Sharing Your Bounty: Providing Holiday Meals to the Less Fortunate

Of all the festivities associated with the winter holidays, the one thing many people look forward to most is the big holiday meal. Whether it’s turkey on Thanksgiving, a Christmas ham, or a pot roast at a Hanukah dinner, food is indelibly intertwined with our holiday celebrations.

Generous donors, thankful for the opportunity to feast with family and friends, are also moved this time of year to help provide holiday meals to the less fortunate. While there are many efficient, well-run charities that offer holiday meals to those in need, there are also some who spend their money inefficiently, often spending a large portion of your donation on fundraising.

This holiday season Charity Navigator urges you to be careful before you donate to a charity promising to provide holiday meals. Often, charities that advertise in the newspaper, send solicitations in the mail, or put up billboards advertising their holiday meal programs are spending a good portion of your donation to pay for those advertisements.

In order to provide a holiday meal for those in need we advise that you:

Research any advertisement you see. If you receive a solicitation in the mail, or see an advertisement in the local newspaper, from a charity promising to provide holiday meals, check up on how it spends its money by seeing if it’s one of the over 5,000 charities we rate.
Use our search features to find a well-run charity near you. By using our advanced search feature you can search for charities within your state, city, or within a set radius from your zip code. You can also combine your search with a key word such as “homeless,” “meals,” or “food.” Within the results of your search click on “Re-sort by: Overall Rating” to see these charities listed from highest to lowest rated (most to least efficient). Once you’ve developed a list of efficient charities that offer food for the less fortunate, contact them directly, using the information provided on their ratings page, for more information about their programs. Should you choose to give cash, you can make an online contribution by clicking on the Donate Now button featured on the charity's Charity Navigator ratings page.

Consider volunteering your time all year long. While the desire to provide meals for the less fortunate may seem strongest during the holidays as we enjoy feasts of our own, the need is the same throughout the year. Make a New Year’s resolution to donate your time serving meals on a weekly basis or schedule and organize food drives at various times throughout the year.

Caribbean storms displace hundreds of thousands of children and their families

Hurricane Ike has made its unwelcome presence felt in the Caribbean this week, leaving a path of destruction across many smaller islands before slamming into eastern Cuba, which had already borne the brunt of Hurricanes Gustav and Hanna.
Meanwhile in Haiti, an estimated 800,000 people, including 300,000 children, are struggling to recover from massive flooding caused by the back-to-back storm systems. The government has officially requested international assistance. Large quantities of humanitarian supplies were pre-positioned prior to hurricane season in the Caribbean, but the number of storms that have developed this year was unexpected.
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Learn more about the storms battering the Caribbean
Jude Law and Jeremy Gilley visit Afghanistan to promote peaceBritish actor and Peace One Day envoy Jude Law recently travelled to Afghanistan with film director Jeremy Gilley, the founder of the Peace One Day global campaign for ceasefires and non-violence. During their two-day mission, they screened a new documentary, ‘The Day After Peace’, about the efforts of ordinary Afghans to stop the fighting in their country.
Mr. Law and Mr. Gilley asked all parties involved in the conflict to observe International Peace Day again this year. It is scheduled to take place on 21 September. More...
Women and children worst-affected by flooding in Bihar, India
Flooding along the Kosi River has affected almost 2.7 million people in India and about 70,000 in Nepal. The displaced population is largely marginalized, each of them surviving on about 46 cents a day. An estimated 500,000 marooned individuals have been evacuated and 198 relief camps providing food, water and medical supplies have been set up.
UNICEF has supplied bleaching powder to purify water and oral rehydration salts to treat diarrhoeal dehydration – as well as disposable delivery kits, plastic sheeting, vitamin A supplements and other relief supplies. More...
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© UNICEF/2008
Haitian children temporarily relocated in a school in Port-au-PrinceÂ’s Tabarre district during Hurricane Gustav.
VIDEO: UNICEF Director of Emergency Programmes Louis-Georges Arsenault discusses preparing for and responding to natural disasters in the Caribbean.
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Storms batter the Caribbean, displacing thousands
Jude Law and Jeremy Gilley visit Afghanistan to promote peace
Women and children affected by flooding in Bihar
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UNICEF Executive Director tours programmes in Madagascar

On the first-ever visit by a UNICEF Executive Director to Madagascar, Ann M. Veneman this week accompanied senior government officials to regions recovering from Cyclone Ivan, which struck the island nation in February.
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The three-day visit allowed Veneman an opportunity to see UNICEFÂ’s reconstruction work as well as ongoing programmes in a country that has made strides in decreasing child mortality. In a meeting with President H.E. Marc Ravalomanana, she discussed the countryÂ’s objectives in improving access to safe water and sanitation.

