “do not use after” indicate the food’s expiry date. Unlike the phrases listed above, these phrases do not denote a mere loss of quality. They are about safety. It means eating foods that are past these dates may lead to health issues.

Expiry dates are usually applicable for food items like:

• infant formula
• vitamins
• baking powder
• baking soda
• cake mix
• pectin

Using expired baking ingredients and pectin may not necessarily constitute a safety issue. However, your jams and cakes may not taste or look as you want them to.

Published February 09, 2023

Yes, you can donate expired food. Some organizations accept food donations that are past their expiration date. However, we strongly recommend against it.

Why You Shouldn’t Donate Expired Food

Here are some of the reasons why we strongly discourage donating expired foods:

1. It’s a public health risk

Most organizations that accept food donations typically cater to the poor and homeless. So the foods you donate will most likely end up on the plates of the people who are trying their very best to survive every single day.

Now, we all know the risks of eating expired foods. At best, it can give you a bad case of diarrhea. At worst, it can be fatal.

So if you’re donating expired foods, you’re not only exposing all those innocent people to various health risks. You’re endangering their lives too.

2. It’s demeaning

Imagine being homeless and hungry. Then you receive food from somebody, only to find out that it has already expired. What would you feel?

If you felt insulted and degraded, then you’re right on the money. They might be at the lowest point in their life right now, but that doesn’t mean they deserve to eat expired foods.

By doing this, you’re not only making them feel less of a human. You’re also robbing them of whatever dignity and self-respect they have left.

3. Expired foods lose their nutritional value

Food does not just satiate our hunger. It provides us with the nutrients our body needs too.

But aside from becoming a magnet to germs and bacteria, foods also lose their nutritional value when they expire. So even if the expired foods you’ve donated don’t cause any harm healthwise, they’re still less suitable for consumption.

4. It can lead to legal consequences

In some states, food donations are subject to food safety regulations. Even if the Good Samaritan Act provides liability protection for food donors, there can still be legal consequences. This is especially true if you donate expired foods despite knowing that they will most likely cause harm to the recipients.

5. It will most likely just go to waste.

For good reasons, most charitable organizations do not accept expired food donations. And even if your donation managed to get past their initial screening, they still won’t distribute them to their beneficiaries. In short, your donation will most likely just go to waste.

Published November 28, 2022

According to the World Bank, about 8.6% of the world’s population is living in extreme poverty. That equates to about 28 million people. And with the recent crises, this number has probably increased by several millions more.

This statistic just goes to show how prevalent poverty is around the world. It also shows how many people are vulnerable to hunger, abuse, and exploitation. More often than not, they are also the very same people that society seems to have forgotten.

Though the statistics may look bleak, it can also mean we have 28 million opportunities to help people in need.

You see, helping the poor doesn’t mean you need to be Mother Teresa or Warren Buffett. There are a lot of ways to help the poor in our own little ways. Remember what Aesop said: no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

So if you want to help the poor, start with the things that you can do today.

5 Simple Ways to Help the Poor

Here are some ways you can help the poor in your own little way:

1. Raise Awareness About Poverty

Despite so many people living in extreme poverty, there are still a lot who have no idea what being poor is really like. Maybe they’ve only heard about it in church lectures or seen it in documentaries.

It’s not a surprise then that many people think the poor only need money, when in fact, there’s a whole host of problems that comes with poverty.

This is why it’s important to raise awareness about the true face of poverty. It’s important to let people know that poverty isn’t just about a lack of money. It’s also about being voiceless, having fewer opportunities, and lack of access to a lot of things.

2. Provide Them With Opportunities

Many of us tend to blame the poor for their situation. We often brand them as lazy or too nonchalant to dream about a better life.

But you see, most of the time, those living in extreme poverty are the most hardworking people you’ll ever meet. They often have the most backbreaking jobs and work from dawn to dusk.

What they don’t have, however, are opportunities. Because many of them have limited access to education, their employment options are limited too. They can only take on menial jobs that pay peanuts. All of these traps them in an endless cycle of poverty that goes on for generations.

So if you are in a position to grant them opportunities, now is a great time to start. You can teach them valuable skills or hire them in your business. Sometimes all someone ever really needs is opportunity. It’s that slight sliver of hope that can help them break out of generational poverty.

3. Share What You Have

If you have some to spare, be it food, money, or clothes, don’t hesitate to share them with those in need of them. 

As I said, you don’t need to be a billionaire to help the poor. Bringing care packs to the homeless or donating used clothes to a local charity is already a huge help.

But, of course, if you have a lot to spare, then it won’t hurt to give more. Remember that we are all channels of God’s grace. He did not give us all these blessings just so we can enjoy it all by ourselves. Instead, He gave them to us so that His grace can flow through us and into the people who need them the most.

4. Be a Conscious Consumer

Being mindful of the companies and products you patronize is probably one of the easiest ways to help the poor. 

As you know, a lot of companies nowadays are engaged in unethical work practices. Some outsource their manufacturing process to sweatshops in other countries where people get paid less than a dollar a day for more than ten hours of work. While others employ immigrants and pay them less than half of what they’re supposed to get paid.

If we all boycott these companies that have abusive and unfair work practices, we can collectively improve the working conditions in these places. By simply doing a little bit more research on the products we buy and places we do business with, we can help improve the lives of the people who work for them.

5. Support Causes That Benefit the Poor

There are a lot of charities that help the poor. From local charities like Our Father’s House Soup Kitchen to national ones like Salvation Army and Goodwill, there are a lot of charities and causes you can get behind.

As I said, you don’t need to donate millions of dollars like Warren Buffet. Anything you can spare will be a huge help – be it cash, food, clothes, books, eyeglasses, etc. Or if you have some time off, you can volunteer at your local charity or start a fundraising project.

