A Different Kind of Holiday Gift

If you don't have money, give your time. If you don't have time, give some money. Hopefully each year you are able to allocate a little bit of one or another (or both!) to a charitable cause that touches your heart and motivates you to give back. If you are struggling with where to give your time or money, below are just a few suggestions that affect our local community and beyond.

PACER, RAINN, Cornerstone, March of Dimes, Boys and Girls Clubs, Special Olympics, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The Red Cross, Susan G. Komen Foundation and The Make a Wish Foundation are just a small handful that would greatly appreciate your time or donation.

And a few of my favorites that we contribute to each year-

In tough economic times, one of the biggest issues our nation, and surprisingly, our immediate community faces is hunger. Second Harvest Heartland is working to "reinvent hunger relief through leadership and innovation...not only helping hungry neighbors today, but providing the means for everyone to be fed tomorrow." You can donate a bag or bags of food directly to Second Harvest, you can give them a tax deductible donation, or they can link you with a local food shelf, soup kitchen, homeless shelter, senior community, or a children's after school program that is in need of volunteers.

I don't know one person that has not been affected by cancer. In 2001, the Angel Foundation was created right here in Minneapolis by my aunt, Margie Sborov. Angel Foundation provides financial assistance for adult cancer patients to meet critical non-medical needs, as well as education and support programs to families who have a parent with cancer. You can donate directly to this foundation, or you can attend one of it's many annual fundraising events. The 10th annual Angel Awards will be held January 22, 2011 at the Minneapolis Hilton. Put on your cocktail apparel, bid on some great items and dance away the night all in the name of a great cause!

Another wonderful local charity is Abbey's Hope. Named after Abigail Taylor, a vivacious 6 year old girl who was unnecessarily disemboweled in a kiddy pool in the summer of 2007, Abbey's Hope "works fiercely and passionately to safeguard kids, both in and out of the pool, against preventable harm." Abbey's parents, Scott and Katey Taylor work tirelessly in her name to carry out little Abbey's last hope- that what happened to her will never happen to another child. Read Abbey's story and how your charitable donation to this very special foundation can help save lives in the future.

Education. Your charitable dollars will never be turned away when it comes to education. In my community we have the Edina Education Fund which is an independent non-profit organization "dedicated to the continued academic excellence" in our public schools. Whether you support public or private education, the kids are our future. Time and money are always needed and we all have something we can contribute to our education system.

Whatever cause you feel is important to support, there is a foundation for you. Whether you want to work to eliminate hunger, help contribute to curing cancer or making life easier for someone that suffers from the disease, help kids, contribute to furthering education,- just pick a cause. Everyone has something to give.