Veneman also delivered an appeal to families to register their children at birth and launched a tetanus campaign along with the Minister of Health, Dr. Ralainirina Paul Richard. Madagascar is one of nine countries in Eastern and Southern Africa that have not yet eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus.
Learn more about Ann M. VenemanÂ’s trip.

New figures show drop in AIDS deathsUNICEF Chief of HIV/AIDS programmes Jimmy Kolker greeted as “encouraging” recent figures from UNAIDS. The ‘2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic’ reveals that fewer people are dying of AIDS than in previous years and fewer are becoming infected. Kolker said the report shows that new treatments and prevention messages are working, but noted that “there are still huge challenges for preventing new infections,” especially among young people. More...

CNN highlights UNICEF and child survival UNICEF’s worldwide programmes were featured in a historic global broadcast on CNN and CNN International on 6 July. ‘The Survival Project: One Child at a Time’, hosted by CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, reported on work being done by UNICEF and its partners to protect and support children in countries such as Laos, Iraq, Ethiopia and Peru. The broadcast featured UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors Lucy Liu and Clay Aiken, among other celebrity advocates of child survival. More...

UNICEF

Jackie Chan beings a message of peace to youth in Timor-Leste

On a recent visit with the young people of Timor-Leste, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Jackie Chan encouraged them to use martial arts as a peaceful, unifying force.

Timor-Leste, which received its independence six years ago, is one of the poorest nations in East Asia and the Pacific. In recent years, the country has descended into violence. With it, martial arts, once a popular activity for Timorese youths interested in sports and fitness, have also suffered a setback, with more and more young people applying their skills to acts of crime and violence.

Mr. Chan reminded some 3,500 young people gathered at the national stadium that “it does not matter what school of martial arts we are from as long as we are united. Training for martial arts helps you to strengthen your eyes, your mind and your body. When you have a good body and mind, let's help people. Don't harm them.”

The Government of Timor-Leste recognizes that strong youth-focused policies, as well as better education and employment opportunities, are critical to the countryÂ’s future. UNICEF is working with the government to protect and promote the rights of young people.

Learn more about Jackie ChanÂ’s visit.

Helping earthquake-affected children in China

Classes have resumed for thousands of students displaced by the massive May earthquake in Sichuan, many of whom are studying in temporary schools or out in the open. Heavy rains and soaring summer temperatures are hindering recovery, and aftershocks remain a constant threat in the region. UNICEF remains committed to providing psychological support for survivors and the displaced. MoreÂ…

Rebuilding lives in cyclone-ravaged Myanmar

In Myanmar, UNICEF has completed hundreds of missions to cyclone-affected townships in the Yangon district. Activities include health screening for children under five and installing water treatment plants. UNICEF has set up child-friendly spaces throughout the area ravaged by the cyclone. Deliveries of school tents and other supplies have been challenged by strong winds. More...


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UNITE FOR CHILDREN

LIVESTRONG.COM Launches [Lance Armstrong Foundation]
by Lance Armstrong

On behalf of everyone involved, I’m pleased to announce the launch of LIVESTRONG.COM, an ambitious web site project that aspires to be THE destination on the internet to inspire and inform people about leading a healthy, fit lifestyle. We’ve assembled a strong partnership of the Lance Armstrong Foundation and Demand Media, Inc., one of the leading social media companies in the world, as well as an incredible team of world-renowned experts in their respective health fields.

LIVESTRONG.COM is not just another web site packed with health information and expert advice. In my opinion, there is plenty of information already out there and furthermore, sitting at your desk surfing the web is not the key to a healthy, active life. LIVESTRONG.COM aspires to be a totally interactive community, where you can connect with people of similar interests and health concerns and obtain easy to find, specific advice from respected experts. We’ve made a strong effort to have the tone of the site be upbeat and motivating, rather than dry and academic. Consider this distressing news from a recent survey fielded by Harris Interactive: 86% of Americans attempt healthy lifestyle changes but only 46% are successful. I don’t think this failure rate is due to lack of knowledge, but instead with a flawed approach. As an athlete, I know it’s easy to set goals – whether it’s winning the Tour de France, lowering my marathon time or trying to eat a little healthier. The hard part is follow-through: staying focused and motivated over the long term. We envision you using LIVESTRONG.COM to get motivated, focused and then take real-life, decisive action to achieve your goals.

Breaking bad habits or implementing new ones takes tremendous focus – you have to refrain from your vices or repeat your good behavior every single day for at least a month for changes to truly take hold. Just as with my goal of winning the Tour de France, achieving great things is nearly impossible to do alone. Winning the Tour was not as simple as me pedaling faster than the guys in the other color jerseys; it was a massive logistical, analytical, emotional and physical operation requiring the support of teammates, team employees, coaches, trainers, mentors and loved ones to remain on the path to success.

