There’s a lot written about charitable giving. I don’t know about you, but there is seldom a day goes by, that I don’t receive some sort of solicitation in the mail … and don’t even get me started on the phone calls. Well, this is sort of a different slant on charitable giving.
As the saying goes, “charity begins at home.” And this is what I mean. There are many, many local entities that could do with a little REGULAR financial commitment. I don’t necessarily mean soup kitchens and homeless shelters, but those are included, to be sure. And I’m certainly not talking about a commitment of thousands of dollars. A monthly commitment of $5.00 or $10.00 could make a mountain of difference to these groups.
Maybe this could be a unique gift for that hard to buy for person on your Christmas list. Make a donation for a year in your recipient’s name. Is your recipient interested in music and the arts? What about a monthly donation to the North State Symphony or Riverfront Playhouse, or the Shasta County Arts Council or the North Valley Art League or the Old Time Fiddler’s Association? Don’t forget all the school music programs we have in this area and that could ALWAYS use a little financial help.
Are you (or your recipient) interested in the environment? There’s always Turtle Bay Museum and Exploration Park.
Interested in news and information? Here’s our very own, online newspaper (maybe that should be news screen) that could use a little help if we want to see it continue. Then there’s also Enjoy Magazine which I think is one of the classiest publications to come out of the North State. Donate, buy a subscription, send a subscription. And don’t forget our PBS and NPR stations, KIXE, and KCHO, KFPR, and Jefferson Public Radio.
How about sports? There are many youth sports programs (Little League, Pop Warner) that could use a helping dollar or two.
Maybe you or your recipient is very involved in a church or organization that supports a music program. Donate to the choir or a specific program in that organization.
O.K., so you live in some of the outlying areas. I know there is TPAC (Trinity Alps Performing Arts Center) in Weaverville. Cottonwood has the CPAC (Cottonwood Performing Arts Center) In Anderson there is the South County Performing Arts Society.
I hope you realize that these are very incomplete lists, but just something to give you an idea. If it’s local and it’s volunteer supported, it could probably use a little regular help.
The idea here is that if it is something of which you approve, if it is something you enjoy, if it is something that improves our local community, SUPPORT IT!! Many, many of the folks who make these things happen are volunteers and many, many times those volunteers fork over resources out of their own pockets because they see what needs to be done and simply do it. That doesn’t mean they are able (to afford it) it only means they are willing.
Again, it doesn’t have to be a huge amount. If 100 people would send in $10.00 p/month, it would improve not only the quality of the product, but also the quality of our community … and relieve the ulcers of many of the people running these programs.
Adrienne Jacoby is a 40-plus-year resident of Shasta County and native-born Californian. She was a teacher of vocal music in the Enterprise Schools for 27 years and has been retired for 11 years.
A musician all her life, she was married to the late Bill Jacoby with whom she formed a locally well -known musical group who prided themselves in playing for weddings, wakes, riots, bar mitzvas and super market openings. And, oh yes … she has two children, J’Anna and Jayson.
