Donate Wisely

Retailers decorate their stores with Christmas décor before the autumnal equinox has an opportunity to bend the sunlight and cool the air. Why? We all know it’s because silvery tinsel and evergreen trees entice us to spend…especially when there’s a little Bing playing in the background. Pink in the month of October has a similar effect. It’s all around us, so when we’re told at the checkout that a percentage of what we spend will go toward cancer research, we say, “Then gosh darn, get me two!” It makes us feel good.

Ann Silberman has been blogging about her breast cancer journey at But Doctor, I Hate Pink since 2009 and knows the ropes. She recently posted on Facebook the following advice that I considered too good not to share:

“Please give money wisely. Don't give to anybody who simply asks while you are in a line as much of that money goes nowhere. If you are tempted, ask where the money is going and look the charity up on your phone.  Remember: you want to give for direct patient support, or metastatic research. If their main focus is "awareness" they are useless. There are many small charities in your own town that do good work. Find them and give there.”

Do you have a local breast cancer charity that you could support? If not, I can tell you of an amazing one that’s here in northern Alabama called The Rack Pack, a 501(c)3 organization organized by breast cancer survivors.  Yes, I’m a member (you can see some of our smiling faces at the top of my blog page wearing the green shirts) and every penny we raise goes directly toward helping people who are fighting breast cancer.

If you want to help this October, consider bidding on some artwork for your office or home. The Rack Pack is currently hosting its 2nd Annual Brushstrokes for Breast Cancer Exhibit & Online Auction. To view the pieces (there’s jewelry too) and bid, or to simply find out more about the event, visit Brushstrokes for Breast Cancer.

Just yesterday when I was checking out at Kroger, the cashier asked if I’d like to donate to breast cancer research and I emphatically told her no. Then I nervously giggled as I told her, “and I have breast cancer!” Not sure why I felt compelled to tell her that. As she stared at me, I politely added, “I like to do my own research before donating money.”