Living our values: Meeting needs with compassion and care
It is news to no one that families are struggling as basic needs are getting increasingly more expensive. So while we may not all be in a position to give back, I know I want to share what I have so others get their needs met. And not in a sanctimonious or judgmental way, but rather from a real place of humility, recognizing that I, too, could face a catastrophe that could change my financial security.
American ethos is one of rugged independence and bootstrapping yourself out of trouble, but that’s not serving us well as a society. It paints poverty as a moral failing instead of what it often really is - an intentional failure of the system to create wealth at the expense of underpaid labor. Phew, this got political and sociological real quick, but I’ll stand by it.
The mathematical truth is that most of us whose last names aren’t Musk, Gates, or Bezos have much more in common with folks experiencing poverty than we do with the billionaires. We think of ourselves as safely distanced from the poor and consider it a credit to our character and effort that we’re doing well, but we are more vulnerable than we think.
So…(stepping off soap box) to round out our giving for 2025, I’ve chosen two causes that are doing amazing and important work - both to meet basic needs with compassion and care and dignify people in tough situations.
Worthdays
Worthdays is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Richmond, Virginia whose mission is to mobilize the community to ensure that those impacted by the foster care system know they are important, worthy and celebrated.
They believe:
Children in the foster care system deserve to have a childhood in which they are unconditionally adored and provided with opportunities for joy and growth.
The community meets needs better than “the system”! It is our communities responsibility to meet basic needs of vulnerable kids and families impacted by the foster care system until we better equip them with an individual who unconditionally loves and is able to meet these needs.
It is our responsibility to ensure our community is aware of the chronic crisis of the foster care system which perpetuates a diminished sense of self worth for those involved and limits participation in normal childhood activities and life experiences.
So I joined a group of neighbors, organized by my sweet friend Sarah, to combine resources and buy personalized, meaningful gifts for five children in foster care locally.
Learn more at their website, Worthdays.org
Goochland Cares
The mission of Goochland Cares is to provide basic human services and health care to our Goochland neighbors in need. GoochlandCares envisions an equitable community in which all persons have their basic needs met, empowering them to lead lives of self-dignity and well-being. They do an incredible job of caring for the whole human - from providing emergency housing and medical care to providing food and dental care. And so much more!
Learn more at their website, GoochlandCares.org
As I’ve said before, while I cannot fix everything, I can do something. If you are in a place where you are able, consider joining me to donate to these organizations or others in your community that meet basic needs with compassion and care.
When you work with us, you support positive change
At Laura Kassner Consulting, our mission is to reduce our client’s mental load so they can pursue things that bring them joy. And we want to do also do this at scale by investing a portion of our profits in organizations doing important work we care about. If you’d like to nominate another organization for consideration, please email us.
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