CHRISTMAS GIVING GUIDE

In a world ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, the most important gift of 2020 is to simply give.

“Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure,
packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be
poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” Luke 6:38

The above Bible passage was found on the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops’ website when we were researching what is normally our “Christmas Gift Guide” issue. Giving is at the heart of the Christmas season and the spirit of helping others this year may be more important than ever.

With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting so many, people and organizations that help others are in desperate need. So instead of giving you ideas of what to buy, we put together a list of nonprofits you can donate to this Christmas season, some with direct ties to the Diocese of Albany and some
not. We have also included organizations tied to critical issues that are important and inspire the faithful today, as well as shelters that help our vulnerable animal friends. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list, just some of our favorites. But these organizations all need your help and welcome your generous donations!

ANIMAL PROTECTIVE FOUNDATION
You can adopt a cat, dog, pet or donate to the APF located in Glenville. According to their website, “The Animal Protective Foundation is a humane society providing services to Schenectady County and the greater Capital Region. Since 1931, the APF has held true to the mission of its
founders. We have an open admission policy which ensures that animals are not turned away based on their breed, age, condition or circumstance.” And there are numerous ways to give, including the $100K Pet Care Challenge in which every donation received by Dec. 31 will be matched dollar
for dollar up to $100,000. www.animalprotective.org.

BOX OF JOY
You can spread joy to a child in need this Christmas season. According to their website, “Box of Joy is an annual
Christmas gift ministry organized by Catholics across the United States and facilitated by Cross Catholic Outreach. By sending Boxes of Joy with toys and other gifts, children from extreme poverty receive the joy of Christmas.” Last year, 75,797 children across seven countries benefited from
the organization. The Cross Catholic outreach’s mission is to help the “poorest of the poor,” particularly in the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Latin America.
www.crosscatholic.org/box-of-joy

CATHOLIC CHARITIES
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany is one of the largest, private social services organizations in the region.
Serving 14 counties around the Capital District across some 10,000 square miles, Catholic Charities serves and empowers all persons in need, regardless of race, creed, religion or lifestyle, as well as advocates for a just society and collaborates with women and men of good will. Last year, more than 89,000 people turned to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany for assistance. This year through its CC MOVE initiative, Catholic Charities, along with the Regional Food Bank and local community partners, have distributed over 1.5 million pounds of food and served an estimated 87,000 people. WOW! www.ccrda.org.

CATHOLIC CLIMATE COVENANT
Formed in 2006, the Catholic Climate Covenant, “inspires and equips people and institutions to care for creation and
care for the poor. Through 19 national partners, (they) guide the U.S. Church’s response to climate change by educating,
giving public witness and offering resources,” according to their website. Donations to the CCC, “provide free creationcare resources to thousands of parishes, schools and individuals; advocate for bipartisan climate policy solutions; greatly expand the number of Catholic facilities adopting
energy efficiency and renewable energy projects; and continue to love God’s creation and God’s most vulnerable.”
www.catholicclimatecovenant.org

CATHOLIC EXTENSION
To support poor faith communities hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, Catholic Extension has launched “Advent Alms for America,” a program that aims to match poor parishes in one part of the U.S. with parishes that have more resources in another part of the country. The initiative is seeking 1,000 faith communities to raise $1,000 each during the Advent season. Such monies “would be transformative to the parishes” supported by Catholic Extension, which “were barely surviving economically prior to the pandemic,” according to the Chicago-based organization.
“These are areas where a $1,000 gift is the equivalent of 10 weeks of Sunday collections,” Extension said in announcing the program. The funds will allow pastoral leaders to do the core spiritual work of the Church among the poor as well as share the corporal works of mercy with those who
are suffering.” www.catholicextension.org /advent-almsacross-america.

CIRCLES OF MERCY

A number of great services — such as resume assistance, computer skill training, getting baby supplies or bus fare for medical appointments — are available here free of charge for anyone in need. According to their website, “Drawing upon the Gospel and the spirit of Catherine McAuley, Circles of Mercy will improve the quality of life in the community by working to end the cycle of poverty, especially among women and women with children.”www.circlesofmercy.org

CLINIC
Guided by its Catholic identity, The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc., (CLINIC) fights for the rights of immigrants and trains legal representatives who provide highquality and affordable immigration legal services. According to their website, “The organization supports and defends vulnerable immigrant populations by: providing direct representation for asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico
border and educating them about their rights; reuniting formerly separated families; increasing legal representation for those in removal proceedings and in detention; providing public education on immigration law and policies; and advocating for fair and just immigration policies that acknowledge the inherent dignity and value of all people.”
www.cliniclegal.org

DIOCESAN APPEAL
The Diocese of Albany is a microcosm of the world, with 126 diverse parishes benefiting from the resources provided by the diocesan pastoral center. A donation, through the Diocesan Appeal, will impact the spiritual life of Catholics throughout our 14-county area. Among those who benefit
from your gifts to the Diocesan Appeal include: people who are poor, homeless, living at the margins of society; senior citizens needing care, companionship, love and dignity; young people in Catholic schools and religious education programs; families wracked by poverty, domestic violence and substance abuse; young single mothers who need help raising their children and finding a job; men and women called to a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life; and those seeking to serve in the diaconate or as lay ministers. www.thebishopsappeal.org.

