Love is Free

There are so many incredible charities and non-profit organizations out there, run by and comprising the most selfless people you can imagine. Times are tough for just about everyone, and I can’t think of a person who has cash to spare. Still, times are even tougher for those with nothing.

Even if we can’t donate money, we can still give. Time is free. And so is love. We can offer support. We can show kindness. We can visit the elderly, spend a day working in a soup kitchen, foster—or even just spend a couple of hours or a day with—a shelter animal.

If you do have a few dollars to spare, there are thousands of wonderful programs that could use your donation. One that has really touched my heart—and that can use both donations and volunteers—is The Pajama Program, which provides new, warm pajamas and books to children in the United States and all over the world. Many of these kids have never had a parent tuck them in at night, most have never had anything to call their own. What’s more comforting to a little one than a snuggly pair of PJs and a sweet bedtime story?

I wrote about this organization soon after its inception, and then again about three years ago. I’ve also done “pajama drives” for my local chapter, as have many people I know. My friend did a drive in Philly and donated tons of pajamas to the Philadelphia chapter. It was great.

Please check out their website and help if you can. Or, check out this great site, Charity Navigator, which evaluates and provides comprehensive information on more than 5,000 of the nation’s largest charities.