Donation #5 - Food

As we start going into the fall months here in Western Washington there are many things that we begin to notice.

- The coloring of the leaves are going from green to red, orange or even a 'burnt umber' color.
- There is ALOT more rain.
- It's starting to get chilly.

With the drop in temperatures, and the recent torrents of rain, Washington is starting to get into it's 'wet season'. Which means that this weather is here to stay until late May to June.

Which then brings up the subject that I'm donating to today; Food.

Food is necessary for our survival, that much is true. But for many people food isn't readily available, which becomes an ever growing concern. Nationwide, worldwide hunger is a force that has each and every species in it's grip. Locally, Washington is the 15th hungriest state in the nation, and #1 in the northwest at a 15.4% in food insecurity.

Worldwide though nearly 870 million people live without enough food to eat. While severe malnutrition threatens the lives of 19 million children. Every year at least 3.5 million children die from malnutrition-related causes.

It's because of statistics like this I feel that those that are most vulnerable to hunger this time of year are in the greatest need of assistance. But it also reminds me of a time when I was in High School.

It was around Thanksgiving, and my school in Sedro was doing their yearly 'can-ival' a canned food drive to support local families that were affected by a flood earlier that year. I remember going through my families pantries trying to gather as many cans as possible. But it wasn't because of my giving nature, it was because we were having class competitions and I wanted to be #1. Because of my competitive nature I brought in 74 cans booming my class to #1 in the whole school. I cheered, and laughed as I remember dragging in 2 boxes, a milk crate, and a garbage bag of cans just so I can gloat.

I look back on that time with a little annoyance at myself, that I didn't see that time of year as an opportunity to spread some goodwill. But to instead inflate my own ego and win some tickets to dunk tank my schools vice principal.

Why I'm donating to these organizations now, are for completely different reasons then I had in the past.

Because food is important, and deep down inside I have a weakness for helping children. Even though I am scared of most of them, I do love kids and feel that they need the best opportunities to ensure and secure a future.

The organization that I'm donating to is Food Lifeline.

Food Lifeline is a Shoreline,WA group that provides food for over 745,000 people through their network of nearly 300 food banks, meal programs and shelters in Western Washington.  Last year they distributed more than 35 million pounds of food, enough food to equal more than 27 million meals.

But why Food Lifeline?

The answers are simple, this organization is cemented in over 17 counties in Washington alone, including some Skagit food banks that myself and my family know. They've created innovative solutions to help provide food that would otherwise be unsold in markets. Programs such as Seattle's Table, Grocery Rescue, and Produce for the People. All programs that recover, and distributes donated food to food banks, providing much needed food for people.

Food Lifeline is also an affiliate with Feeding America a parent group that works with numerous other affiliates to ensure that hunger, as an issue is tackled effectively. By providing programs and services to all situations.

Food Lifeline is also a partner with The United Way of King County. A group that focuses on several key areas important to King county. Meeting people's basic needs, ending homelessness, bolstering human services and giving kids equal chances. The United Way is a group that I donate 50$ to every year 1/2 goes to homelessness and the other goes to keeping kids safe from abuse and neglect.

This is why I chose to donate to Food Lifeline. Because they're looking to ensure that those most vulnerable are given food. As well as ensuring that everyone is given the opportunity to have a nutritious meal.

Food Lifeline's Mission is:

To end hunger in Western Washington by engaging communities and mobilizing resources. 

Through Food Lifelines system they take donations, repack them into family sized portions, distribute, and then deliver. Thus ensuring that the 51% of adults, 35% of children and 14% of seniors get their much needed food.

There are many ways that you can help Food Lifeline. Here's a list of all the options available.

- Online donating, any amount of money is good, Each dollar in donation provides a full day of meals for an individual.

- Virtual food drive, It's actually as cool as it sounds. And you can buy large amounts of food to supply to a food bank.

- You can donate food to Food Lifelines food drives, or Events.

- If you live in the Western Washington area you can also Volunteer in several different areas. Either as volunteer groups or individuals.

- Or you can Advocate to ensure that hunger and these programs are in the forefront of most politicians minds.

With this group I will be donating 20$. Enough to ensure that 20 people can get food for a day. One person get food for 20 days, or 48 cans of fruit and vegetables to be distributed to families.

