Organizations like National MS Society, the Christopher and Dana Reed Foundation for Spinal Cord Injuries, the ALS Association, and many more are in constant need of support from members of the community like you. These organizations exist to better the lives of people with disabilities through awareness raising efforts, funding research and providing services to those in need. You can help them make a difference. Here are a few ways you can get involved with a disability organization in your community.
Donate Money or Items
Whether it’s $5 or $500, your contribution can help change lives. Making donations, whether it’s money or valuable items, can be a fast, somewhat simple way to get involved with organizations in your community. Aside from sending in a check to your favorite non-profit organization, additional ways to donate are:
- Sponsoring an organization event.
- Matching contributions made or raised by other donors.
- Holding an auction or sale for donated items and giving the proceeds back to the organization.
Donate Your Time
Doing great things for your community and those in it doesn’t have to come with a steep price tag. Your time can be just as, if not more valuable than any dollar amount. A few ways you can benefit the organizations close to your heart include:
- Attending (or hosting!) community events representing or supporting the organization.
- Volunteering at organization rallies, events and meetings.
- Planning fundraising events like walks/races, community garage sales, arts and crafts markets and more.
Be a Full-Time Advocate
While support in the form of monetary donations or volunteering are both invaluable, many organizations just want to start a conversation about their cause and get their voice heard. By becoming an advocate for the organization of your choice and the cause they work towards, you can help achieve just that. Some ways you can help include:
- Posting about the organization and cause on your social media platforms and encouraging friends, family, colleagues and the rest of the community to learn more about them.
- Talking about the organization and what they are trying to accomplish to just about anyone who will listen. You never know who they’ll tell and how far the message will reach.
- Represent the organization anywhere and everywhere you go, even if it’s just by wearing a t-shirt with the organization name on it or making their logo the background on your phone.
Which organizations do you support? Let us know how you get involved on our Facebook.
The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) is an advocate for mobility and accessibility for drivers with disabilities. If you need help with converting or buying a handicap accessible car, truck or van, please consider one of our Quality Assurance Program mobility equipment dealers.