‘Smart Giving - Cash’ is Part One of a three-part article about giving in practical and beneficial ways. Part 2 will be about used clothing, and in Part 3 is about furniture and household items. 

Local charities have unique needs and different wish lists at any given time.  Though we are tempted to give them lots of ‘stuff’, giving cash for their current programs is usually the smartest way to give. 

Personal favorites of mine:

Reston Interfaith , whose housing corporation RIHC (among its many programs) buys properties and renovates them as affordable housing. I believe in recycling older homes this way! 

Graceful Spaces helps furnish homes for clients leaving area shelters, and relies partly on cash donations for new bedding and other items that are not donated.

Global Camps Africa  is administrated by an original Reston resident like myself, they educate and serve youth in Africa about AIDS.

The Reston Historic Trust and Greater Reston Arts Center  both have great local events and programs and are well worth the annual membership fees.  

Forward Future  is a fledgling youth services and mentoring program in Fairfax and Loudoun counties.

 Karen Hale is co-founder and former member of Graceful Spaces.  She still volunteers around town, and wants to share what she has learned after years in the donations collection sector of the non-profit world.