All in all, I implore people to become more involved with their communities. This includes either donating a small amount of money, or even your time. Each state in our nation is trying to fight the problems associated with hunger.

Especially in recent light of the Colorado floods, you can find wonderful and reliable charities on Charity Navigator. A site dedicated to ensuring that the charities you want to donate to are on the 'up and up.'

Which through this site, I learned about Food Lifeline and many other wonderful food suppliers in WA.

If you wish to donate to a food charity in your area, research through charity navigator. The higher the rating, the better the charity is.

So with the warm temps coming to an end, and the umbrellas coming out, I wish you all the best and I hope that we can all make the coming months better for others. For I know I'm donating my companies holiday turkey to a homeless shelter again. Also, because I don't know how to cook a turkey.

Much hope, to all mankind.

- <3 Amanda.

Why I Donate

Recently people have been curious about what I'm trying to accomplish with this blog. Why I choose to blog about the donations I've made and why I talk about the non-profits that I support. So I figure to give you an idea of why I do what I do.

When I was a kid, we didn't have much, and often relied upon the kindness of random people and my grandparents. Although we didn't have much I will always applaud my parents for doing all they could with what they had.

When we moved to Washington we lived in a tiny trailer between 5 people. My older sister and I slept in a bunk bed that I remember frequently falling out of. My Eldest sister slept on an overhang below our bed while my parents slept on a converted table. It was less than 200 sq ft split between 5 people. We soon had a home that my father built, a two room, two floor house. We had bunk beds built into the walls, a ladder that went upstairs and a wood stove. We commuted between the house and the trailer to get water, food or use the bathroom. It was only bad at night since I was afraid of the dark, but I remember it.

When I was a kid I remember wanting to help those children on the commercials that were
without food or water. I wanted to give my money away, go abroad and help build things, I wanted to do so much for others.

I brought in the usual can or two for can drives at my school. But never really learned about the impact donations had on lives until I got older, and supposedly wiser.

I learned about the joys and fun of donating and volunteering from my grandmother. Who regularly volunteered at the food bank. And every year would go through Heifer International, looking for gifts to give people. 

So when people ask me why I do this my answer isn't because I had a crappy childhood, or that I'm trying to prove something. But it's far more simple then that.

I want to help people.

I lived so much of my life trying to break away from other people and to isolate myself from them that it's made me realize how small I try to be. I spent so much of my life wanting to stay in the shadows, wanting to stay quiet and keep to myself that it's made my life difficult. I've had a hard time making lasting, emotional connections with people and keeping thriving, lasting friendships. Which is one reason why I donate. I donate to these groups because I feel an emotional connection with them, that they represent something that I feel very strongly for and cal support wholeheartedly.

The Other Reasons Why I Donate:

These are my grandparents, Wayne and Mary. My Grandmother Mary for as long as I've known has always been trying to help people. She'd volunteer at the food bank, help us when we needed it, and even help other veterans like my grandfather.

My grandmother just recently fought breast cancer, and after radiation and a mastectomy, is finally seeing recovery. My grandmother is also who I learned to much of my empathy from. Which is why I hold health care so highly in my life, and why I'm supportive to all cancer treatments.

My grandfather is a Vietnam veteran. I've seen his photos from around the world and heard his story time and again. We all know what plagues most veterans from that era to now. Which is why I feel so strongly for Veterans and their continued and much needed support.

This is my other Grandmother, I never had the chance to know her. She died before I could know her, but I've heard so many things about her. I look at this picture of her and she looks and reminds me of my mother so much, and how much I wish I had known her.

She is another reason why I take health care so seriously. Also why I hold the traditions of family, loyalty and love so seriously. I may have never knew her, but I feel I can honor her memory by helping others that are in the same situation that she was.

My aunt Laura, who is also fighting breast cancer. When I was a child I remember her being apart of her children's lives, always. She was supportive, but strict at times. She'd feed us if we didn't have a meal, would be there when we needed the help.

She's support her children through thick and thin, and now more then anything needs support.

From her I learned my love for cooking, baking, and supporting the needs of others.

My parents, they tried to everything they could to provide a good home and a good future for us. Because of that I will always be grateful to my parents. They taught me from a young age the need and importance of being independent. To have faith in yourself, and importantly how to connect with people.

My parents have always been the foundation in which I base myself upon. They are both head strong, and unyielding people with odd senses of humor. I take so much from both of my parents, and their dedication to one another, and to their family is what drives me.

