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We've got snow in the forecast & City Cast Boise has a whole podcast episode about "How to Get Cozy In Boise" with recommendations from the Queen of Cozy herself, Minerva Jayne. Listen here!​

Hello hello! Hope y'all had a great holiday weekend. Today's story came from a handful of emails from readers asking where to donate and/or volunteer this holiday season. Today is also Giving Tuesday, a day to support nonprofits and organization in your community. Here's some great options for giving back this year:

Boise Bicycle Project Holiday Kids Bike Giveaway

Every December, Boise Bicycle Project donates more than 500 bicycles to kids in our community through the Holiday Kids Bike Giveaway.

Kids in need of a bike are referred to BBP through local nonprofits, social workers, schools, and after school programs. Those kids are asked to draw a picture of what their “dream bike” would be, then BBP sets out to make their dreams a reality. Four ways to help out:

• ​Donate a kids bicycle - bring a gently used kid-sized bike to BBP & it will be tuned up & customized.
• ​Adopt a bike - help cover the costs to transform a kid's dream bike. (Also you gotta browse the drawings they are so adorable.)
• ​Make a donation - help cover the cost of tents, heaters, warm beverages & many other things needed to pull off the event.
• ​Volunteer - it takes 100s of volunteers to make this annual event happen. You can contact families ahead of the event to coordinate details, refurbish bikes, bake treats for volunteers or help greet families at the event on Dec 17.

Boise Rescue Mission

Boise Rescue Mission serves people facing homelessness and addiction in the Treasure Valley with focus on Boise and Nampa. A few ways to help BRM this year:

• ​Become a holiday volunteer - help with multiple events including holiday toy events, Christmas banquet, setting up a Christmas store, and Christmas decorating and take down.
• ​Donate items on the current needs list - things like warm clothing, canned soup, hygiene products, cold/flu meds, etc.
• Donate items on the Amazon Wish List or Walmart Wish List​
• ​Donate money - $51.69 provides food, clothing, shelter & support for one person.
• ​Create care kits - these are small kits of supplies to keep in your car & hand them out when the opportunity arises.

Also I thought this was helpful: 8 ways to truly help homeless people​

Ronald McDonald House

The Idaho Ronald McDonald House provides care, resources & housing to families with ill or injured children. Parents have so much on their plates as it is. Ronald McDonald House works to take a few things off parents' plates so they can focus on their families. A few ways you can help out:

• ​Donate holiday items - give xmas gift items, which will be displayed in "Santa's Workshop" where families working with Ronald McDonald House can come and shop for all their xmas gifts in one place.
• ​Donate a holiday gift basket - buy items and create a curated gift basket based on interests. These are given to sick children, their siblings, and their parents.
• Donate items on the Amazon Wish List.
• ​Volunteer your time helping out at the Ronald McDonald House & Family Room.
• Make a one-time or monthly donation to the organization.

All item donations can be dropped off at the Idaho Ronald McDonald House (139 E. Warm Springs Ave. Boise, ID 83712) between 9am - 6pm, 7 days a week.

Jesse Tree of Idaho

Jesse Tree works to prevent eviction & homelessness in the Treasure Valley. It costs around $2,000 on average for Jesse Tree to keep a family housed, compared to $5,000-$10,000 for a family to find new housing after being evicted. A few ways to help:

• Attend Housed for the Holidays - a fundraising event with a goal to raise $100k & keep 50 families housed.
• ​Donate money - a one-time or monthly donation.
• ​Donate needed items - gas cards, grocery cards, hotel vouchers & diapers can be brought to their office at 1121 W Miller Street in Boise.
• ​Volunteer - give your time on the phone, at events, or distributing materials.

Sponsored by Creative Change​

It's Giving Tuesday...

& there are over 9,000 nonprofits in the Treasure Valley that need your support. Giving Tuesday is the kickstart to the giving season. It's a day for the Treasure Valley to show up for our local nonprofits & give back to our community. Find nonprofits to support here.​

CATCH Idaho

CATCH is a nonprofit that helps families with children get back on their feet. They provide housing first, then work with the family to address their specific challenges. Ways you can get involved:

• ​Holiday sponsorship - options for individuals & groups/businesses. You can purchase Christmas gifts for a family, donate needed household items, contribute items for the Cooper's Court holiday party, etc.
• ​Make a donation - a one-time or monthly donation goes a long way. $30 covers a family's application fee, $70 gives a family a buss pass, $125 covers a month of utilities for a family, $300 furnishes a room, $1k pays the deposit for a family's new home, $11k ends homelessness for a family.
• ​Volunteer Culture Builder - meet with the Office Administrator on a monthly basis to help cultivate an uplighting culture and encourage staff retention and exceptional client experience.
• ​Volunteer Drive Coordinator - help keep the warehouse stocked with household items that families need when they move into a home.
• ​Volunteer Mover - provide support to families if they need help getting needed items from our warehouse to their home.
• ​Volunteer Receptionist - be the first point of contact for office visitors and phone calls.

City of Good

City of Good partners with local restaurants and growers to curate and deliver ready-to-eat meals to neighbors experiencing food insecurity in the Boise community. Ways to participate:

• ​Buy a Senior Fuel Kit - each kit is about $6.75 and contains six nourishing, ready-to-eat meals.
• ​Donate money - which helps City of Good continue buying food from local producers and delivering meals to neighbors in need.
• ​Volunteer - you can volunteer to ready-to-eat meals to seniors and children in need, or deliver shelf-stable food to food pantries within Boise schools.

Interfaith Sanctuary

Interfaith gives Boise's most vulnerable homeless population a safe place to sleep, a warm meal 7 nights a week, and dedicated case managers to bring guests hope and help them work towards a second chance. Ways you can support Interfaith's community:

• Attend the The 17th Annual Xtreme Holiday Xtravaganza - a fundraiser for Interfaith happening Dec 18 & 19 at The Egyptian Theatre. Tix are $35.
• ​Donate money - this is one of the most expensive & important times of year for Interfaith, as they are working to keep people warm, fed, and cared for. $25 covers one night of shelter.
• Donate items from their Amazon Wish List​

Women's and Children's Alliance

The Women's and Children's Alliance, also known as the WCA, provides services and support to those healing from domestic abuse and sexual assault. Ways you can support WCA:

• ​WCA Giving Tree - head down to the holiday tree on the Grove Plaza in downtown Boise and choose a giving tree tag. Each tag has a specific item for a WCA client. Bring new & unwrapped items to WCA (720 W. Washington St) from Nov 28 – Dec 16, Mon-Fri 12-4pm.
• Sign up to volunteer at WCA
• Give financial support - a few different options here!

What are your favorite local nonprofits to support? Hit reply & let me know!

Thanks for reading!

With love from Boise,

Marissa

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