 
GLOBAL CATHOLIC CLIMATE MOVEMENT
Much like the Catholic Climate Covenant, the GCCM began in 2015 and later that year, Pope Francis launched Laudato Si’ and 200 nations signed the Paris Climate Agreement to tackle climate change across the globe. Their website states, “The Global Catholic Climate Movement is a first-of-its-kind international coalition of Catholics from many nations, continents and walks of life. We are laity, religious and clergy, theologians, scientists and activists from Argentina, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Kenya, Australia, the United States, and many other nations. We are united by our Catholic faith and our work in various roles and organizations on climate change issues.”
www.catholicclimatemovement.global

GRAND STREET ARTS COMMUNITY
Located at Grand and Madison, where Downtown Albany meets the South End, this not-for-profit is renovating
St. Anthony’s Church as a hub for community, art and culture as a way to bridge the cultural and economic divides in
the neighborhood.
grandarts.org/donations/grand-street-community-arts-2

MARCH FOR LIFE
The March for Life promotes “the beauty and dignity of every human life by working to end abortion — uniting, educating, and mobilizing pro-life people in the public square,” according to their website. By donating, you can “help organize the world’s largest annual human rights
demonstration, the National March for Life; educate millions with the truth about abortion through the March for Life’s massive social media following; be a voice for the unborn on major media networks, publications, and Capitol Hill all year-round; and Inspire pro-life Americans across
the country to take action through our state marches.”
www.marchforlife.org

MEALS ON WHEELS
This non-profit delivers warm meals to the homebound and elderly. Every driver and program volunteer is helping keep our seniors well fed and cared for. According to their website, “Vulnerable seniors are at the greatest risk amid COVID-19. Local Meals on Wheels programs are on the front lines every day, focused on doing all they can to keep older Americans safe and nourished in communities across the country. In fact, a new survey conducted by Meals on Wheels America reveals that programs are now serving an average of 47 percent more seniors than they were March 1,
when concerns over COVID-19 and social distancing measures began taking hold. The survey also found that 97 percent of local Meals on Wheels programs have seen costs rise, particularly due to the need to acquire safety supplies and deliver more meals to each senior amid uncertainty.”
www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org

THE NEEDIEST CASES FUND
The Neediest Cases Fund launched a special fundraiser for coronavirus relief. Donations to this fund will be used to directly support four other nonprofits on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
www.gofundme.com/f/nytneediestcases

PARKS AND TRAILS OF NEW YORK STATE
Many of us have utilized our nature trails and local parks more this year. Help keep them around with a donation to
the Parks and Trails organization. There are multiple ways to give and you can join the organization’s Legacy and Heritage societies. www.ptny.org.

REGIONAL FOOD BANK OF NORTHEAST NEW YORK
The Regional Food Bank is a central food provider for hundreds of food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens across the Diocese. With food insecurity at an all-time high, every donation makes a difference. And you can make a donation in someone else’s name! According to the website,
“for a minimum donation of $5 per gift, the Food Bank will send a special holiday card to the designated recipient.”
www.regionalfoodbank.net

ST. CATHERINE’S CENTER FOR CHILDREN
St. Catherine’s “provides a comprehensive range of human services designed to offer hope, foster growth and improve the lives of the children and families we serve,” according to their website. During the Christmas season, you
can donate numerous ways including selecting gifts from their online catalog and donating them to the center’s children or families or you can “adopt” a child or family for the season. www.st-cath.org

THINGS OF MY VERY OWN
Based in Schenectady, Things of My Very Own provides innovative programs and services to children that have endured the most extensive abuse and/or neglect within New York. Services are also available to children who are, solely due to the lack of items necessary for sustainability, at risk of
a Child Protective Services intervention. The organization’s goal is to keep children together with non-abusive family members, and out of the foster care system, whenever possible. In 2019, the organization served 4,129 individuals in 11 counties.
www.thingsofmyveryown.org/donate

UNITY HOUSE
Rensselaer county-based human service agency enhancing the lives of those who are living in poverty, adults living
with mental illness or HIV/AIDS, victims of domestic violence, and children with developmental delays. “We work to
achieve social justice in our community and to create a better understanding of those we serve,” adds their website.
www.unityhouseny.org/how-to-help/donate.

WHISKERS ANIMAL BENEVOLENT LEAGUE
The area’s leading no-kill shelter, housing over 120 cats as well as a foster program that takes in several hundred kittens, mom cats, and adults each year. Brings sanctuary and forever homes to abandoned, abused and stray cats in the capital district. www.ewhiskers.com