Because of them I take so many things in both life and causes seriously. I love animals because of them, I find family so important because of them. I find loyalty, honor, strength and love to be solely important because of them. I learned my opinions from them, and how to defend it well from others scrutiny.

From my father I learned how to defend my views and opinions with intelligence instead of blind idealism. The importance of being introspective, as well as the joy of a job well done, and the meaning of true independence. I donate because of the things he taught me about loyalty to others, and achieving a common goal.

From my mother I learned to be social, charismatic, and funny. To love unconditionally, and fully. She has taught me the overwhelming love of family, and the need for that unconditional love.

The final reason why I donate is for me.

At the age of 24 I'm well into my adulthood. I'm independent, I have a home, a job, a car. I have all of these things in my life that I've been grateful and blessed to have. Things and blessings that I'm willing to give to other people.

I don't expect to change the world, I don't expect to hand out to people money and hope they do good with it. I give to these people, these organizations because I have faith in what they're doing. Because I believe in the common goal of helping others and this world. Because by helping others in this world, in turn I also feel like I'm helping myself. By making meaningful, and lasting connections with organizations and the people working there as well as the people that read this blog, and believe in the message it provides.

I only wish the best for the world, and for it's people. I hope for clean water, education, medical availability, animal protection and rights, food, homes and basic human rights for all people. If everyone of us can believe in one of those things and go out of our way to fulfill that belief, then the world would be better off.

Which is why I donate. To try to help the world, and this is why I blog about it. To address this issue and these ideas to the world. To keep you and myself knowledgeable about what kinds of organizations are out there, and what kind of problems we are facing. What kind of animals we are endangering, what resources are low, and what people need help. Call it being idealistic. But I do hope someday, someone will come across this and agree that all life, in all aspects is important and needs our protection and support.

Someday I hope, we can all make a difference.

To that, I say thank you.

Sincerely, Amanda

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Donation #4 - Water

As I continue on to figure out what is important in life there are a number of things that I think are important, or are necessities.

In my previous blog (Here) I felt that education was a necessity for all people. That education was a cornerstone to any civilization, and enriches not only our own lives but the world. But there are other things in this world that I believe are necessities. Like.

Food

Healthcare

And Water

Water is one of those essentials. It is something that we are made of, something that we cannot live without. A person can live for 30 days or more without food, but without water you are lucky if you live a week.

In my apartment here in Seattle I have rusty pipes, I know it's rust because when I haven't used my taps in a day or more it comes out a rusty orange. Luckily for me my water clears up, safe to drink, bathe in, and use. But for many people around the world, they aren't as lucky. They live with brown water, often smelly and filled with bacteria that causes intestinal distress.

These kinds of problems can be caused by a number of things. Protozoal Infections, Parasitic Infections,  Bacterial Infections, or Viral Infections, all of these things that can thrive in water that isn't properly filtered, or safe for consumption. Here's some figures reflecting why clean water is a necessity for all people.

Almost 1 billion people lack access to an improved supply of water.
2 million annual deaths are caused by unsafe water, hygiene and sanitation.
More than 50 countries are still reporting Cholera.
An estimated 260 million people are infected with Schistosoma.

With numbers like those it's important to reflect on the importance of clean water. These problems are more prevalent in developing countries, where public utilities are still in development as well as the regions economy. This knowledge has lead me to these current non profits and their work and effect on a regions water source.

The first group that I'm going to discuss is Splash, previously known as A Child's Right.  Splash is a Seattle based group that focuses on a few things. One is the availability of water, two is promoting good hygiene, three is to provide long term monitoring and service.

By doing all of this Splash has created strong partnerships with other organizations and serving those with the greatest needs. This provides people with reliable, clean water. Not just any clean either, safe and purified water that meets both local standards and the annual WHO (World Health Organization's) quality parameters.

At the same time they're filtration system drives on both quality and quantity, providing people with anywhere between 5-10 gallons a minute. When installation is complete Splash also stays to ensure that their water system is providing clean water for 10 years, as well as training a local site leadership to steward the system beginning the 11th year. With this Splash hopes to help provide 1 million children in 16 countries by 2020.

Which leads me to the mission of Splash, which is,

"To change the live of vulnerable children in impoverished urban areas be providing clean, safe drinking water to orphanages, schools, children's hospitals, street shelters and rescue homes."

