Community

If you are like me, you have a big heart, but not the pocket book to match. In my never ending search for ways to make this planet a more harmonious place, I have found a few ways to contribute to good causes without writing a check. Here are five ways you too can be a charitable soul.

1. Donate clothes or household items- If you go through your closets, drawers, and garage, you will find several items you no longer need or use. Donating these items to a local church or charity such as Good Will or Salvation Army can help your community in more than one way. Someone may find your trash as a new found treasure, while the proceeds from your items may help provide education and career services for others in your community. Now isn’t that better than just throwing out your old clothes?

2. Donate hair- If you have some long locks you are considering cutting off, why not donate your hair to a charity that will turn your ponytail into a wig for a sick child? This is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to make a charitable donation. In most cases all you need is 8 to 12 inches of hair with which you are willing to part ways. Some organizations that accept hair are Locks of Love, Wigs for Kids, Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

3. Donate time- Becoming a volunteer in your community can be a very rewarding experience. There are numerous ways to lend a helping hand in your community. Find something that interests you and commit to helping out. As a volunteer you can decide how much time and effort you can afford to contribute.

4. Donate recyclable goods- You are not using your old soda cans anymore, so why not donate them to a charitable cause? Many cities collect recyclable goods and turn the proceeds into donations to various charities. The Habitat for Humanity, for example, accepts aluminum cans which they turn into building supplies. Many fire stations collect cans and turn the proceeds into donations for burn centers. As we all know, recycling is also good for the environment. You can feel good about doing two good deeds at the same time. Check out what is available in your community.

5. Donate blood- Find a local blood bank and donate a powerful gift

of life. Not everyone is a candidate for this, however, so be sure to check the American Red Cross guidelines first.

The sheriff’s office, of course, vehemently denies the targeting of homeless people. And the mayor backs him up. But advocates on the ground have seen an increase in arrests of homeless people for petty crimes, like loitering and trespassing.

In fact, advocates perceive the problem to be so bad that they are pushing back this week’s bi-annual “Point In Time” count (a one-night census of homeless people). They fear that so many homeless people have been arrested in the past week that the count will be inaccurate. The count has been rescheduled for next month… when city officials are no longer embarrassed about their unhoused citizens.

These stories seem to pop up every time a city is hosting a high-profile national event. Common though they may be, we should never become desensitized to them. It takes a lot of unabashed cruelty for a city to use their paternalistic forces, herd up vulnerable unhoused people, and stash them away until the party’s over.

For future reference, cities like Tampa Bay should take a cue from Washington D.C. during last week’s inaugural events. While they may have laid on the compassionate language a little too thick, at least they understood the importance of treating homeless people with dignity by finding ways to include them in the week’s events, instead of herding them out of sight like cattle.

The meeting will begin with introductions and an overview from 9:30 – 10:00 a.m. At 10:00 a.m., we will begin discussions using the World Café approach. Participants will rotate to each table to discuss a different topic related to environmental justice for approximately 15 minutes. At 11:30 a.m., we will review what we have heard throughout the evening and end with closing comments around Noon. Your responses will become part of a report that the S. C. Environmental Justice Advisory Committee will submit to the Governor and SC General Assembly in January 2010.

We need you! For this event to be a success, we need your participation! We want you to attend to provide input, but if you are unable to do so, please feel free to send a representative.

Additional information is attached.

What are the Topics for this Listening Session?

•Economic Development and Revitalization
•Environmental Justice and Revitalization
•Community Health
•Brownfields and Grayfields
•Revitalized South Carolina Communities – Defining Success