Giving Tuesday
Coastal reserve and marine sanctuary (credit: Riled Up Journal)
Giving Tuesday is a day to provide support to non-profit groups who are making a real difference on the ground. Important issues range from the environmental, cultural, and educational whether they are large or small. Efforts range from ocean pollution; to conservation and restoration; to educational advancement, they all need support.
Many worthy organizations and groups exist but here are three examples where a donation goes directly to support an ongoing effort:
1. The Watershed Committee of the Ozarks (WCO) has a mission to sustain and improve the water resources of southwestern Missouri's Ozark mountains by applying education and effective management in these watersheds. The Ozarks are an uplifted limestone plateau providing groundwater to four US states: Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. The WCO assists both rural and urban communities to help maintain their water quality. Fresh water does not follow human or political boundaries but connects everyone. The proper stewardship of this vital resource requires actions from both individuals and communities. The Committee accomplishes this critical goal with specific projects such as the restoration of damaged creek beds; monitoring wildlife habitat recovery; restoration of native plant species; and the removal of invasive species and trash from regional lakes and creeks. You can assist their ongoing efforts by providing support here.
2. Bungalow Koalas: One of Australia's most iconic animals, the Koala, is increasingly endangered from threats including wildfires; deforestation; collisions with vehicles; attacks by dogs; and a contagious disease, chlamydia. Bungalow Koalas was founded in New South Wales to help reverse this downward trend. The organization creates wildlife corridors to connect vital koala habitat in strategic locations that allow the animals to move around safely. They are restoring forests on private properties and public lands that reduces threats from habitat loss. The group uses a hands-on, community based, response which is producing real results. In four years, they have planted 336,000 trees in six shires (counties) in the Northern Rivers region of NSW by working with individuals, families, communities, indigenous clans, and landcare groups. Their work shows the positive and hopeful affects of ecological restoration and that make-a-difference change is possible. Bungalow Koalas wants to keep expanding their success by planting an additional 164,000 native trees by 2025. To assist this action-oriented conservation group, donations can be made here.
3. Cultural organizations help build communities wherever they exist. From galleries to gigs, the arts, films, and music enliven everyone's lives. One example is the growth of the roots music form known as bluegrass. It first appeared in 1939 when one musician, Bill Monroe, named his band and touring bus The Bluegrass Boys. Originally to indicate the bluegrass state of Kentucky, the music has become an essential component of American music, and now even has a worldwide audience. To maintain the tradition and build towards its future, the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) was founded to support educational, literary, artistic, and the preservation of this music. Producing videos for classrooms and libraries, the IBMA hosts workshops and related programs via a grants program to schools and has an awards ceremony at their annual convention to recognize new musicians and their bands. Donations to support this work can be provided here.
Nature protection and cultural sponsorship requires longer attention than a one-day giving event or single donation. Consider supporting such projects on a sustaining basis for a conservation, science, or arts organization that works year-round to protect such essential projects. WHB