Guest Blogger: 5 Ways You Can Help Water Charities This Holiday Season

Guest Blogger #285, Entry #815, December 5, 2011

The holiday season has arrived and with it comes the hustle and bustle of shopping, travel and family festivities.

It is a time when people often put convenience ahead of conservation as things get more hectic, and in the rush water-saving habits are set aside to keep up with all the extra cleaning, washing and watering that the season brings.

This extra water use is normal and sometimes can’t be avoided, but there are things we can do to continue conserving water. Helping water charities over the holidays is a way we can encourage savings to offset increased use, and the five ideas below can make a difference.

Save water and help charities this holiday season

Image via: Lavfaucet

1. Promote Water Conservation Using Social Media

Social media is fast becoming the favored tool for advertising and promotion in every market and water conservation is no different.

Choose a water charity to “Like” on Facebook or tweet about and do so throughout the holiday season. Get people in your social network talking about your chosen water charity and you may find that you have made more of a difference than you thought possible.

There are dozens of national and international non-profit organizations and water charities that work to conserve water and combat the global water crisis, and they all could use additional help during the holidays.

2. Volunteer

A lot of people are busier during the holidays than at any other time of the year and have no time to volunteer. Those with no plans or who have a penchant for volunteering, however, may consider helping a local water charity in conservation or cleanup measures over the holiday season.

Water conservation volunteer opportunities often mean getting out and doing hands-on work, but there are many ways to help that involve advocacy and fundraising. The Water Project seeks holiday volunteers annually to help with fundraising and is a great way to lend a helping hand without having to put a hitch in traditional holiday plans.

Volunteer this holiday for water charities

3. Host an At-Work Fundraiser

Many non-profit water conservation organizations offer ways for people to organize and host fundraisers for projects that are already in progress. These charities can provide the necessary paperwork, media kits and even giveaways to help encourage giving in the workplace.

For example, Project Blue and Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots program are collaborating to raise money to provide water cisterns to villages in Tanzania, and is looking for fundraising support from volunteer organizers. This and many other opportunities await those who would like to host an at-work fundraiser to aid in the water crisis.

4. Donate

One of the easiest ways to help during the holiday season is to donate money to a water charity. For those who are in the habit of extra giving during the holidays, there is arguably a no more deserving cause than helping people get clean, fresh water.

As previously mentioned, there are dozens of non-profit water charities that are always in need of additional support. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is good place to start to find an organization in need.

We take for granted clean water everyday

Image via: Healthy Life Journal

5. Buy a Gift

Many local and national water charities sell items to raise money for their causes. As the gift-giving season approaches, water-saving gift buyers have many opportunities to donate while paring down their shopping lists and helping a deserving non-profit at the same time.

Items for sale vary by organization, but there is a lot of variety. WaterAid, which has been making a difference in global water conservation and sanitation for the last 30 years, is unique in that it allows shoppers to buy actual items needed to provide people with water. For example, $50 will pay for four faucets for a village water point, thereby giving a real gift to people in need.

There are tens of millions of people in need of clean, sustainable water year-round, and this season of giving can be a good place to start making a difference by helping a water charity during the holidays.

James Madeiros who writes for Seametrics, a manufacturer of water flow meters and a supporter of water conservation efforts.

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