Similarly, you will achieve best results with your goals and lifestyle changes when you have an effective support system in place. I’ll never forget the massive frustration Bart Knaggs and I experienced in trying to find reliable information, treatment options and research about testicular cancer on the internet when I was first diagnosed. Well, the internet has come a long way since then and you will not believe the incredible amount of interactive tools and resources available at LIVESTRONG.COM.

For our opening launch, we have 15,000 professional articles and videos, over 350,000 nutritional food profiles and 50,000 health and fitness-related questions and answers. I will be contributing regularly to the site, sharing what’s going on in my world and some of the lessons I’ve learned about peak performance and positive attitude, encouraging others to find their inspiration and pursue their own goals. Welcome to LIVESTRONG.COM - I invite you all to enjoy our engaging, healthy community.

Red Cross Comes to the Aid of Earthquake Survivors in China

The American Red Cross prepared to provide assistance
By Maya Pai, Communications Associate

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 — “So far they have only been able to release 20 or 30 survivors,” says Francis Markus of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, when somberly describing a high school in Beichuan, China. The school housed approximately 1,700 students and teachers, many of whom were in class when the 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck, reducing the building to rubble. The first medical responder to enter Beichuan County was a medical team from the Chinese Red Cross.


Residents look for signs of survivor among the rubble of a collapsed building at the township of Hanwang in Mianzhu city, northeast of Chengdu, in Sichuan province. (Credit: REUTERS/Bobby Yip)
The Red Cross Society of China mobilized immediately after the earthquake, sending employees and volunteers to help those in the affected areas by providing relief supplies such as tents, quilts, water and food. Hundreds of volunteers have been coming in from Chengdu, the provincial capital, to help with rescue and first aid. Others are providing relief supplies such as tents, quilts, water and food. Red Cross relief workers are also providing shelter to thousands of people left homeless.

According to Markus, many of the roads are still blocked and relief distribution networks are just being established. As the full scope of this disaster comes to light, the American Red Cross is ready to support the Red Cross Society of China in its response efforts.

“Our hearts go out to those whose lives were lost and to families affected by this massive earthquake,” said David Meltzer, senior vice president, International Services of the American Red Cross. “We are prepared to help our fellow humanitarian organizations during this critical time.”

The American Red Cross has pre-positioned relief supplies— like tarps, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and water jugs— in Kuala Lumpur, Dubai and elsewhere to be able to quickly assist survivors of international disasters. The American Red Cross will coordinate its response activities, which may include providing financial support, relief supplies and trained disaster experts— with the International Federation and Red Cross Society of China.

You can help those affected by countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. Call 1-800-RED CROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the International Response Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation.

Red Cross and Red Crescent Response

Immediately following the storm, the Myanmar Red Cross began assessing the damage as well as caring for survivors' needs by distributing family kits, containing clothing, blankets, cookware and hygiene supplies, and drinking water to the schools and pagodas serving as emergency shelters.

The American Red Cross has contributed $250,000 to relief efforts and is prepared assist the Myanmar Red Cross with additional aid and supplies, estimated at $1.25 million.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has successfully shipped shelter kits, made up of tarps, ropes and hammers, and jerry cans for storing clean water to the Myanmar Red Cross, who is partnering with UNICEF to distribute to the hardest hit areas of the coastal delta region.

The American Red Cross and International Federation will continue to tap into their pre-stocked emergency supplies – such as tarps, hygiene kits and insecticide-treated bed nets – located in warehouses in Kuala Lumpur and Dubai as requested.

The American Red Cross is in close contact with its colleagues at the Myanmar Red Cross and the International Federation. We continue to monitor the situation, assess the needs of survivors and stand prepared to offer additional assistance as future needs are identified.

UN progress report urges new
commitment to Millennium
Development Goals

NEW YORK, USA, 2 July 2007 – Despite progress made at the halfway point to the deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the global MDG targets will be achieved only if more concerted action is taken immediately and is sustained until 2015 and beyond.

Despite progress in lifting families and communities out of poverty around the world, a staggering 980 million people still live on less than $1 a day. And one region in particular, sub-Saharan Africa, is not currently on track to achieve any of the goals.
But large-scale advances towards the MDGs in some developing countries show that results for children and families are possible when the collective will is backed by collective action.

'Much remains to be done’
These are among the key findings of a major United Nations update released today in Geneva, ‘Millennium Development Goals Report 2007’.

The report tracks progress on all of the MDG targets set forth by world leaders at the Millennium Development Summit in September 2000. Thes goals include eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education and gender equality, reducing child and maternal mortality, combating HIV/AIDS and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development.

“The results presented in this report suggest that there have been some gains and that success is still possible in most parts of the world,” writes UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in the report’s foreword. “But they also point to how much remains to be done,” he adds.


Honouring aid commitments

Accelerating progress on the MDGs requires a combination of strong government leadership, good policies, practical strategies for scaling up public investments in vital areas and adequate financial and technical support from the international community, the report asserts.

