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It’s easy to get swept away in holiday chaos. From Black Friday deals to office parties to last-minute gifts, December is a swirl of madness. As a result, the meaning of the season often gets lost: the joy of giving to those in need.
With dozens of local charities looking to aid needy Austinites, giving back to the community is only a click away. To help you choose where your donation dollars should go, here are 10 worthwhile organizations to consider assisting this holiday season.
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Howdy to the weekend, fellow frozen Austinites! As many of you deal with delayed openings and icy cars, be comforted by the flood of hot Austin music to look forward to. This weekend, we recommend an incredible music festival, ’90s alternative rock, and an Austin great’s record release.
Enjoy the weekend and listen local!
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Music is such a central part of Austin. Swan Songs is a local organization that embodies this piece of Austin, and turns it into something even greater by providing private concerts for those facing terminal illness and the end of life.
But Swan Songs offers more than a concert, as patients experience a meaningful and beautiful moment that gives joy.
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There is a place right outside of Austin on the north shore of Lake Travis where spirits fly, minds strengthen, and hope blooms. Candlelight Ranch is a nonprofit gifting children of all abilities adventure and healing through nature.
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Growing up, service above self was emphasized in my household. One of the many ways my parents would give back was through blood donations. On days when she donated, my mother would come home and jokingly declare she could not possibly hold a cooking utensil with her sore arm. On those days, we would eat out to celebrate this good deed, and thus service and eating out were forever linked in my mind.
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Sometimes a health issue calls for a blood transfusion, platelets, or both. And with Austin’s growing population comes an increasing need for both these life-giving substances. We Are Blood is the exclusive blood provider for Central Texas, with the help of two additional centers in Round Rock and south Austin. They provide blood to more than 40 hospitals and medical centers across 10 counties.
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Founded in 1993, The Adderley School for the Performing Arts operates in both Texas and California. Janet Adderley, founder and veteran of Broadway and television, calls Austin her home.
Since the school’s inception, thousands of children across all age groups have found a passion for musical theater. On stage, they gain confidence in their voice and movement.
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There is nothing more important than the well-being of a child. When children have to enter the foster care system, CASA of Travis County is there to provide an unbiased recommendation to the court.
CASA accepts all new cases with children aged one and up. Volunteers are always needed to serve as advocates. Continue reading to learn how you can help CASA reach its 2019 goal of serving 2,000 children with 800 volunteers.
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“Dine Out End HIV” is the motto of Dining Out For Life, benefitting AIDS Services of Austin. That translates to unlimited, guilt-free eating at your favorite Austin restaurants during Dining Out For Life on Thursday, May 23, 2019.
Here’s how it works: Simply dine out at any of the 60+ local restaurants that day. Each restaurant commits to donating a portion of proceeds to Dining Out For Life that day. Calories don’t count when you’re helping our community by indulging in tasty food! Mind you, I’m no nutritionist, but for the love of Austin, it’s surely worth it.
The money from this hashtag-able event goes directly to AIDS Services of Austin and helps the organization serve more than 7,000 Austin residents living with HIV. AIDS Services of Austin also provides preventive screenings, education, outreach, and advocacy to at-risk populations.
Every 35 hours, someone in Travis County gets diagnosed with HIV, making AIDS Services of Austin’s work vital to the well-being of our community. Dining Out For Life furthers the cause tremendously. In 2018, this event raised more than $50,000.
When AIDS Services of Austin opened 32 years ago, it started on a small scale. The organization has slowly but surely grown its profile in Austin, expanding awareness and services. Dining Out for Life is one of the organization’s most visible annual events.
“We are thrilled to host Dining Out For Life for the 27th year in Austin along with Subaru of America,” said AIDS Services of Austin Chief Executive Officer Paul Scott. “This event is especially important for programs like our Helping Hands Food Bank, which provides supplemental food to our patients who might otherwise have to decide between affording their HIV medication or food on the table. We’re here to make sure they get both!”
Going out to eat on May 23, 2019, is the easiest way to be part of something good. All participating restaurants are donating proceeds from #DineOutATX sales that day, but there are more ways to get involved in 2019!
You can sign up to be a table captain on the day of. You’ll provide on-site information at a partner restaurant about AIDS Services of Austin and where diners’ money goes after Dining Out For Life. The training to be a table captain will take place on May 11, and you can volunteer by emailing joseph.breck@asaustin.org.
If you own or manage a restaurant, and want to be a Dining Out For Life participant, email mike.trevino@asaustin.org to get set up. The more the merrier! We’d love to see even more restaurants and food trucks involved.
If you are media and would like a press kit or more info, email taylor.stockett@asaustin.org.
Please photograph and post your photos to social media with the #DineOutATX hashtag to increase awareness for the event. Rally now, foodies and Instagram addicts of Austin! This is your time to shine, my darlings. Let’s do this awesome thing!
AIDS Services of Austin is extending outreach in the community through testing and educational programs. It’s also opening a clinic and pharmacy this year, in order to service more Austin residents who are either living with HIV or at high risk to contract the virus.
With the influx of people to Austin, there is a corresponding increase in HIV cases. Based on 2016 CDC statistics, 61 percent of people living with HIV are between the ages of 20 and 39. There has been a recorded 40 percent increase in HIV cases among people aged 15 to 24.
Among those with HIV, one in eight do not know they have it. This sobering data underscores the importance of extending the organization’s reach among high-risk residents.
The list of participating restaurants is long, but to whet your appetite, let’s talk about a few of the options you have for good eats this year:
See the full list of participating restaurants on the event website. On May 23, make plans with your favorite people, loosen your belt and your purse strings, and support #DineOutATX and these big-hearted Austin businesses who are giving back to our community. Make an even bigger impact by eating out for every meal that day!
@theAustinot wants to know:
Where will you be dining out on May 23?
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Leaving an abusive relationship is far more complicated than you may imagine. Since 1982, Austin-based Texas Advocacy Project has provided free legal services to victims of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and stalking, helping them move out of harm’s way and stay there.
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