As many of you know, each year I use a portion of the practice collections to donate to a variety of organizations as way to express my thanks to patients and pay it forward. While I usually wait until the holidays to talk about it, when possible, donations are made year-round.
My goal is to give locally first. The areas of need that are most important to me address three things:
- Food insecurity
- Abandoned aging dogs
- Mental health
These Are the 5 Organizations That Make Up My Perennial Personal Favorites:
Food Lifeline:
“Feeding people facing hunger today and working to end hunger for tomorrow”
Old Dog Haven:
“Providing permanent foster homes for un-adoptable, abandoned or soon to be homeless, senior dogs in western Washington, age eight and over. “
Brain and Behavior Research Foundation:
“Committed to alleviating the suffering caused by mental illness by awarding grants that will lead to advances and breakthroughs in scientific research.”
Teen Feed:
“Working with the community to offer support to meet basic needs, build strong relationships, and ally with homeless youth as they meet their future off the streets. “
Washington Farmland Trust (formerly PCC Farmland Trust):
“protects and stewards threatened farmland across the state. We keep land in production by making it accessible to future generations of farmers.”
3 Organizations That Have Had My Attention in the Past:
ArtsFund:
“strengthening the community by supporting the arts through leadership, advocacy, and grant making.”
Arts Fund supports many of the outlets and venues in King and Pierce counties that directly or indirectly impact patients of mine who rely on art for their livelihood.
NAMI Seattle:
“To address the unmet mental health needs within our community through support, referral, education, and outreach.”
Mary’s Place:
“providing safe, inclusive shelter and services that support women, children and families on their journey out of homelessness.”
These are Some Patient-Favorites From Years Past:
- 6 Dogrees Rescue
- Hernandez-Foy Second Chance Scholarship Foundation
- International Anti-Poaching Foundation
- Treehouse – for Youth in Fostercare
- Ravenna Strings Orchestra
- Westside Baby
If you find yourself in a more fortunate place than others this year, I hope you too will keep a few of these organizations in mind.
And rest assured that if you are a patient of Return to Health, P.S., your dollars are already in part supporting all of the above.
Home Invasion
