The new school semester is my cue to switch to expresso and update the stories on websites, polish grant proposals and subtly beg for donations of toys, books and winter coats for the kids at my two favorite charities, Children of the City and Magic Hospital.
Competition for donations is fierce as the days grow shorter and the calender dwindles down to a single page. The high profile charities will kick their fundraising up a notch soon, so I’ve been hustling to get the word out about two of the best little non-profits that you’ve probably never heard of.
Children of the City has been flying under the radar for about 26 years now. Founder and Executive Director, Joyce Mattera is determined to shatter the cycle of poverty by consistently developing programs to meet the needs of children and adolescents in the south Brooklyn neighborhood of Sunset Park. In the past year she has implemented two new programs designed to help teenage parents cope with stress as they learn both basic and sophisticated parenting skills. Last year 500 families attended Children of the City’s monthly parenting seminars, GED, ESL and job readiness classes. Right after Labor day, I started having nightmares about the number of toys they need this holiday season for the 3,000+ kids who faithfully attend their academic and recreational programs. I wake up in a sweat worrying that they’ll be one gift short on Christmas Eve.
Nothing can cure my end of summer blues faster than an editing assignment from Claudia Vogg, the founder of Magic Hospital an outreach program that services kids in orphanages and hospitals in China . This summer she launched two new programs , “My Inner Olympics” and “Abracadabra!” My Inner Olympics acknowledges the courage it takes for these kids to fight their pain and chronic illnesses everyday. Brave little patients are honored with a medal during a private ceremony in their hospital rooms. Abracadabra! is their wish granting program for critically ill patients. While we expect the kids to ask for Bratz dolls and board games, some wishes are less materialistic and more heart wrenching. Sometimes children request a special visit from family members who lives far away and can’t afford transportation to the hospital. Claudia puts her heart and soul into alleviating the suffering of these kids, even if its only for a single afternoon.
When September ends I’ll deal with my volunteer fatigue by sleeping 8 hours a night until Halloween and searching for a 12 Step program for espresso addicts.
Entries (RSS)