All Over Albany

Here are a few ideas for making the most of your holiday donations

About this every year we get questions from people about making donations to local charities for the holidays. But this year we thought we'd turn the question around a bit and hear from someone whose org is typically on the receiving end, and get some thoughts on ways to make the most of our holiday donations.

So we're very happy to welcome Christine Schudde, the executive director of Habitat for Humanity Capital District.

Many of us will look for a meaningful way to give back this holiday season. And there's a lot to consider when making a charitable donation -- which charity, how to donate, the best way to way help.

Here are a few ways to can make sure your holiday gift has the greatest impact.

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This year's Ignite volunteer festival is coming up

The Ignite volunteer festival will return November 8, and this year it's at the Albany Capital Center.

Ignite is a kind of like a job fair but for volunteer opportunities. More than 30 orgs will there with info and reps ready to talk about how you can lend a hand. There's a list below.

The evening also includes speakers (including Albany mayor Kathy Sheehan), music, and food from local restaurants. And it's free.

Ignite is part of the Serve Albany campaign backed by Christ's Church Albany. It's Thursday, November 8 from 5:30-8 pm.

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An opportunity to help the people displaced by the recent large fires in Albany

Here's an opportunity to help the more than 80 people displaced by the two large fires in Albany last week: There's a community benefit dinner at the First Lutheran Church (646 State Street) this Thursday, October 11 from 5:30-8:30 pm.

It's a pay-what-you-can dinner. The suggested donation is $15 for families, $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors.

The menu includes chicken parm, baked ziti, green beans, salad, desserts, and beverages. There will be a raffle and silent auction. Also: You might meet a few of your neighborhoods and have a chance to get to know them.

The dinner is organized by UAlbany Student Affairs, Pine Hills Neighborhood Association, and First Lutheran Church.

Donations
If you can't make the dinner, or just want to donate, here's how:

· Cash Donations can go to United Way of the Greater Capital Region, Albany City Fires Fund. Mailing address is Albany City Fires Fund, PO Box 13865, Albany, NY 12212. All funds will go directly to the fire survivors. Donations can also be made at any of CAP COM Federal Credit Union's 11 branches in the Capital Region

· Cash Donations can also go to the Catholic Charities Disaster Recovery - indicate Fire Survivors in the Comments Section. Mailing address is Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany, 40 North Main Avenue, Albany, New York 12203. Use the Donate Form to direct funds to fire survivors

That info is via the the Pine Hills Improvement Group / Pine Hills Neighborhood Association.

Where to donate bedding and towels?

Amy emails:

I have a bunch of sheet sets, towels, blankets, etc. (clean, of course) that I'd like to donate. Do you know if there are any groups that will take them? Perhaps a refugee resettlement group or a group that helps the homeless with housing?

As we've noted before, charities often have rules about what sorts of items they accept for all sorts of reasons -- sometimes because of logistics, other times because of concerns about condition. But things like sheets and towels seem like something easy to clean and inspect.

So, got a suggestion for Amy? Please share!

Earlier: Where to donate a virtually new mattress?

Where to donate a virtually new mattress?

Elisabeth emails:

[My husband] and I recently ordered a new mattress online...thing is, we're not feeling it and decided to return it.

The company told us "there is no one in your area to donate it to..." so they're going to schedule a 1-800 Got junk pick up. Ugh. I find it hard to believe that no organization will take a practically brand new queen size mattress!

Can you ask the AOA hive mind if they know of an organization that will take it? It has to be a not-for-profit and not a friend of a friend thing as we need to provide proof of the donation.

Charities sometimes have rules about what sorts of items they will take, often because of logistics and sometimes because of concerns about condition. In this case, with one of these foam mattresses that would seem to be relatively easy to inspect, we're guessing some org might be interested.

So, got a suggestion for Elisabeth? Please share!

Dining Out for Life 2018

The annual Dining Out for Life event returns April 26 at restaurants all around the Capital Region. The event is a fundraiser for the Alliance for Positive Health.*

Here are all the steps required to take part:

1. Go out to eat at one of the participating restaurants.

2. There is no step two.

Yep, that's it. The participating restaurants will donate a portion of their checks from that day to the Alliance. You don't have do anything else.

Well... you could also make a donation while you're there or later on. There will be envelopes at the restaurants. Look for one of the Alliance ambassadors if you don't see them.

Here's the list of participating restaurants for this year -- some of which are also participating during breakfast and lunch.

Some of the restaurants get busy that night, so reservations are a good idea.

* Formerly known as the AIDS Council of Northeast New York.

AOA is again a sponsor of Dining Out for Life.

Morning of Kindness

Around this time of year we often get questions from people looking for ways to volunteer or donate to local charities or non-profits. So, here's something that might help point you in the right direction...

A campaign called Morning of Kindness is organizing donations and other acts of kindness at local charities on December 23: Blurbage:

You will have the opportunity to choose from over a dozen local nonprofits who need your help. Simply let us know how many people will be in your party, and which nonprofits you would like to help.

Once you've chosen a nonprofit partner or four, purchase items from their wishlists.

