Charity Begins at Home - That's the Saying, At Any Rate

It's December 30th and I'm running late. Late for what? Late for my annual charitable donations. I always allocate some of my annual spending to support charities that are important to me. I have some on monthly, automatic deduction from my bank account - Public Radio and the Trevor Project are standard for each month. But I also do annual donations to Twin Cities Public Television, Point Foundation, Out Front Organization, the ACLU and the Animal Humane Society (animals are just as important as people),. as well as a few others. I also do spot donations during the year for things that catch my attention or just to help a friend who is having a hard time. I usually have already made my donations for the year by this time. I'm going to have to rush things through in the next two days. I want my donations completed before the end of the year. 

Life for young people is hard. Life for young LGBTQ 
people can be even harder. When someone contemplates 
suicide, they'll often reach out via phone to someone ... 
anyone. When I was young and reaching out, there wasn't 
anyone there. I'm determined that won't be the case now. 

I've been very lucky in my life, but I also remember those times when I was anything but settled and was relying on good luck and food stamps for my meals. I was raised by parents who firmly believed in giving to various charitable causes and organizations that improved the lives of their community. I was NOT raised with weekly tithing to religious organizations, and I don't do that either. I look carefully through the organizations that make my short list, and I don't always choose the same charities every year, although TPT and The Trevor Project are pretty well carved in stone. I want to give where I feel it will do some good and help individual people achieve a dream or improve their lives. And of course, I love animals and want to help them have better lives and loving homes. 

The Point Foundation is a National organization that 
provides scholarship funds for higher education to 
LGBTQ youth. The scholarship funds are used for both 
classic four-year and advanced degrees, as well as 
for study at Community Colleges. As a single person, 
I can't help much with advanced education expenses, 
but combined with thousands of other people, I can 
have a positive impact on a student's dreams. 

I'm not asking any of you to go out and donate to any specific causes, and I know that donations of money are only one way to help - donations of time, materials, or labor are equally important. What I am asking is for you to be kind and if there is any way at all that you can make a difference in the life of another living creature, then please try to make it happen. The best way to achieve peace is through a single smile at a time. 

The Animal Humane Society, both National and 
International, are also high on my list for charitable 
donations. The well-being of animals and the caring 
for our fur and feathered friends can make a serious 
difference in the quality of life for both parties. 

I'm stepping off my podium now and rejoining the human rat race. Please be kind, stay safe and wear a mask. I'll be back tomorrow.