If you're in a giving mood but not sure where to start, take a few minutes to look at the many nonprofit organizations and charities in Canada which could do with a bit of your time or cash to help those who really need it.
Here are some good places to find Canadian charities and causes that strike a chord in your heart.
Charity Village
One of the nice things about Charity Village is that is has Canada-wide volunteer opportunities, sorted by region. They aren't always the volunteer roles you'd expect, either. You may find requests for a woodworking volunteer, casino hall help, festival organizers, a wildlife researcher, gift wrappers, and history museum curatorial assistance. Many, many more people with a bit of time to give are always needed.
Charity Village also has a well-organized directory of charities and non-profit organizations.
Volunteer Canada
Volunteer Canada is the national umbrella organization of volunteer centres and bureaus in Canada. You can easily locate the volunteer centre nearest to you, and if you need a little push, read about volunteering.
Idealist.org
If you still haven't found a group that appeals to you, there are hundreds of Canadian non-profit organizations listed on the idealist.org site. Just type "Canada" (without the quotation marks) in the Search box to find Canadian non-profit organizations, volunteer jobs, and programs.
Christmas Seals
For a traditional Canadian way of giving at Christmas, the Canadian Lung Association has adapted their Christmas Seals campaign to the Internet. You can make a donation online to help make sure that medical research into the causes and cures for lung disease continues in Canada.