You can see Splash's progress here where they've provided 248,254 children with clean, safe, and available water.

Splash currently works in several areas across the globe, this includes.

Cambodia (Est. 2007.)
China (Est. 2007.)
Ethiopia (Est. 2008.)
Nepal (Est. 2007.)
Thailand (Est. 2011.)
Vietnam (Est. 2011.)

Each of these areas they have offices set up, as well as their headquarters being here in Seattle, WA. If you wish to contact any of them just go to the bottom of the page. Contact information is available there.

If you wish to Donate to this group you can go Here. You can donate any amount you feel is appropriate, and how often you wish to make your donation.

For this group I donated 30$ to help fund efforts in Thailand. Where only an estimated 3,632 children have been helped. With this donation I hope that the group can continue their expansion into Thailand, and aiding those in need for clean water.

The second organization that I'm going to talk about it is Charity: Water.

A larger then life New York based group that found it's beginning in the eyes and life of founder, Scott Harrison.

An ex promoter of top clubs and fashion events located in NYC, Scott took up the idea of volunteering aboard Mercy Ships. A humanitarian group that provides free medical care to the worlds poorest nations.
After having first hand experience with poverty and the amazing amount of courage from people he saw everyday he took it upon himself to revise the word, charity.

From that the organization, Charity: Water began.

The groups mission is simple: To provide clean drinking water to people in developing nations.

If you're wondering why water? Then this should be able to sum it up rather easily. If not it's as simple as this.

Water is a necessity of life, but when unsafe to consume it can be very dangerous to your health. Water can be teeming with bacteria, kinds that can cause unspeakable damage to your body. But water is the building blocks of life, of all life. So with the ability to have clean, safe water people are more likely to go to school, grow a garden, all around better their lives and the lives of their community.

From this it's easy to see how much clean water has an effect on us. As individuals, as a country, and as an economy. Which is why I'm supporting Clean Water.

This group lists all their financials, giving them transparency as a non-profit. One that has been awarded 4 stars by Charity Navigator.

Charity: Water works with a 100% model, which means that 100% of your donation goes towards water projects. They cover the operating costs, and you help fund the projects.

Speaking of which, Charity: Water's projects are many. They work in 20 countries around the world, in Africa, Asia, Central and South America. So far they've provided clean water for over 3 million people world wide funded 9,015 water projects with 22 local partners in 20 countries. For completed projects go here.

Every year Charity: Water makes a campaign for a region of the world. This years campaign is in India, you can watch the expansion of the 2 million dollar goal throughout September, of you can donate directly to the campaign, or even create your own.

If you wish to help Charity: Water

You can Donate your birthday and begin campaigning for this group.
Or you can Donate to either the left side, which is the Sept Campaign. Or to the right to whichever the donation is needed most.

For this group I donated 30$ towards the Sept. Campaign. If you wish to match my donation or donate anything to Splash, you can donate Here. If you wish to donate to Charity: Water, donate Here.

Both organizations have big plans, and big goals. As well as big hearts, but both have a common mission; to provide water for those with the deepest need. So please, support these wonderful charities that are slowly helping the world with clean, safe water.

- <3 Amanda.

Splash's Website.
Charity: Water's Website.

Donation #3 - Education

Recently I've had a dilemma of trying to keep up with this while on vacation. It's been difficult to be able to scrounge some time between the hours of traveling, and exploring various places. But while on vacation, I finally figured something that struck a chord with me.

Education.

I feel the more educated we become in all areas the more enriching life becomes, and the more we can make logical decisions. That steps in knowledge benefits ourselves and humanity as a whole. That the more we know, the more the world will benefit.

Education is a major life lesson here in the U.S. When I was a child I remember everyday groaning about how I never wanted to go to school. How I hated it, how I hated learning, and grades and teachers and lunches. How I hated everything about it. As an adult I regret never taking my education seriously, even when I was in college. Then it occurred to me.

There are children around the world who don't have the free education that we have. Who don't have the privilege of a free public education. Children who love to learn, who want to learn, who want more from life. But can't attend because of circumstance, and because of this children aren't given the education that they sorely need.

So in this, children are the future of our world, our economy, and our relations to the rest of the world. With education we can open many doors, and that are otherwise shut. With it we fulfill life, and ourselves.

