Suggestion Box

At the beginning of January, a co-worker and I were put in charge of finding some sort of charitable organization for our clinic to donate to every month. We give our clients an opportunity to be involved if they choose, and at the end of the month co-ordinate getting donations to said charity, and setting up the next one. This all started in November, when I went through some of the old clinic scrubs. I came up with a huge pile that were no use to us anymore, and I asked if I could donate them to a local drug rehabilitation center, where scrubs are the required uniforms of the residents. They were thrilled with the donation, and one of the doctor's and I began to talk about how we should do these things more often. So, in December, we got together as a clinic and made Christmas gift baskets for some of our clients on a fixed incomes. It was the best feeling, and finding a charity a month became a 2008 New Years Resolution.

So, for January we have been collecting children's clothes and toiletries for one of the doctor's pet charities- an orphanage in Central America. With January winding down, I am trying to come up with next month's charity. I have several thoughts in mind, but I would really love some suggestions also. Something that we could collect tangible objects for- not money, as I really feel like that would open up a whole organizational mess. Plus, I really feel like people donate money on their own time and terms. Besides, it is a lot more fun to walk into a place with an armful of STUFF that you can imagine being used for years to come.

Any thoughts?