Spirit of Giving: 6 Nonprofits To Support In Wayland

WAYLAND, MA—It's easy to find a charity. Swing a stick and you'll hit some organization, somewhere, raising money for some cause. But many want to keep it truly local, and help the neighbors around you or the charities that operate right in your community.

The season of giving is upon us. After we smash into people with our carts and knock everyone over at the retail stores for Black Friday, and sit online grabbing red hot deals on Cyber Monday, we turn our thoughts to #GivingTuesday.

Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season on Nov. 28. Since its inaugural year in 2012, #GivingTuesday has become a movement that celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy with events throughout the year and a growing catalog of resources, said the organization.

Here is a list of five nonprofit organizations operating or helping in Wayland. Learn more about them.

1. Dignity Matters:collects and supplies feminine hygiene products and underwear to women and girls who are homeless or otherwise in need, in order to help them stay healthy, regain self-confidence, and live with basic dignity.
2. German Shepherd Rescue of New England: an all volunteer, charitable organization dedicated to providing veterinary care, evaluation & adoptive homes for the countless numbers of German Shepherd Dogs who are left in pounds to await uncertain fate, are owner surrenders (divorce, death, etc.), or are from abuse or neglect situations.
3. Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable: community based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting safe and healthy relationships, raising public awareness about abusive and controlling behaviors whether exhibited through bullying, teen dating violence, domestic violence, or elder abuse, and ending relationship violence in all its forms.
4. Wayland Children and Parents Association: a nonprofit organization formed in 1995 to benefit Wayland families by promoting social interaction and by sponsoring educational and fundraising events.
5. Arts Wayland: to promote creative expression; inspire, motivate and support artists of all mediums to enrich the community.
6. Bread of Compassion: a humanitarian organization that sends medical professionals and volunteers to care for needy people in Haiti and to families in the Boston metro-west area.
7. Friends of the Wayland Council on Aging: dedicated to the support of Council On Aging programs, services and equipment which cannot be financed through the Wayland Town budget due to limited line item allocation.

What nonprofit do you support? Tell us about it in the comments section.

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