While citing worldwide results on increased primary school enrolment and reduced child mortality – as well as slow but significant progress on poverty reduction and gender equality – the report notes that most developed countries have not honoured their commitments to provide “adequate financing within the global partnership for development.”

In particular, notes the Secretary-General, “the lack of any significant increase in Official Development Assistance since 2004 makes it impossible, even for well-governed countries, to meet the MDGs.” In fact, only five donor countries have reached or exceeded the UN target of allocating 0.7 per cent of their Gross National Income for aid to the developing world.

“There is a clear need for political leaders to take urgent and concerted action,” declares Mr. Ban


Children and women at the centre

Still, the MDG progress report stresses that achieving the goals is not just the responsibility of governments. Rather, it is the collective responsibility of every segment of society.

The strength of the MDGs lies in their interconnectedness and their ability to address root causes of poverty and inequality. Empowering women, for example, is not only one of the goals but also plays a critical role in achieving the other seven goals, the report states.

And the status of women also has a direct impact on the well-being of children, who are at the heart of the MDGs. Healthy, educated and empowered women have healthy, educated and confident children.

As ‘Millennium Development Goals Report 2007’ makes clear, only through investment in the future of communities and societies – that is, investment in children – can the cycle of poverty in the developing world be broken, once and for all.

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Environment Organization

Organization Number: 95-3941826
Organization Name: Surfrider Foundation USA
Address: PO Box 6010
Address:
City: San Clemente
State / Province: CA
Zip / Post Code: 92674-6010
Country: United States
Phone: 1-949-492-8170 Ext:
Fax: 1-949-492-8142
Organization Email: info@surfrider.org
Website Address: http://www.surfrider.org

Detailed Description: The Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots based, non-profit environmental organization that works to protect the coast.

Founded in 1984, Surfrider now has 60 Surfrider chapters located along the East, West, Gulf, Puerto Rican, and Hawaiian coasts. The Surfrider National USA headquarters are in San Clemente, California. Surfrider has over 40,000 members in the U.S.; in addition, International Surfrider chapters and affiliates have been established in 4 foreign countries, Japan, Brazil, France and Australia.

Surfrider Principles

Represented by 40,000 members and 60 local chapters in the U.S., the Surfrider Foundation also has affiliations in Australia, Japan, France, and Brazil. The Surfrider Foundation has adopted the following principles to guide and govern the activities of the organization.

1. SURFRIDER recognizes the biodiversity and ecological integrity of the planet's coasts are necessary and irreplaceable. SUFRIDER is committed to preserving natural living and non-living diversity and ecological integrity of the coastal environment.

2. SURFRIDER promotes the right of to free and open low-impact access to the world's coastlines, waves and beaches. SURFRIDER acts to preserve this right of access.

3. SURFRIDER is dedicated to the protection, rehabilitation and restoration of native coastal ecosystems.

4. SURFRIDER believes environmental education is essential to the future health and well-being of the planet. SURFRIDER seeks to develop and utilize educational materials that are informative, factual, proactive, synergistic and fun.

5. SURFRIDER strives to be accurate and nonpartisan in its communications with its members and the general public. In-addition, SURFRIDER expresses the unique values inherent in wave-riding; individualism, camaraderie, non-materialism, and an appreciation for man's historic relations with the Ocean.

6. SURFRIDER is a grassroots organization effective through the participation of its members. SURFRIDER activities emphasize the value of an involved membership.

7. SURFRIDER encourages all commercial enterprises to adopt the CERES Principles. SURFRIDER will not permit sponsors to divert the Foundation from its mission or projects undertaken.

8. SURFRIDER does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, or national origin for any reason. SURFRIDER promotes the healthy enjoyment of the coastal environment for all people.

9. SURFRIDER and its representatives, affiliations and chapters agree to abide by these principles and all rules and regulations governing nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations.

AIDS Housing

Homeless & Crisis Assistance : AIDS Housing Coalition Houston
Next

Organization Number: 76-0416114
Organization Name: AIDS Housing Coalition Houston
Address: 502 W. 24th
Address: City: Houston
State / Province: TX
Zip / Post Code: 77008
Country: United States
Phone: 713 864-1795 Ext:
Fax: Organization Email: ahch@wt.net
Website Address: http://web.wt.net/~ahch

Detailed Description: AHCH operates various levels of housing for people with AIDS. We are the only same day entry shelter in Harris County, TX. We accept residents without prejudice and make appropriate referrals to help them overcome their barriers.

AHCH is about self-empowerment training; identifying barriers that are causing the person to be homeless and stress chemical harm reduction. We help people how ever we can and do not accept government contracts. AHCH does rely solely on public donations and private foundation grants.

From website
http://www.charity.com/