On December 23rd, The Morning of Kindness, visit your chosen nonprofits, drop off your donations, and learn about how your generosity will make a big impact on the people they serve.

Here's more about how the campaign works, along with some backstory.

The list of local non-profits participating ranges from social services org to food pantries to orgs that help homeless people to a humane society.

Registration is required to take part. See the links above for details.

(Thanks, M.)

photo via Morning of Kindness Facebook

Opportunities for volunteering around Thanksgiving?

Rebecca emails:

I'm wondering about any volunteer opportunities in the area for Thanksgiving.. I know about Equinox but maybe there are smaller or less known organizations that might need help, either with food donations or a warm body to prep/serve/deliver? Thanks

We've had similar holiday volunteering questions in the past, but we like the idea of shining some light on smaller or lesser-known orgs that could use the help.

So, got a suggestion for Rebecca and other looking to lend a hand? Please share! And sentence or two about why're suggesting an org can be helpful.

Serve Albany: Ignite 2017

The Serve Albany project is bringing back its Ignite event -- kind of like a job fair, but for volunteer opportunities -- on November 2 at the Sage College Armory in Albany.

More than 30 non-profit orgs will be there with info about what they do and opportunities to lend a hand. Albany mayor Kathy Sheehan will give a talk. And there will also be food from New World, along with art and music.

Serve Albany is an initiative of Christ's Church Albany.

The event is from 5:30-8 pm that day, which is a Thursday. The Sage College Armory is at 130 New Scotland, which is right next to the Sage Albany campus and just up the street from Albany Med.

AOA is a sponsor of Serve Albany.

photo via Christ's Church Albany FB

Where to donate gently-used toys?

Jeff asks via Twitter:

Anyone know where I could donate gently used kids toys?

This question came up once before -- but it was many, many years ago. And things change.

So, got a suggestion or thought for Jeff? Please share!

Alternatives to giving money to panhandlers?

K emails:

I was in Philly recently and I heard from locals that panhandling had decreased incredibly since programs were set up where individuals could donate to groups that help the homeless. Is there something similar in Albany?

Some municipalities distribute business card type handouts that you can give to a panhandler instead of cash, since the money you give to the panhandler will only "help" them, but if you give to charities or groups that work with those communities your money can help a lot more people.

It feels like there's been an upswing lately in people asking for money on the street. Just the other day we encountered three people in downtown Albany doing so all within the span of a block. And it's rare to not see people asking for money at some of the major intersections near the interstate exchanges. (Whether there actually has been an upswing -- and if so, why -- is a good question. Perception is not necessarily reality.)

So we're interested to hear how people handle these sorts of situations. Do you give the person money? Do you offer other sorts of help? And more directly towards K's question, are there better ways to go about helping people?

Volunteer opportunities for helping refugees in the Capital Region

We've had a few questions come up lately in which people were looking for some way to get involved locally with helping other people. Here's one opportunity:

The local branch of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants -- USCRI -- has an information session Thursday (February 16) for people interested in volunteering or somehow helping out the organization. It's at 6 pm in the org's offices at the Nipper Building in Albany (991 Broadway, Suite 223).

We heard from the director of USCRI Albany -- Jill Peckenpaugh -- this week that the local branch is helping 4,000 refugees in the Capital Region. The org helps people with finding apartments, furniture, housewares, as well as how to navigate things like paperwork and doctors appointments. We get the feeling there are plenty of ways a person could lend a hand right now.

If you're interested but can't make Thursday's information session, USCRI has another one lined up for March 16 -- same place and time.

Local orgs or charities to support that are making a difference right now?

photo: Flickr user Hamed Saber (CC BY 2.0)

I. emails (emphasis added):

In response to our current political climate, and in honor of the people fighting to protect our rights, I'd like to begin financially supporting organizations that are making an actual difference in peoples daily lives. National organizations are easy to find, but I'm hoping for some recommendations of local groups helping people in our community.

I'm particularly interested in groups that work with women and children - providing assistance to domestic violence victims, healthcare for children, diapers for parents who can't afford them, feminine hygiene products for homeless women, etc.

We get the feeling there are a lot of people like I. right now who are looking for ways to do something that makes a difference. And as we've mentioned before, focusing some of your energy on local issues and causes can be a way to do that.

So, know of a good local charity or org or cause for I. and others to support right now? Please share. And sentence or two about why to support that charity is appreciated.

Serve Albany: Ignite 2016

The Serve Albany initiative has another one of its "Ignite" events highlight volunteer opportunities coming up November 2 at the Albany Elks Lodge.

The event is kind of like a job fair, but for volunteer opportunities. More than 25 non-profits from the Albany area will there with info about volunteering. There will also be a talk by Albany mayor Kathy Sheehan, food from New World Catering, and music.

Serve Albany is an initiative of Christ's Church Albany.

Ignite is Wednesday, November 2 from 5:30-8 pm at the Albany Elks Lodge (25 South Allen St). It's free attend, but registration is encouraged.

