Each year around this time we ask Team Zipie to select a local charity or non profit that has meaning for them. So in the spirit of giving, if you’re planning to donate your time or money this November, support an organization that supports your community. Here are a few of our favorites:
Alex
Provide a home for single women and their children who were homeless. They provide a safe place for these families to stay and work towards transitioning to self-sufficiency.
Everyone deserves a fair chance at life. It's important that the children are given a place they can call home and feel safe while they make their transition. Providing this stability can help get the children the childhood development they deserve and help them on their path to adulthood.
Alyssa
Greenhouse17 provides an array of crisis intervention and stabilization services and is committed to nurturing lives harmed by abuse. Their main facility is on a 40-acre property which includes an emergency shelter and many other services - but also allows the adults living in the shelter a way to heal from trauma while participating on the farm for a small stipend.
I appreciate that this organization offers a non-traditional way for those who are staying in their shelter to heal through their 40-acre farm. They recognize that everyone heals differently and that being outside has it's benefits and can help many heal their mind and body through not only working on the farm, but eating the healthy foods they helped produce. They also offer services to help those affected by abuse to not only start a new life, but have the resources like budget and credit training and transportation services to set them up for success.
Nicole
Central Kentucky Riding for Hope
Provides equine therapy to those with physical, intellectual, cognitive or social needs.
I've been around horses my entire life, with my dad being a thoroughbred trainer, and my wife is an Occupational Therapist who also has a degree in horses, humans and health. In college, she volunteered for CKRH to help special needs youth with hippotherapy. Her brother has autism, so helping those with special needs is near and dear to both of us, and CKHR has a great therapeutic riding program that really help improve the quality of life for those who need their services. The program is full of great people who love both horses, and helping people. - Andrew
Equine therapy is a wonderful way to assist people with special needs. I think some people can connect better with animals and this program is an outlet for that. They look at what a person needs and tailors a specific program to that individual. They recognize the need to help people with both physical and mental disabilities and help them live more enriching lives. - Nicole
Andrew
PATH is an organization that helps create awareness about the issues of human trafficking in Kentucky and across the world, in addition to providing support services and secure housing for survivors of human trafficking.
The issue of human trafficking is something that I have been a passionate advocate for the past decade, since I was introduced to the issue. I was involved with a student awareness group on campus during my time at EKU, in addition to using my senior project as an opportunity to help spread the word. Trafficking is a topic many people are still ill-informed about, especially in regards to local instances of the issue. PATH Coalition of KY is a nonprofit dedicated to both helping educate our community on this issue and providing aid to vicitms of human trafficking.
Bailey
Dress for Success empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
By providing a strong network of professional individuals in the Lexington community who are willing to share their insights and experiences, Dress for Success Lexington helps women secure and maintain gainful employment. Poverty often affects women the most, and its effects on them and their families can be long-lasting. Therefore, addressing women’s needs is central to improving the quality of life for not only that woman but also her family, future generations and her community.
Caleb
Mountain Association for Community Economic Development
Mountain Association for Community Economic Development provides resources for local small business in the Appalachian region of Kentucky through lending and technical assistance, collaborating on community projects, and pushing policy reform with the goal of economic development in struggling Kentucky communities.
We're only as strong as our weakest link, so I believe it's important to support economically struggling communities in our home state. Helping to build up local businesses is an important step in building back economies in these areas.
Chad
Arbor Youth provides a safe alternative for at risk youth, children and their families through services and referrals that promote positive growth and development.
I've volunteered for the past year and am an active board member where I work to assist in driving awareness and making Arbor Youth front and center in our community. There are multiple ways you can get involved with this wonderful charity: From our monthly giving program, to single donations and volunteer work. Every little bit helps these kids.
Claire
GleanKY provides healthy options to those who are food insecure in Lexington and the surrounding areas. They do this by collecting extra food items from farmers and local grocery stores. They solve two problems, food waste and food insecurity.
I have done volunteer design work for them and they were awesome to work with. I really liked their mission and the people were genuine. They used our work as a postcard and received donations and more volunteers as a result! Those who are in food insecure situations don't have access to healthy food. Junk food is cheaper, so those people don't have the option to eat healthy. GleanKY bridges this gap and brings healthy options to those who otherwise wouldn't have that resource. There are multiple ways to get involved with GleanKY. You can schedule when to Glean farms or grocery stores. Joining their rapid response team if you're able to volunteer at a moments notice. You can participate in plant it forward and grow a home garden to help donate. They are also working on expanding to other parts of Kentucky.
Chloe
The Nest - Center for Women, Children & Families
The Nest – Center for Women, Children, and Families provides a safe place for education, counseling and support to children and families in crisis. Our programs focus on the prevention of physical and sexual abuse, neglect of children and the stabilization of the family unit.
I think providing a support system for parents when they have no one else they can rely on is so important. The Nest Child Care Center provides drop-in child care to accommodate parents and guardians who are under stress, have appointments to attend to or need time for selfcare. This service allows parents and guardians who have no support system to have a safe and nurturing place to take their children. On top of this service The Nest also provides crisis care, domestic violence counseling, parent education and support as well as necessary child care items like diapers, formula and carseats.
Makenzie
Provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for more than one million children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
I believe that everyone deserves to have equal opportunities and trainings, no matter their intellectual or financial abilities. Sports training helps improve physical fitness and motor skills, greater self-confidence, create a more positive self-image, friendships, and increases family support. Special Olympics athletes carry these benefits with them into their daily lives at home, in the classroom, on the job, and in the community. Families who participate become stronger as they learn a greater appreciation of their athlete’s talents.
Nate
Centerstone is a mental health organization that boasts being one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit providers of community-based mental health care, offering a full range of mental health services, substance abuse treatment and intellectual and developmental disabilities services in Kentucky.
Having lost friends to suicide; providing mental health services and suicide prevention services to people in crisis, as well as providing support to survivors is important to me. Centerstone provides mental health services including suicide prevention counseling for people in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Porchia
Provides medical and dental care to those uninsured in Fayette and Jessamine County
No one should have to say no when it comes to taking care of themselves because of the cost. The Refuge Clinic provides primary medical care, dental care, women's care, and behavioral health care all for free. They provide, not only a safe place for individuals and families, but provide a care that makes each person feel valued no matter their circumstances. Whether a patient comes for a one-time visit or many, they are committed to stand by them for the entire journey.
