15 Ways to Give Back in the New Year

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For the love of giving, let me count the ways . . .

I know we all tend to think about volunteering and giving a whole lot more around the holidays, but honestly, if I had to do it all over again with my kids, I think I would make a commitment at the start of each new year to give of ourselves a little more. And to make it an all-year commitment. It’s never too late to start, or in my case, to start again.

To make it a little easier, I took a Facebook poll of my friends’ favorite non-profits in Dallas and added a few new ones I discovered on my own.

2023 update: Because some of these organizations have closed their doors since this article was first published, here are a few additional suggestions: Ability Connection, Dallas CASA, and Hope Supply Co.

Tried-and-True Volunteer and Charitable Giving Opportunities in Dallas

The Stewpot offers a safe haven for homeless and at-risk individuals of Dallas, providing resources for basic survival needs as well as opportunities to start a new life.

Dot’s Closet is a non-profit consignment shop benefiting the terminally ill. 2023 update: Unfortunately, this one is no longer in operation.

Mommies in Need provides free childcare to moms going through a health crisis.

Pamper Lake Highlands empowers communities by providing resources to families living in poverty. Beyond meeting the immediate need of diapers, its programs include education, parenting, addiction recovery, counseling and Bible Studies. 2023 update: Unfortunately, this one is no longer in operation.

Preservation Dallas is dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of the city’s historic buildings, neighborhoods, and places.

Thrive Women’s Clinic empowers women with unexpected pregnancies to make informed choices by providing medical, educational, and emotional support.

>>RELATED READ :: Volunteering with the Whole Family <<

North Texas Food Bank is a non-profit relief organization, providing access to more than 170,000 meals each day for hungry children, seniors, and families through a network of more than 1,000 programs and 200 partner agencies in its multi-county service area.

Genesis Women’s Shelter provides safety, shelter and support for women who have experienced domestic violence

Our Calling is a discipleship ministry for unhoused people in Dallas. Working on the streets every day, meeting the un-sheltered homeless folks of Dallas County, learning their stories, identifying their needs, and connecting their hearts to Christ.

And I found some new ones I had never heard of before until I attended a blogging conference over the summer.  Some are in the Dallas area, some not, but all are amazing in the services they provide and the ways they give of their earnings. (And some so easy to support by just shopping the beautiful products.)

International Charitable Organizations and Shopping with Purpose

Persimmon Prints is a faith-based art & apparel company located in the Chicago area.  Each Persimmon-labeled clothing item is honorably made in India, and financially supports The Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission (indianorphanage.com). 2023 update: Unfortunately, this shop is no longer in operation.

Mission Lazarus focuses on the underserved in Honduras and Haiti. On a 2,000-acre ranch in Southern Honduras, there is a higher education and vocational training program for young men. Mission Lazarus also owns a coffee plantation (proceeds from which support a children’s refuge on the property) and offers a training program for young women to learn to sew. The items you see on its website are produced either by the students in the school or graduates that are hired on by the Mission.

BraveWorks is a nonprofit that connects caring consumers with vulnerable artisans to bring dignity through economic empowerment. It’s based in Charlotte, NC, but has projects around the world and has given more than $275,000 in the last four years to help fight against injustice. You can shop handcrafted jewelry and accessories and be sure to follow them on social media for artisan stories, style inspiration, and tips for how you can help!

SOS International provides at-risk children with food, water, freedom, education, and loving homes. Their newest project is building a food factory that will have the capacity to feed 100,000 kids a day!

Seed Effect is a Christ-centered economic development organization. Since launching its program, it has served over 2,400 people living in South Sudan, providing access to savings-led microloans, education, and spiritual discipleship. But for the last three years, South Sudan has been ravaged once again by instability and conflict, resulting in more than a million people fleeing for safety to Uganda. Because of these circumstances, work has moved into refugee camps in Uganda, to continue bringing hope, dignity, and a future to these resilient people.
Y’all, I can’t even imagine. I can’t imagine living hungry, homeless, or with a child in need.  But I can imagine purchasing beautiful jewelry that pays the artist a fair wage for her work and allows her to support her own kids. And I can totally see me and three very capable teen boys volunteering to do what we can at the food bank or even hosting a birthday party for a child in need.
But will we? I used to be so committed to regularly volunteering with the kids. But then school and sports and friends and the like made me forget that our time is best spent when spent for others. I think I needed to read about a lot of these organizations to remind me of that. I hope you find something you feel inspired about.
And did I forget something? Yes, of course I did. Please add your favorite charities and volunteer opportunities in the comments.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Kristi – I love this list and I’m glad it was reposted today. You should check out Vickery Trading Company. They’re located here in Dallas and prepare refugee women to transition into the American workforce while paying them a fair wage to make the most adorable dresses for girls. https://vickerytrading.org/

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