Published November 8, 2022

For most women, their wedding dress is one of their most treasured possessions. It’s, after all, a memento of a very special day. That’s why wedding dresses are often kept in closets – sometimes for decades.

While it’s perfectly fine to hold on to your wedding dress, it’s much more practical to donate it to someone who needs it. You won’t only help a struggling bride look her best on her most special day. You’ll also be giving a new life to your wedding dress. Not to mention, free up substantial closet space.

So if you’re planning to help out a sister in need, here’s a quick guide on where and how to donate a wedding dress.

Where to Donate Wedding Dress

Aside from being bulky, wedding dresses are also hard to store and maintain. That’s why not all charitable institutions accept wedding dress donations.

But fret not. We found ones that do. Here are some of the best places to donate your wedding dress:

1. Goodwill

Almost all Americans are familiar with Goodwill. Whether you’re a donor or a shopper, you’ve probably been in one of their numerous stores across the US.

Goodwill accepts almost any clothing item – including wedding dresses. All donations are sold in their thrift stores at a very discounted price. The proceeds are then used to fund their various charitable programs.

Most Goodwill stores also hold yearly bridal events where hundreds of donated dresses, tux, and wedding accessories are showcased. Some Goodwill locations also offer pick-up services. So if you don’t have the time or resources to drop off your donation, Goodwill is a great option.

2. Salvation Army

Like Goodwill, Salvation Army (SA) is also a household name for charitable donations in the US. And like Goodwill, they also accept wedding dress donations and sell them in their thrift stores across the country. Proceeds from the sales are also used to fund their various charitable programs.

Each Salvation Army location has different donation policies. So if you decide to donate your wedding dress to Salvation Army, you need to contact your local SA first to see if they offer pick-up services. Or you can also schedule a pick-up on their website.

3. Brides Against Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women. But with early detection and proper education, it can be prevented. That’s what this organization is doing.

Brides Against Breast Cancer is helping women around the country fight breast cancer through its early awareness and detection programs. These programs are funded by the sale of donated wedding gowns.

So if you donate to this charity, you’ll not only help cash-strapped brides afford a nice wedding dress. You’ll also help advance a great cause.

They accept all brands of wedding gowns as long as the design is less than three years old. Though they prefer trumpet, A-line, and ballgown-style dresses. They also require that donations must be in excellent condition and recently cleaned. If it isn’t, you can add a $50 donation and they’ll clean it for you.

4. Brides Across America

Brides Across America specializes in providing free wedding gowns to military and first responder brides. This includes firefighters, EMTs, police officers, and paramedics. They give out these dresses in year-round giveaway events in partnership with local salons in 17 states.

They accept almost all styles of wedding dress as long as it’s less than 4 years old and in good condition. That means no vintage gowns or anything older. They also welcome donations of veils, tiaras, wedding favors, engagement rings, and special occasion gowns.

5. Brides for a Cause

For the past ten years, Brides for a Cause have collected and sold about 25,000 wedding dresses. They’re essentially a bridal boutique that operates like a thrift store.

They partner with local charities and non-profit organizations with a special focus on helping women. The proceeds from their shop are used to fund these women-centered organizations that offer programs like:

• promoting self-esteem and a positive self-image among young women
• relief for single mothers and women who are victims of domestic abuse
• promoting employment opportunities for women

Like most charities in this list, they only accept wedding dresses no more than 5 years old. So again, no vintage dresses and anything older. They also accept bulk donations.

6. Angel Gowns

The Angel Gown Program by NICU Helping Hands is unlike any other donation program on this list. Instead of reselling or giving the donated gowns away, they are turned into funeral dresses for babies.

Losing a baby is difficult, especially for the parents. Obviously, these grieving parents would want to send their children on their final journey in decent clothes. But not everyone can afford lace dresses for babies.

That’s why NICU Helping Hands came up with this program. They have about 180 seamstresses from all over the country who painstakingly convert wedding gowns into dresses that a family can use to wrap their babies on their final journey. These baby dresses are provided for free to anyone who will request them.

Published July 26, 2022

For most people, the words “donation” and “contribution” may mean the same thing. That’s why these two words are often interchanged, especially in terms of charity.

I mean, if you’re donating to charity, then you’re contributing to their cause. That means the same thing, right?

Not really. Contrary to what most people think, donation and contribution can mean very different things. So using one instead of the other can change the meaning of what you’re trying to say and may even confuse some people. This is especially true if you’re using it for your fundraising campaign.

So before you interchange them again, allow us to differentiate donation vs. contribution.

What is a Donation?

According to the dictionary, a donation is something that is given to a charity. It can also be described as a gift or anything given to benefit a cause.

For example:

She made a significant donation to her favorite charity after she won the lottery.

or:

Your donation can help save lives.

In the examples above, the term “donation” refers to something handed over or bestowed upon a non-profit organization to help them with their cause.

A donation can take any form. It can be monetary, material things, or services.

What is a Contribution?

Contribution is defined in the Meriam-Webster dictionary as the giving or supplying of something that plays a significant part in making something happen. It also defines it as something given as a part or share.

Other dictionaries, meanwhile, defined contribution as:

• a gift or payment to a common fund or collection
• a sum of money given in order to help pay for something
• something that you give or do to help produce or achieve something together with other people
• the part played by a person in bringing about a result or helping something to advance

If we sum up all these definitions, contribution best be described as something given to a common pool to achieve a common cause.

Take a look at these examples:

• Albert Einstein made a substantial contribution to the advancement of science.
• We all made a contribution to give him a surprise for his birthday.
• All contributions, no matter the amount, will go a long way in helping us achieve our goals.

If you notice in the above examples, the word “contribution” is used to denote something that helped bring about a common goal.