AOA is a media sponsor of Ignite.

photo via Christ's Church Albany FB

Dining Out for Life 2016

The annual Dining Out for Life event returns Thursday, April 28 at restaurants all around the Capital Region. The event is a fundraiser for the Alliance for Positive Health (formerly the AIDS Council of Northeast New York).

It's just about the easiest way to contribute. Here's how:

1. You go out to eat at one of the participating restaurants.

2. Have a good time.

And that's it. The participating restaurants will donate a portion of their checks from that day to the Alliance. You don't have do anything else. (Well, you could also make a donation... there will be envelopes at the restaurants. Look for one of the Alliance ambassadors if you don't see them.)

Here's the list of restaurants for this year -- many of them will also be participating at lunch (and even a few at breakfast).

Some of the restaurants get busy that night, so reservations are a good idea.

AOA is a media sponsor of Dining Out For Life.

The Mr. Mo Project

We hadn't heard of this local org, so maybe it's new to you, too: The Mr. Mo Project helps find homes for senior dogs -- and pay for their medical care, which can really add up. Blurbage:

The Mr. Mo Project saves senior dogs from kill shelters across the United States. These dogs often come with hefty vet bills in order to regain their health so they can live comfortably in their forever foster homes. But, the Mr. Mo Project doesn't stop after covering their initial medical costs, they continue covering the medical needs of each dog in their program for the remainder of their life. This takes the financial demand of a senior dog, that often deters people from adopting them, out of the question and provides homes that give these seniors "The Best of Life for the Rest of Life."

The people behind the org are Chris and Mariesa Hughes from Clifton Park. Back in February they told News10 they would have to slow their adoption work because funding had become tight -- at that point they paying for the care of 75 dogs.

The website has info about adoptions, donations, and events.

(Thanks, Randal)

Holiday charities 2015

photo: Flickr user Hamed Saber (CC BY 2.0)

As part of our annual holiday gifts interviews we ask people about a charity (or two) they'd like to support this year.

A lot people make donations around the holidays. So we've gathered all the charities mentioned into one easy-scan list.

If you're still looking for a place to support this year, you might find it on this list. And if you have one to suggest, please share.

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Holiday gifts: Rebecca Haizmann

Gifts and giving are on most everyone's mind this month. So, once again, we thought we'd ask a few people to share some thoughts on presents, past and present.

Today we talk with Rebecca Haizmann. By day, Becky coordinates communications for the Downtown Albany BID. When she's not coordinating communications, she's likely to be home taking hundreds of pictures of her dogs. But she's not a crazy dog lady. She swears it.

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Holiday gifts: Jacques Bastien

Jacques Bastien loves his mouse.

Gifts and giving are on most everyone's mind this month. So, once again, we thought we'd ask a few people to share some thoughts on presents, past and present.

Today we talk with Jacques Bastien, entrepreneur and CEO of Boogie, a company he founded as an undergraduate at UAlbany. He's also now a lecturer at UAlbany.

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Holiday gifts: Albany Archives' Matt Malette

Gifts and giving are on most everyone's mind this month. So, once again, we thought we'd ask a few people to share some thoughts on presents, past and present.

Today we check in with Matt Mallete. He's the creator of Albany Archives and the Albany Postcard Project. Matt's also a graphic designer for a local television news channel, trivia host, and somewhat avid runner.

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Holiday gifts: Jaye McBride

Jaye wants more ho, ho, ho this holiday season.

Gifts and giving are on most everyone's mind this month. So, once again, we thought we'd ask a few people to share some thoughts on presents, past and present.

Today's person is Jaye McBride, a Capital Region-based stand-up comedian who has been featured at clubs around the country.

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Holiday gifts: Julie Madsen

Julie and the tulips.

Gifts and giving are on most everyone's mind this month. So, once again, we thought we'd ask a few people to share some thoughts on presents, past and present.

Next up is Julie Madsen -- a lover of new experiences, author of Julie Journeys, and a contributor to AOA.

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Holiday gifts: Chopsticks Optional

These adorable figures are not the real Chopsticks Optional. (The real people Chopsticks Optional are even more adorable.)

Gifts and giving are on most everyone's mind this month. So, once again, we thought we'd ask a few people to share some thoughts on presents, past and present.

Today we check in with J+R of Chopsticks Optiona, who devour their way through the culinary cornucopia of the Capital Region and beyond, documenting her obsession for sushi and his love for poutine.

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Holiday gifts: Craig Gravina

Cheers, Craig!

Gifts and giving are on most everyone's mind this month. So, once again, we thought we'd ask a few people to share some thoughts on presents, past and present.

Today's thoughts come from Craig Gravina, self-described beer history nerd and co-founder of the Albany Ale Project. He's a font of fascinating beer knowledge, one of Albany's biggest fans, and an awful lot of fun.

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Holiday gifts: Karen Tararache

Karen Tararache in DC earlier this year, covering the Pope's visit to the US.

Gifts and giving are on most everyone's mind this month. So, once again, we thought we'd ask a few people to share some thoughts on presents, past and present.

Today's thoughts on gifts and giving come from Karen Tararache. Karen is an anchor and reporter for Time Warner Cable News. She's also the co-founder of Studio Six Theatre Company in New York City.

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