I must say, on this particular Wordy Wednesday I’m feeling both wordful and wordless, all at once.

One thing throwing me off is the weather. Not only are we having an unseasonably warm (40 degrees) Minnesota December, its also been incredibly DARK and rainy all day since Monday. It really gets to a gal if she’s making an effort to look on the bright side of things!

But before I go purchase a Vitamin D SAD lamp, I thought I’d try focusing on something that makes me feel light inside- thinking about the organizations, non-profits, and charities that put so much good into the world.

For the holidays this year, my family is starting a new tradition. It is based on an idea I had that I planned to do at my holiday party (before I cancelled it). Here’s the gist:

-Everyone chooses a charity, non-profit, or good-doing organization and writes the name on a piece of paper and puts it in a hat (or bowl, or any device from which to do a drawing).

-Everyone then either writes or puts in an amount of their choosing. It can be anonymous if that is an issue. The point is to donate an amount you feel comfortable with given your financial situation and other yearly charities you might already give to.

-One of the slips of paper is drawn, and the whole pot goes to that one organization. 

When we’ve done similar things in my family in the past, I always think the most interesting part is when I learn about charities or organizations I didn’t know much about, and learn about why my friends or family members are so passionate about them. There are a LOT of people doing GREAT things out there!

This year, I’m still narrowing it down. Want to help me? Please do! Place your votes in the comments, and I’ll put serious consideration into it. I’m not saying I won’t make a last minute snap decision, but I’ll factor it in!

Here’s the candidates I’ve narrowed it down to:

-The Hennepin County Library system. Because I can’t imagine a world without free media and access to community resources at my disposal. It is a huge part of my life and I believe in community more than anything else, some days.

–Sharing and Caring Hands. (Emergency Food/ Shelter for those in need). Because its run by individuals, not government corruption and confusion. And I think there is something pure about this organization that draws me to it. And during the holidays, I think its the time of year I’m most aware of how good my situation really is.

-The Tree Trust. Do I have to tell you why? Did you read my obnoxious post about the Lorax? (kidding). But seriously, somebody has to take care of the earth. And they do a really good job employing individuals who might have a struggle in the more (ahem) corporate job world.

Which one do you think I should choose? Or should I choose someone else? Leave a comment to let me know your vote! How do you narrow down which organizations you put your money and/or beliefs in and decide which ones are the best?

Meri