After much debate I finally came down to a group that I feel is making strides in education to impoverished areas of the world.

Room to Read:

They are a diverse team of people working in several countries to ensure that education is had by all. They are a completely transparent group, with links to their Financials and winners for the Charity Navigator's 4 star rating for 7 years in a row.

Room to Read started back in 1998 when a Microsoft Exec named John Wood came across the harsh reality faced by many children around the world. After experiencing this and seeing the lack of books available John and friends started collecting children's books. Within two months they collected over 3,000 books. The following year John and his father returned to the village that he visited with eight book bearing donkeys. In 1999 he quit his job with Microsoft and started Room to Read.

Their mission is simple:

To work with communities and local governments across Asia and Africa to develop literacy and a habit of reading among primary school children, and support girls to complete secondary school with the life skills they'll need to succeed in school and beyond.

They're main focuses are on literacy and gender equality. Why you may ask gender equality? Well the program explains it as such.

Of all the 793 million people across the globe that lack the ability to read and write two-thirds of them are female, and over 90% live in developing countries. Educating girls and women is widely acknowledged as an effective way to address global poverty. If a woman finishes secondary school she will earn more money, have smaller, healthier families and more likely to educate their own children. Thus breaking the cycle of illiteracy in one generation.

Also females are less likely to attend school vs their male counterparts in developing countries. Hence, gender equality.

But Room to Read doesn't just boast about literacy for females. They boast on providing child-friendly books published by local authors, or books written in local language. Helping to unite communities together in the construction of schools and libraries.

So far Room to Read has established:

15,320 - Libraries
1,681 - Schools
13,387,051 - Books
887 - Published Books
22,408 - Girls' Education Participants
7.8 Million children benefitted

They continue to strive with Monitoring and Evaluation, Working with Partners, and Looking Ahead to try to help end world poverty with education.

They are working in many places including:

Bangladesh
Cambodia
India
Laos
Nepal
Sri Lanka
South Africa
Tanzania
Vietnam
Zambia


There are many ways you Can Help.

You can Start a Campaign.
Join your Local Chapter (Seattleites go Here.)
You can Sponsor a Project
Support Students Helping Students
Attend Events
Or even Donate ( Any amount will do)

For this group I donated 50$ in hopes that someday people will see how important education is to the future of our world.

You can match my donation here or donate any amount you see fit.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Room to Read and hope they continue on with their wonderful work.

If you wish to learn more about them Here's their website.

To the rest of the world, let's give these kids a head start.

<3 - Amanda

Donation #2 - Spike

So far in my research and adventures it's been abit overwhelming looking at all the non profits that need help. I've been going over each place and making my own personal connection with each of these places. Which then leads me to the decision of who I am donating to.

There are several things that I know right off the bat that I would throw money at.

1. Children, especially those abused and abandoned.
2. Animals, with the same circumstance as above and also endangered ones.
3. Basic necessities, clean water, clothes, food. Things we take for granted here sometimes.
4. Women, ones trying to better their lives, and ones escaping abuse.
5. Education, because the world is better when you have an educated mind and heart.
6. Veterans, some fought and died for this country. I feel it's the least I can do.

So these are usually what I have the mind to donate to. Things that I feel passionate about and that I feel deserve the money. But I had to make another personal connection to all of these things, so I went digging through my past.

When I lived in Oak Harbor I had a cat, an orange Maine Coon by the name of Spike. He was with me through thick and thin, the good and the bad. Through all the times I moved, loved and was heart broken he was there. I remember telling him once, "Spike, out of all the men in my life you're the only one who's never left me." But he did because of my selfishness.

I let the one thing that loved me regardless of how my day went, or how sad I was go. I let that single love leave me for another that wasn't anywhere as deep felt and connected as I was with Spike. To this day I regret it horribly, and miss him every time I think of his purr next to my ear.

In my mind and in my heart I know Spike was a little tiger. He'd meow outside my door at night and demand I let him sleep in my bed with me. He had all those little markings on his face, loved to hunt and stalk around my  apartment and sit at my table with me when I ate dinner. So these donations, are in honor of my lost love, and best friend for over 3 years Spike.

Through Razoo I was able to find many big cat organizations that needed donations, and only a few caught my eye. So, here are the places that I donated to.

