They’ve named a whole bunch of the days leading up to the end-of-year holidays. There’s been Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. Which brings us to today – Giving Tuesday.
It’s been a hard couple of years, and we know that many are struggling. So please, if you plan to give to charity this year, we ask that you keep that money local. We’ve made a list of places near and dear to our hearts for givers who are animal lovers through to givers who are just looking for a new way to reflect on the day.
We’re calling this our A-to-Z List of Local Charities, and know they’ll give you those warm fuzzy feelings in your heart.
Arts Center
What is life without art? We often tell stories about local art installations and the artists behind them, but the arts as a whole always need the support of the community. So we’re starting our list with Corvallis’s local Arts Center.
Bit By Bit
There is a certain calm to a horse. It can reach you wherever you are, and has been put to use by one local organization to provide therapy to children and adults in Benton County. Please consider giving to Bit By Bit.
Calyx
While art nourished the soul in one way, literature nourished it in another. Calyx is an independent publishing house located in Corvallis since 1976, and dedicates its space and time to a still under-represented group – women writers.
Casa Latinos Unidos de Benton County
Founded in 2009, this organization cares for the Latinx population in the Benton and Linn County areas. They have been in need even more as the pandemic continues. Please consider giving to Casa Latinos Unidos.
Chintimini Wildlife Center
At the Chintimini Wildlife Center, the mission is to protect and care for native wildlife in the mid-Willamette Valley. They care for the urgent needs of animals injured or orphaned by humans, treating a couple thousand animals each year, and they can always use our help.
Community Services Consortium
If someone in Linn, Lincoln, or Benton County needs assistance, the Community Services Consortium is there for them. Help with rent, getting bills paid, finding a better career – they’re there. And the services they offer have never been of more importance than right now.
Corvallis Environmental Center
Founded in 1994, this organization looks after the environment, and let’s face it, the environment needs every bit of help it can get these days. They also look after the future of kids by teaching them to eat healthy. Therefore, we encourage you to consider giving to the Corvallis Environmental Center.
Corvallis Housing First
A roof over your head is the one thing we always hope will be a certainty, but it isn’t. Corvallis Housing First is looking out for the unhoused in our community, trying to give them shelter in trying times.
Corvallis Public Schools Foundation
This is a group dedicated to boosting school success in Corvallis. Every year, budgets get slimmer and slimmer, and this group works to keep our children in school, passing classes, and heading for higher education. We ask you to support the Corvallis Public Schools Foundation.
Girls on the Run Willamette Valley
We love it when a group is dedicated to empowering girls and keeping them moving. Therefore we love Girls on the Run, and the Willamette Valley has its very own chapter. So let’s get some girls out there being strong and fast.
Greenbelt Land Trust
What would Oregon be without our green spaces? We hope that’s a question never answered. If you agree with us on this one, then please consider donating to the Greenbelt Land Trust.
Heartland Humane
We at The Advocate love our pets. We’d list them all here, but it would have you reading pet names until Christmas. If you love animals too, then Heartland Humane is the place to put some of your donation dollars. They have been out there saving small souls for years.
It’s On Us Corvallis
This is a newcomer relatively speaking, having been around for less than two years. But they have made an impact in that time, giving the Corvallis community a means of taking care of one another by directing funds to purchase meals from local restaurants for people in need. It’s twice the bang for the buck when you say, “It’s On Us, Corvallis.”
Jackson Street Youth Shelter
Jackson Street Youth Shelter offers young people a safe place to live and a way to work through a crisis. They serve youth from Linn, Lincoln, and Benton counties, while relying on only donations.
La Leche League
Did you know that the La Leche League – a group dedicated to helping parents breastfeed their babies – has a Corvallis chapter? They do! And they could use your support.
Linn Benton Food Share
Food has been hard to come by for lots of people lately. The world closed down for the pandemic, and too many weren’t able to feed themselves and their families. We highly recommend donating to the Linn Benton Food Share. They get food into the mouths of the people.
Lumina Hospice & Palliative Care 
We’ve been facing off with death for the better part of two years, and it isn’t going to be ending anytime soon. Therefore we are incredibly grateful for groups like Lumina Hospice & Palliative Care. They support people as they approach the end of life, keeping them as pain free as possible – and they do it as a nonprofit.
Post Carbon Institute
The Post Carbon Institute has the goal of getting this world to one that is resilient, equitable, and sustainable. Seems like a great purpose to us.
The Arc Benton County
The Arc of Benton County is focused on experiences in art, crafting, poetry, Lego builds, and drama. They also offer help in employment training and hope to foster personal growth and confidence. We think all of those things are great for our community.
Vina Moses Center
This place is all about helping people through hard times so they can build resilience in our little neck of the Willamette Valley. That’s why we ask you to give to the place named for Vina Moses – a real person who left a real legacy of caring and giving in our city.
World’s Children
The vision of World’s Children is “A world in which every child has a safe, nurturing place to call home, and a chance to achieve their potential through education.” We can’t think of anything to add except consider donating to this remarkable place and this remarkable vision.
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Zen Circle
Their name has changed to the Sangha Jewel Zen Center, but no matter what you call them they are here to help us “avoid the ouches” that come with focusing too much on the past and the future, and not realizing what life holds for you today. We like that idea a lot. Please consider giving to this wonderful center.
By Sally K Lehman
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