While donating to nonprofit organizations is something we do year-round, the holidays is a great time to learn about new organizations and refresh connections with existing organizations. Here are a few of the organizations that we appreciate in our family.
I have had the privilege and pleasure of leading PEPS groups for the last 8.5 years. I’ve lead over two dozen groups, and no two groups are exactly the same. It is an honor to be with parents while they are discovering who they are as parents. Though people with kids often forget just how difficult the first few months with a new baby can be, it is a precious, transformative time. Recently, PEPS developed a new strategic direction, tackling inequity and other barriers that prevent ALL parents from receiving the support that they need.
The tagline for Mary’s Place is “no one’s child should sleep outside.” I couldn’t agree more. Since 1999, Mary’s Place has helped thousands of women and families move out of homelessness. They operate five emergency family shelters, and a Women’s Day Center. They provide meals, showers, laundry, employment assistance, and security. Children in their programs are connected with schools, enrichment activities and outings. They also work with landlords and families on the brink of homelessness to stay in their homes. Right now, they are raising funds so No Child Sleeps Outside this winter.
Since 2008, TransFamilies has been supporting transgender people and their families. They run parent support groups, special topic discussion groups, and youth support groups. Their sister organization, Gender Diversity, offers trainings to help schools provide supportive environments where students of all genders can thrive. I want to live in a world where every child can thrive — and that includes children of all genders.
Bail is supposed to make sure that people charged with crimes return to court to face justice. However, in practice, it is a system that punishes poor people who are accused of crimes: if someone cannot afford bail, they can either stay in jail and fight the case (and possibly lose their job or housing), or they can plead guilty and go home. This creates systemic pressure wherein innocent people plead guilty because they cannot afford bail. The guilty plea then follows people, hampering their job prospects, their ability to get a loan, and even their ability to access housing. Ironically, one of the lessons learned during the pandemic is that significantly more people can be released without bail, trusted to appear for their court dates, and they do show up for their court hearings. The NW Community Bail Fund provides need-based assistance to those who cannot afford to post bail.
