In honor of National Make a Difference Day, which falls on the fourth Saturday in October, we have put together a list of easy ways to make a BIG impact in your community.

☆ Help pet owners and animals alike when you donate pet food to Colorado Pet Pantry.

Colorado Pet Pantry aims to keep owners with their pets despite financial struggles. They hold pet food banks open all across Colorado several times a week. At these pet banks, volunteers hand out wet and dry dog food and cat food, leashes, harnesses, cat litter and toys.

Click here→ https://www.coloradopetpantry.org/donate/donate-pet-food/ to donate food to a pet food collection site in your area.

Click here → https://www.coloradopetpantry.org/donate/ to donate financially to Colorado Pet Pantry.

Click here → https://signup.com/Group/27197926080 to volunteer at a pet food bank in your area.

☆ Donate blood to those in need.

Did you know that one in seven people entering the hospital will need blood. You can save the lives of up to three people each time you give. Blood donation costs you nothing but your time, and only takes an hour or less!

Where can you donate?

• Good Samaritan Medical Center – Lafayette, CO
• Lutheran Medical Center – Wheat Ridge, CO
• Platte Valley Medical Center – Brighton, CO
• Saint Joseph Hospital – Denver, CO

Visit www.bonfils.org for more info.
Find out more about Children’s Hospital Mobile clinics by clicking here.

☆ Donate unwanted books.

Ever thought about what to do with those old books that take up extra space in your home? The City of Westminster Library accepts and appreciates donations of gently used books, DVDs , music CDs, and audiobooks on CD with popular appeal. Materials that are not needed for the library collection will be sold in the Friends’ Used Book Store.

Another option is to send them to Books for Africa. A simple name for an organization with a simple mission: to end the book famine in Africa. They collect, sort, ship, and distribute books to African students of all ages. Visit → https://www.booksforafrica.org/donate/donate-books.html to find out where to ship your gently used books.

Books can make a BIG impact in the lives of others!

☆ Are you an organ donor? 

Here are some local statistics as they relate to organ donation:

→ 160 generous organ donors in 2018 made 489 lifesaving transplants possible in our area.
→ 1,684 generous tissue donors provided an estimated 126,300 lifesaving and healing gifts to patients suffering from trauma or disease in 2018 in our area.
→ 2,648 eye donors in our area in 2018 resulted in 2,503 sight-restoring corneal transplants.
→ Nearly 2,000 people in our community are currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant.

To sign up to be an organ donor, it’s as easy as filling out this online form.

☆ Something as simple as helping a neighbor clean up their yard, sending an encouraging message to someone going though a hard time or shopping locally are all small efforts than can make a big impact in the lives of others. Take the time to reach out and care for someone today!

If you’re inspired to give back in a way that feels right for you, www.coloradogives.org is a great resource to find the perfect fit. They list the thousands of local nonprofits that could greatly benefit from your assistance.