This Friday marks the official start of the holiday shopping
season. And while the next few weeks are a great time to find the perfect gifts
for your friends and family, they’re also a great opportunity to give back to
your community.
Below are just of the four organizations that are near and
dear to our hearts at Hartman Simons; we’ll highlight some others soon. As this
holiday season unfolds, we hope you’ll consider contributing a donation or your
labor to these organizations – or to any charitable organization that is
special to you. Lending a helping hand to those in need is part of what the
holidays are all about.
1) Camp Twin Lakes
Camp Twin Lakes
is a non-profit that for 20 years has provided recreational, therapeutic and
educational programs for children with serious illnesses and other challenges.
The organization provides these programs at its state-of-the-art camps in
Rutledge, Ga; Winder, Ga.; and other at locations throughout the state.
The organization provides an 80 percent subsidy for children
who attend its camps.
Spin for Kids is an annual fall bicycling event that raises
money for Camp Twin Lakes. The next Spin for Kids is scheduled for Oct. 19-20,
2013. However, it’s not too early to register, and you can do so by clicking here.
To donate to Camp Twin Lakes, click here.
2) Habitat for
Humanity
Based in Americus, Ga., Habitat
for Humanity uses volunteers to build affordable homes for low-income
households across the globe. Since its founding in 1976, the organization has
built more than 500,000 houses across the world and served approximately 2.5
million people.
Click here
to donate to Habitat, and click here to learn
more about volunteering for the organization.
3) Cystic
Fibrosis Foundation
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
raises money to fund the development of drugs to treat the disease and research
into a cure.
Click here to
make a donation and here
to read about the many ways you can volunteer for the foundation.
4) Any Soldier Inc.
The organization’s website enables you to send letters and care packages to U.S. troops deployed around
the world. The website provides recommendations on what to send and
instructions on where to send your gifts.