Goodwill Gift Guide
In the spirit of this year’s holiday season, you may be pondering different approaches to gift giving. Many people concerned about overcommercialization offset their shopping for traditional retail-sourced presents with charitable donations directly benefiting worthy causes.
Why not consider ways to achieve the best of both intentions? You can’t go wrong when the goodness of one gift to a friend or family member goes in many different directions, whether in your own community or elsewhere in Costa Rica. Such presents are sure to delight recipients while enabling countless good deeds to be done. Here are some ideas for gifts that keep on giving back.
Help Your Paradise
Originating when the COVID-19 pandemic halted tourism in Costa Rica, Help Your Paradise has been instrumental to economic survival by providing food and hygiene baskets to more than 3,000 people in need.
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The Avellanas-based initiative continues transitioning with community-focused projects such as Huerta Paulina, a garden created in August on 1.5 hectares of donated land named for the local family benefactor’s grandmother. Harvested produce is shared by the volunteers working the land, who have also been taught how to earn additional income from making locally sold products such as honey, sauces and teas.
Financial support is needed to cover materials and installation of a garden irrigation system, a bodega for tools, nursery and composting bins, organic seeds, plants and fertilizer, and operational expenses.
Contact helpyourparadise@gmail.com
Donate
PayPal: office@casaurbana.com.uk Account name: Casa Urbana Reference: Food Bank Avellanas
Bank transfer Banco Nacional, Asoc Camara de Comercio del Rio Nandamojo
$US IBAN: CR65015114520020065426 ID: 3-002-709371 Description: Food Bank Avellanas
https://helpyourparadise.org
Halfway Home
Halfway Home is a foundation that provides veterinary medical care to abandoned animals
lacking a responsible owner. It’s a safe place where they receive adequate attention, training, affection and exercise in readiness for adoption by a caring permanent family. In the case of rescued wildlife, animals receive transitional care before being reintroduced to a natural habitat or relocated to a suitable place.
Contact: 8815-5713 or 8754-3012
halfwayhome.cr@gmail.com
Donate:
Banco Nacional
Colones IBAN: CR33015106010010008352
Account: 100-01-060-000835-6
Dollars IBAN: CR34015124220020000412
Account 200-02-242-000041-1
BAC Credomatic Colones
IBAN: CR70010200009125892152
Account: 912589215
Dollars IBAN: CR27010200009098639612
Account: 909863961
ID: 3-101-455763
tamarindovet@gmail.com
BRIDENA Volunteer Forest Fire Brigade
Support the efforts of Las Delicias del Nandamojo Brigade (BRIDENA) in protecting precious natural resources: trees, animals, water and clean air. The ever-expanding group of volunteers from different communities in the Nandamojo river basin collaborate to prevent and control forest fires. From food and transportation to logistics and the provision of workers, your contributions can make a vital difference.
Contact
8863-5952, 8997-4794, 6291-1589
Donate
Paypal: donate@ourwatershed.org
Banco Nacional de Costa Rica
IBAN: CR79015100920020071771
Account: 200-02-009-007177-2
Asoc Proteccion de la Cuenca Rio Nandamojo
ID: 3-002-699237
Hope 4 A Street Dog
Hope 4 A Street Dog is a non-profit organization that has evolved collaboratively and organically with communities in the Playa Junquillal area. Its mission is to improve the lives of homeless and neglected street dogs while educating pet owners. Staffed by volunteers and funded by generous donors, it sponsors spay/neuter clinics to promote healthy outcomes for dogs and cats through awareness and compassion.
This year’s pandemic did not prevent Hope 4 A Street Dog from continuing its good work: spay/neuter procedures were performed on 183 animals and two more clinics are scheduled before the end of 2020. In 2019, 422 animals received surgery during seven spay/neuter clinics.
You can help by adopting a pet, volunteering, purchasing H4ASD merchandise or making a financial donation.
Contact:
info@hope4astreetdog.org http://hope4astreetdog.org/
Donate
PayPal : hope4astreetdogcr@gmail.com
Banco Nacional
Account: 200-02-009-006502-0
Name: Berta Alicia Reyes Gomez |
MAILA Surfbags
Made by SIFAIS
MAILA bags for surfboards, yoga, beach and travel are a great gift for all the adventure lovers on your shopping list. They are made in Costa Rica by participants in the Entrecostras (Between the Seams) social enrichment program of Fundación SIFAIS.
Learn more
October 2020 Howler article Dare to Make a Difference
SIFAIS -Artistic Training System for Social Inclusion-
It is a foundation, financed by organizations and individuals, which since 2011, provides free socio-educational services through volunteers in locations marked by economic deprivation and social exclusion.
Abriendo Mentes
Abriendo Mentes is organizing a special COVID-19 safe Christmas celebration for children in Potrero and Brasilito. Children are being especially affected by the pandemic and our objective is to bring them joy and encouragement this holiday season. A $15 donation will provide a special gift for one child. Abriendo Mentes is a registered charity. To make a donation, please contact Rachael at
Contact and donate
Rachael Sine, Executive Director
(506) 8496-9760
info@abriendomentes.org
Refuge for Wildlife
<NOTE: he organization’s name and website/links are changing soon. Stay tuned for updates probably next week from the Exec Director. Probably new logo also>
For as little as 20 cents per day you can make a difference to all of the monkeys in the care of Refuge for Wildlife in Nosara. Every year hundreds of howler monkeys are electrocuted on uninsulated power lines and transformers. The babies are often left orphaned and need round-the-clock care from our vets. Refuge for Wildlife relies entirely on public donations to carry out its vital work.
Your support will make a real difference through the refuge center’s unique Adopt Mango Troop program. It is an easy and rewarding way to support these beautiful monkeys. Click the button below to be directed to our partner organization’s website where you can adopt Mango Troop!
Learn more
http://refugeforwildlife.org/adopt-a-monkey/
Donate https://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/adopt-howler-troop/adopt/mango-troop?currency=USD