The first place that I donated to was The Wildcat Sanctuary, a Wildcat sanctuary located in MN. This group provides a permanent and final home to over 125 wildcats. Everything from bobcats, to Tigers are provided with large free roaming habitats equipped with pools, dens and perches. This group is giving their inhabitants something that so few have ever had, free space to roam. Ensuring that each cat lives a happy, stress free life in their permanent home.

Aside from placing animals in their sanctuary they also assist in immobilizing, transporting, housing and veterinary care of illegally owned Wildcats. They also facilitate rescues across states, and transport to reputable sanctuaries. They generate statewide public education and awareness, educating the public on safety regarding wildlife and why big cats aren't appropriate pets.

The Wildcat Sanctuary has a number of goals, like:

- Provide a safe solution for the public and a humane alternative for the residents.
- Provide free-roaming and natural habitats to the wildcats in our care.
- Minimize the number of dangerous, wild animals kept as pets through education, legislation and rescue.
- Provide a sanctuary in Minnesota that can provide more services to the state and surrounding areas through increased capacity, education center and training opportunities for future large animal veterinaries.

These goals I feel are admirable, especially for a non-profit that isn't open to the public. Unlike most sanctuaries where you can see the animals up close and personal. TWS feels that these animals have experienced enough in their lives (Read about the residents Here) and that to ensure they live stress free and happy they should be exposed to minimal amounts of people.

But if you love big cats, small cats, hybrids, and domestics then The Wildcat Sanctuary is the place for you.

How can you help:

- You can Donate any amount you see fit, and look at the many donation types available.
- You can donate to a specific Program of your choice. Each program ranges in price.
- You can Sponsor a Wild One. Starts at 150$ to 600$ to sponsor a specific cat.
- If you live in MN You can Volunteer.
- Don't patron traveling 'zoos' where photos with cubs are allowed and research animal exhibits to ensure they don't breed, buy or trade animals.



For this company I donated 25$ to the 'In memory' section of donations. I dedicated my donation to Spike, where ever he may be..




The next company that I donated to is Safe Haven Rescue Zoo located in Imlay, NV. They are a sprawling 160+ acre area that has a number of animals that call it home. There are foxes, tigers, coyotes, lions, and cougars; a whole smorgasbord if you will of animals.

They provide many kinds of services in the Nevada area. They are a rehabilitation program for animals eligible to be released back into the wild.  They have an educational outreach program, with a number of presentations available on-site and off-site for students, adults and students in under-served communities. This programs reaches across four counties with over 15,000 students engaged.

Safe Haven is also looking to expand from their current 160 acres to 320 acres, providing more homes for more animals.

Safe Haven's mission is simple:

- Provide lifelong care for as many animals as we can accommodate, decreasing the number that are euthanized in the U.S. each year simply because there is insufficient space in sanctuaries such as ours.
- To rescue and rehabilitate indigenous wildlife .
- To provide education and outreach services to youth groups, adult groups, and schools in under-served communities.
- To develop a 'green' solar-powered facility that makes environmentally-responsible use of energy and other resources.

These goals are good, especially for so many animals that lose their homes due to urban expansion. Safe Haven provides these animals with a permanent home, and all the enrichment they could ever need. To allow them to live a long and happy life.

If you love animals of all kinds, and wish to see a place expand to allow more of these creatures to live happily then Safe Haven is the best means.

How you can help:

- You can 'adopt' an animal. Each animal is an annual fee starting at 25$.
- You can Donate any amount that you see fit.
- And if you live in NV you can Volunteer.

For this company I donated 25$ in their Donation section. Because I love tigers and I hope to see this group expand further to 320 acres.

I donated a total of 50$ to both organizations, if you wish to match my donation, or make any donation to Wildcat Sanctuary, donate here. If you with to make a donation to Safe Haven, donation link is here. Both these organizations are good causes to donate to for any animal lover.

If you have any questions, comments, concerns feel free to send a message or leave a comment below.

So much loves and misses for my beloved Spike. As well as much love to all the Tigers and wildcats out there. I hope someday we can all live to see these wonderful creatures in full stride.

- Amanda

My First Donation.

While sitting in this apartment looking at the lightning outside I'm in a state of wonder to the whole world. Seattle has been getting wonderful weather compared to the other states and It's surprising all of the locals.

