Want to make an impact on a person’s life or help make a difference this Holiday season?  Here are 10 Great Organizations to Add to Your Christmas List and we are completely behind them one-hundred (100) percent.

(1)  The New York City Firefighters Disaster Relief Fund. www.nycfddr.org.  “Helping our Brothers and Sisters in Need.”  The foundation was created especially to help aid them and start the rebuilding process after the Sandy Hurricane destroyed so many of those in the FDNY, EMS First Responders and those in the EMS Systems.  This is one way to help them to help rebuild their lives.

(2)  Old Dog Haven – Safe, Loving Homes for Senior Dogs In Their Golden Months.  www.olddoghaven.org.  This non-profit organization has been helping older dogs find foster homes so that dogs will enjoy their days in a warm, comfortable and safe home loved by many and given up by others.  They deserve a second chance at living just as if they were younger dogs.  They are looking for money or in-kind donations, sponsoring an older dog or becoming a foster care parent.

(3)  Karelian Bear Dogs (KBD) Fund – WA Department of Fish and Wildlife.  http://wdfw.wa.gov/enforcement/kbd/. This program unsupported by the State of Washington is solely supported by donations from the public and privately.  These dogs are used to track down elk carcasses needed to catch poachers, chasing bears and cougars out of the area.  This is a critcal service for them that they rely to help with law enforcement, protection to do their jobs and to assist the public.  To donate, send check or money order to WDFW – KBD Fund, Attn. Captain Bill Hebner, 16016 Mill Creek Blvd., Mill Creek, WA 98012.

(4) Support Your Local Food / Clothing Bank.  There is a dire need for people to restock their Food and Clothing Banks all across the United States.  Though many have struggled throughout the year either from being homeless or stretching their paycheck to paycheck, it is really rough out there for many.  What a great time of year to show that you care about people’s lives and wanting to help them succeed in the new year.

(5) Seattle Police Foundation.  www.seattlepolicefoundation.org/ With Agencies facing major cuts, it can begin stretching budgets beyond their capabilities putting people at risk or becoming a safety issue.  The Seattle Police Department almost faced one of those challenges when the City Budget almost axed the City’s Mounted Patrol (Horse) Unit. Due to the Seattle Police Foundation’s heroic actions, they have stepped in to assist.  This is not only a great invaluable resource but a much needed tool.  Help them today by going to their website and making a donation.  Designate it to “SPD Mounted Patrol Unit”.

(6) United Way’s Sandy Hook School Fund. https://newtown.uwwesternct.org.  Donations received will help with financial expenses, counseling and other services.  Sandy Hook School Support Fund c/o Newtown Savings Bank, 39 Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470.

(7) The 22nd Annual Scott Firefighter Stairclimb Event.  Firefighters around the States will be participating in The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Annual Event on March 10, 2013, at the Columbia Center in Seattle.  This event was sold out in less than eleven minutes and you can clearly see the passion of firefighters who work very hard to train for this event, share with friends and family to raise money for this great cause every year.  Contact your favorite firefighter today and be a sponsor today!  What a great way to help them raise money for blood-cancer research and patient services.  It is so greatly appreciated!

(8) Northwest Burn Foundation.  http://nwburn.org.  The Northwest Burn Foundation created as a non-profit 501(c)(3) in 1982, serves burn injury survivors and their families in WA, OR, MT, ID and AK.  It’s mission is to prevent burns and to improve the quality of life for burn survivors through programs.  So many have been saved through this program.  Log on to their website and give to today.

 (9) Firefighters Pipes and Drum bands in the Northwest.  Do you love to hear the pipes and drums played by firefighters dressed in kilts and entertaining us?  I know, we do.  Check out some of these great pipes and drum bands here in the NW and help them keep playing our favorite songs at entertainment venues, in parades and respecting our brothers and sisters that have passed by playing at their memorial services.   Here are some great bands here in the Northwest but they are truly everywhere.  Seattle Firefighters Pipes & Drums – www.seattlepipesanddrums.com/; Eastside Firefighters Pipes and Drums – www.eastsidepipesanddrums.com/; Snohomish County Firefighters Pipes and Drums – www.snocopipes.com/; Pierce County Firefighters Pipes and Drums – www.pcfpd.org/ and Seattle Police Pipes and Drums – www.seattlepolicepipesanddrums.com.

(10) The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. http://www.firehero.org.  “Honoring their Sacrifices”.  In 1992, the US Congress created this organization in Emmitsburg, Maryland to honor a nationwide effort to honor America’s Fallen Firefighters.  By making a donation today, your tax-deductible dollars will help families attend the Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, provide a scholarship for a child, stepchild and/or for a spouse of a Fallen Firefighter, to expand the Memorial Park and to provide the much-needed resources to help the Fire Service deal with the loss of a firefighter.  Donate today.

As always, please remember to not give out your credit card number over the phone or in writing unless you have initiated the contact and know the organization well.  We also recommend not to click on any links that you are unfamiliar with. These organizations listed above have been gleaned from the internet and we truly believe they are all legitimate but recommend you check out each one carefully before making a donation.

You will definitely save a life  today and be acting as a Hero. We greatly appreciate you helping us supporting our many favorite charities and causes.

We wish you and your Family a Very Merry  Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Wishing you all a safe journey where ever the holidays may take you.

(c) 2012 The NW Fire Blog