Many Ways to Give

Legal Matters

By Kimm Burger — KB Law Office, PC

Santa Claus is coming to town . . . for most of us. There are people in our community that are struggling to find housing, to put food on their tables or to even provide the smallest of gifts to their children. Though money is tight for most of us, we still should look deep into our souls—and pocketbooks— to give during this time of year.

There are many non-profit organizations that can use help to maintain supplies throughout the season. You will see many volunteers collecting money, like Salvation Army, or local first responders and US military members collecting toys for Toys-for-Tots. There are local food banks that need supplies, Red Cross needs supplies, and a variety of other non-profit organizations that provide help to community members that you can donate to.

But think outside of the box when asking how to provide help to local community members. Organizations like Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness (CAPA) are two organizations that specifically help children.

There are children that are in need of foster parents and homes that provide stability and emotional support. Counties throughout the State of Michigan are struggling to find homes for children that have been abused or not properly taken care of. These children are the population that needs the most help throughout the season and throughout the year.

The biggest donation you can give is of yourself and your time. When a child in the court system asks for food as a Christmas gift, it is disheartening, to say the least. What the children need is a family that can provide them with food and shelter so that the children do not need to worry about whether or not they will eat in the next 24 hours. Love and joy come along with bringing these children into your home.

When donating money or items to non-profit organizations, you will be, in most cases, able to “write the donation off” on your taxes, which is kind of a perk. But donating should be more about what you can do to help others than about what you get out of it. By donating your time, and your home, you could learn what true joy is when you see the smiles on the children’s faces.

If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, you can contact your local Department of Health and Human Services or another child-placing agency for information.