Even though life has been peachy all around. I have been wrestling with the conundrum of who I'd make my first donation to. I spent almost a week researching places and looking at non profits and what they support. In the long run I had decided that I wanted to help animals.

Animals have been apart of my life for along time. I loved cats, dogs, pigs, chickens, and deeply feared horses. Still to this day I fear being behind them, or near them, or on them. But doesn't mean I don't respect, love or be willing to support them. But after mulling this over I narrowed the idea down even further to a recent event.

I went to the zoo for the first time in my life.

Age 24 and this was my first time at a zoo, a wonderful and life altering experience.

It narrowed down my field to one thing. Wolves.

I scoured through Razoo ( A wonderful online fundraising site.) In hopes of finding a Wolf Sanctuary. These were what I found.

Wolf Haven International - A local Washington based Wolf Sanctuary in Tenino, WA. A few hours south of Seattle, this group's mission plan is this.

- Providing sanctuary for captive-born wolves.
- Educating the value of all wildlife.
- Promoting wolf restoration.
- Protecting our remaining wild wolves and their habitat.

They have aided in the recovery of the Mexican Wolf population. Being only One of Three pre-release breeding facilities. This is a group that I'm very much behind. In my life I've come across Coyotes, Bears and even heard of a Cougar or two in my area up North. But I've learned from this group is that support is needed, Wolves should be respected, and they ARE necessary.

The ways you can help Wolf Haven:

- You can Become a member with memberships starting at 35$.
- Adopt a wolf at 25$ or more.
- Volunteer.
- Or you can Donate any amount you see fit.

With this company I donated 25$, which covers preventative medicines for a wolf. If you wish to match my donation or just make one, hit the donate button above.

The second group that I donated to:

The International Wolf Center an education based group, IWC's mission is to:

- Advance the survival of wolf populations by; teaching about wolves.
- Their relationship to the wildlands.
- And the human role in their future.

This group's main focus is on education, with programs like Wolfology, Wolf speak and learning about the relationship between wolves and deer in "Oh deer." This group has wolves in the exhibit that are used as learning tools and ambassadors to us. With a large viewing area people are able to watch the wolves interact while learning about biology and adaptations.

If you wish to help International Wolf Center:

- Become a member These start at 15$ just for a magazine subscription.
- You can Volunteer (If you live in MN)
- Or you can Donate any amount that you see fit.

With the IWC I donated 15$, enough to provide 3 beaver carcasses for the wolves in retirement. Again if you wish to donate to the IWC feel free to hit the donate button above.

After much debate, much muddling, and much milling about I finally got around to supporting a local non profit. As well as another one several states over.

So far it has felt good to be donating. To give something back to the world and to see it slowly come to fruition. I hope to continue my pattern of donations, and will be taking this time to research another Non profit.

I hope this has been insightful as it has been for me.

Much <3 for the Wolves.

- Amanda.

Introduction

Hi, my name is Amanda Watts, and this is my blog.

Whether you're stumbled upon here by accident or you've gained interest in what I have to say, all I have to say is thank you for your time.

So, let's get down to the important bits; who I am. As I said before my name is Amanda Watts, I'm a 24 year old living in Seattle and have no real direction in life. Like most 24 year old's I feel I have an opinion, like most Seattleites I will put those opinions online. But these opinions aren't for attention, or for me to sell you something. These opinions are what this blog is based upon; Donations.

These donations don't go to me. Not in the slightest, I feel in my life that there has been an inequality between all the good and all the bad that I've done. This blog is to help remedy the good, and to bring into light and attention the great kinds of non profits out there that need YOUR help. Whether it means volunteering or just donating alittle money, in the end all I ask is you look at these places yourself.I will provide a link to each place and let you know what their mission is and what they support. I will try to donate any means per paycheck towards a specific cause and then put my findings and amounts on here. If you feel like you're up for it and wish to match my donation then by all means. If you wish to only read about my findings and hear about the things I'm supporting then equally supportive.

What I hope to accomplish here is just people having an open mind and empathy towards the things I support. I want people to ask questions, to think for themselves and hopefully find something they care about.

So while we're at it I'll give you an easy introduction:

- My name is Amanda.
- I'm 24 years old.
- Classic Gemini.
- Tomboy.
- Iffy on dresses.
- Favorite color's Blue.
- And I LOVE Pandas.
- And I LOVE Spaghetti.