NOTEWORTHY SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN CHARITIES

Benefits of Charity

While your primary motivation to donate to charity in time, money, or goods may be because of the deep sense of satisfaction you receive, you should know that great tax benefits exist for those who give. Here are some of the benefits you should know about.


1. A gift to a qualified charitable organization may entitle you to a charitable contribution deduction against your income tax if you itemize

2. A contribution to a qualified charity is deductible in the year in which it is paid.

3. There are limits to how much you can deduct, but they

4. Rules exist for non-cash

SHARING & CARING

This time of year, many of us are able to sit around an abundant Thanksgiving table counting our blessings, indulge in wonderful holiday gifts or travel to see family and friends. Many are not so fortunate. Included are a few of the noteworthy and deserving organizations in the greater southeastern Michigan area that strive to help out those in need. If you can - give of yourself, your time or money, or lend a helping hand to someone in need.



Real Benefits of Giving to Others

4 Benefits of Giving

Children and adults alike can also benefit from the act of giving to charity.

Allan Luks, author of The Healing Power of Doing Good, describes many scientifically documented accounts of people gaining physical, mental and emotional benefits from doing good. For instance, holding an abandoned baby may help get rid of your backache, he says. Luks even describes a “helper’s high” that is similar to the high we feel after exercising. And, Luks maintains that volunteering provides:

1. A heightened sense of well-being
2. Relief from insomnia

3. A stronger immune system

4. Speedier recovery from surgery

Feel good - volunteer!

What organizations do you volunteer for?

4 Charities That Could Use Your Help

9 More Charities That Could Use Your Help

4 Oakland County MI Charities That Need Your Help

Most of us will have the opportunity to sit around the table this Thanksgiving with family & friends to enjoy their company, abundant good food & perhaps recount our blessings. Many are not so fortunate.

During the holiday season many of us look for ways to help others, ways we can give back to our neighbors, the community & families in need during this joyous season.

Below you will find the 1st of several posts with organizations that could use your help. If you can, give of yourself, your time or money & lend a helping hand to someone in need.

Common Ground: Providing a lifeline for individuals and families in crisis, victims of crime, persons with mental illness, people trying to cope with critical situations and runaway and homeless youths. The core purpose is to empower people to reach their goals. Helping people in need for more than 35 years, Common Ground serves more than 40,000 individuals per year. The majority of services are free of charge and 89 percent of every dollar received goes to direct service. http://www.commongroundhelps.org/

Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan: The dream was that no one should go hungry while food was going to waste. The idea was to create a distribution network that would provide local non-profit agencies with a low cost, reliable source of food for hungry people. Gleaners is a vital link between available food and those who need it most. Gleaners collects, warehouses, repacks and distributes many millions of pounds of food for over 400 local partners. http://www.gcfb.org/

HAVEN: The only domestic violence and sexual assault center in Oakland County. The safe place when home is no longer safe, the shelter in the storm of a crisis, the source of healing, and the guide to a violence-free life. HAVEN’s mission is to eliminate domestic violence and sexual assault through treatment and prevention services across Oakland County and surrounding communities. http://www.haven-oakland.org/

Capuchin Soup Kitchen: Serving the poor who suffer from the lack of basic human needs: material needs, such as food, clothing, and household necessities; psychological needs, such as motivation, self-esteem, and rehabilitation; and social needs, such as support systems and meaningful relationships. http://www.cskdetroit.org/

9 More Charities Serving Oakland County MI That Need Your Help!

Grace Centers of Hope Grace Is Oakland County’s oldest and largest homeless shelter providing hope and help since 1942. Today, Grace Centers of Hope is considered one of the leading faith-based organizations in Southeastern Michigan daily confronting issues of homelessness, addiction, poverty and spiritual emptiness. On any given night, Grace Centers of Hope will accommodate between 150-200 men, women and children. Each year we serve over 127,000 meals and provide over 55,000 nights of stay. http://www.gracecentersofhope.org/

Habitat for Humanity Detroit Habitat for Humanity Detroit, in partnership with God and families in need of adequate housing, brings together people from all walks of life to revitalize Detroit neighborhoods through the construction of decent affordable homes. Since 1986, Habitat for Humanity Detroit has helped to house over 220 families in the city of Detroit. http://www.habitatdetroit.org/

Leader Dogs for the Blind Founded by three Detroit area Lions Clubs members in 1939, Leader Dogs for the Blind provides dog guides to people who are blind and visually impaired to enhance their mobility, independence and quality of life. Each year, over 270 students attend our 26-day residential training program to be paired with a dog guide. This is a life-changing event that opens the doors to independence, safety and self-worth for many of our students. Leader Dog is recognized as a “Best In America” Charity by the Independent Charities of America (ICA). http://www.leaderdog.org/

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan Since 1984, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan has granted wishes to over 5,600 special children in Michigan. Of each dollar spent in FY 2007, more than 80 cents went directly to granting wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Funding comes from individual contributors, special events, corporate donations and sponsorships, foundation grants, workplace giving programs and planned gifts. These wishes would not be realized without the dedication and support of the volunteers, donors, and staff. www.wishmich.org/

Salvation Army The Salvation Army red kettle’s impact extends far beyond the holiday season-changing lives, one at a time, every day, all year long. The scope of The Salvation Army’s influence is vast, touching nearly every segment of society and providing help, hope, and healing for those who come within its sphere. It is at work in more than 113 countries around the world. And although programs vary from country to country and community to community to help people most effectively http://www.usc.salvationarmy.org/usc/www_usc_emi.nsf

Volunteers of America One night in a shelter can provide comfort and security, but one night won't end a man's homelessness. Solving the problem that makes him homeless will. Volunteers of America helps people change their lives for the better. Volunteers of America is unique among humanitarian organizations in that we provide both immediate assistance and long-term solutions that benefit individuals and families. They provide wide range of community-based programs and services for people of all ages. http://www.voa.org/

Yad Ezra Yad Ezra (translated from Hebrew it means "helping hand") provides free kosher food, toiletries and household cleaning items to low-income Jewish families in Southeast Michigan. During 1990, Yad Ezra served an average of 250 families every month. Current statistics indicate that we provide an average of 1,600 impoverished families (almost 3,300 individuals) with food, health care items and household goods every month. Yad Ezra will distribute 800,000 pounds of food, toiletries and household goods this year. www.yadezra.org/

Toys for Tots The objectives of Toys for Tots are to help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation’s most valuable resources – our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future. http://toysfortots.org/

Michigan Human Society Their Mission: To end companion animal homelessness, to provide the highest quality service and compassion to the animals entrusted to their care, and to be a leader in promoting humane values. They receive no government funding and is not a United Way agency & depends on the generosity of individual and corporate supporters to fund their programs and services. http://www.michiganhumane.org/site/PageServer