Nadine Porter of Olalla said she and her husband don’t get into the gift-giving frenzy during the holidays, but they still want a way to celebrate the holidays. So instead of buying trinkets for their grandchildren last year, the couple donated on their behalf to Smiling Trees, an organization that pays for cleft palate surgeries for children in third-world countries.
The Porters researched the organization to make sure the money is spent well, and then donated $250 on behalf of the four grandkids, ages 6 to 11. They put the cards acknowledging the contribution into the grandchildren’s stockings, and shared information and photos about the kids who benefit from the organization’s work.
“Our kids have so much, they don’t even know how much they have,” Porter said. “We’ve traveled a lot and seen folks who have so little — this seemed like the Christmas thing to do.”
The Porters are among many people who are looking for ways to decommercialize the holiday season. The gift of kindness may be the most important we give during the holidays, and there is a variety of charitable causes right here on the Kitsap Peninsula that are worthy of support. And the state of the economy has forced more people than before to rely on the generosity of the community to make it through the holidays.
The local nonprofits usually welcome donations made on behalf of someone, and many will acknowledge those kinds of gifts by sending cards or certificates to the person on whose behalf the contribution is made. You can also make a contribution in the memory of a loved one.
“The holidays certainly do bring generosity in people because it’s the season of giving,” said Patricia Hennessy, director of resource development at the United Way of Kitsap County.
The United Way serves as a clearinghouse of sorts for charitable contributions. It distributes donations to 36 partner agencies, funding 68 programs for all ages that focus on youth success, health, financial independence and aging population support. The donors can designate specific organizations or donate to the general pool that is split among the UW charities.
“The impact areas we fund are defined based on real, existing needs in Kitsap County,” Hennesy said.
The United Way runs an annual campaign between mid-September and end of November, and as of mid-November, she said the campaign was going well. “But we’re also very cautiously optimistic because of the economy and the stock market, and the unemployment rate is one of the highest in close to a decade,” she said. “There are people in need who weren’t in need a few months ago. They’re trying to get back on their feet to be a contributing member of the community… It’s so important for people to step up and do even a little bit, even if it’s a dollar. If we can get a dollar from a thousand people, that’s $1,000.”
Bob Linz, executive director of One Call for All, also said in mid-November things were going well so far. The organization, which is nearly 50 years old, has nearly 70 nonprofit partner agencies, either based on Bainbridge Island or serving Islanders, to which it distributes funds in a fashion similar to UW. They launch a campaign in October every year, and so far Linz said about $300,000 has been received.
“At the moment, we’re on schedule to match last year’s but it’s hard to know,” he said.
Linz said 100 percent of the donations go to the agencies designated by the donors, but people can also donate to One Call for All for its operations, or to the general fund that is distributed among the agencies.
Several local charities run specific programs for the holidays. One of them is Kitsap Community Resources, which offers year-round programs to help individuals and families become self-sufficient. KCR sponsors Christmas Angel trees to collect holiday presents for the children it serves. The angel trees are placed throughout the community in places like Kitsap Mall, Harrison Hospital and Safeway and people can “adopt” a child or an entire family for Christmas. The donors will receive thank-you cards from the families as well.
“We recommend donors fulfill needs first and then get other items like toys,” said Kathleen Hackney, KCR community relations and development manager. She said the commitment is about $100 per child, but people can also donate any amount directly to KCR, which will then purchase gifts. Some even get together with co-workers, neighbors or church groups to sponsor several kids.
Last year, KCR brought Christmas cheer through the Angel program to 3,000 recipients, and is hoping to do the same for about 2,000 this year. KCR also has an end-of-year appeal letter but people can also donate basic household items like towels, linens, toiletries and even furniture for the housing program.
While many people open their hearts to charities that involve children, sometimes other vulnerable populations, like the elderly, are forgotten. Trudy Sorensen, area director for Lutheran Community Services Northwest, says it’s important to remember the older people who are home alone during the holidays or other time of the year.
LCS, which has a location in Bremerton, offers adult day services focused on staying connected and early memory loss. The agency welcomes donations of large-print books, puzzles, throw blankets, and of course cash. For the home-care program, emergency kit items like flashlights and first-aid kits are also welcome.
And where better to get emergency preparedness items but from the local Red Cross? Janet Heath, West Sound director for Red Cross, said the Bremerton-based agency is feeling the impact of the economy because many people are differing their first-aid/CPR classes. The classes are one of the ways Red Cross raises funds.
“In talking with volunteers, we know they’ve been hit hard. For a while gasoline prices were making it hard to even come in and volunteer,” she said. “People are putting off health and safety classes if they don’t need them for work.”
In addition to the classes and a letter campaign, the Red Cross sells emergency supplies as a fundraiser. Flashlights, emergency kits, first aid supplies — they can be purchased right online and the proceeds go to Red Cross programs. Heath said other way to help, in addition to donating money or shopping, is by buying gift certificates to classes or giving toward scholarships for classes — which range from first aid/CPR to safe sitter and HIV/AIDS awareness.
Another less remembered category at the holidays is pets. Kitsap Humane Society has “giving trees” set up at various businesses to collect food and toys for the animals.
“We take in almost 7,000 animals a year and at any given time have 150 animals at the shelter and over 100 in foster care,” said Dana Lerma, director of development. “They all need beds and blankets, food and toys. The giving trees help us add to those supplies.”
The humane society also has a year-round wish list online and at the shelter for needed supplies, and offers free planned giving guides for people who don’t have the cash right now but want to contribute through their wills.
Lerma said the economy has also impacted the animal shelter: They’re seeing an influx of animals because people are struggling financially. She said the holidays are not a good time for giving someone a new pet because the hectic time makes it difficult to adjust, but gift certificates for adoption could make a great gift. She can even create a personalized certificate for the recipient.
People who are experiencing the pinch and are not able to give any monetary contributions — or if they want to go above and beyond — can also give the gift of time. All the local nonprofits depend on volunteers to survive, and welcome with open arms people of all ages, skills and experiences.
“If people can’t make their dollars stretch any more, we always welcome volunteers,” Hennessy said. “You do need dollars to solve our community’s toughest issues but you also need time — be a champion for a cause you believe in.”
Even if people give up a latte a week — it may seem nothing to an individual but when you multiply that by several people, you can see a difference.
