CALGARY, Dec. 23 /CNW/ - So, it's December 26th, otherwise known as Boxing Day, and you are looking for a place to store the "whatchamacallit" from Aunty Freda and the "doomahickey" from your sister-in-law. In order to make room, you're going to have to purge - rather, box up the extraneous stuff (and then figure out what do with it).
There are several theories on the origin of this day that we call Boxing Day (see insert), but the two common threads are that it was, and continues to be, about gathering excess and then, in an act of charity, providing what you have gathered to someone who needs it.
"This is the part of the process that becomes a little tricky," says Robb Price, founder of www.delivergood.org. "Who needs what I have?"
DeliverGood.org is a free service, for both charities and donors, that helps solve this age-old dilemma. DeliverGood matches charities and not-for-profits who need 'stuff' with the businesses and people who have that 'stuff;' by proximity, by mission, by name or by need.
Marilyn Dyck, Executive Director of the Doorway, a not-for-profit that helps street youth transition off the street has set up their organization's real-time, dynamic wish list on the site and has experienced several matches in the last couple of months.
"I would encourage charities and not-for-profits to sign up, as we are an integral part of the supply chain on the site. There truly are no catches to setting up a free profile and posting a wish list, I know that first-hand," says Dyck.
"One great benefit for us is that it levels the playing field in terms of reaching donors. We, a very small organization, have just as much opportunity to be matched as organizations that have big fundraising resources," says Dyck.
There are currently over 3,500 needs listed on the website and donations through www.delivergood.org have ranged the gamut - from laptops and monitors to art and deer meat!
Hayley Wickenheiser, three-time Olympic gold medalist in women's hockey, a mom and admitted neat freak, is a donor who uses the service to keep control of the continuous collection of 'stuff' from everyday family life.
"I think DeliverGood is really filling a need and it is ridiculously easy to use. I just type in a search field what I have to give and it matches me with someone close by. I love it."
Boxing Day Quick Facts
- Boxing Day is observed by Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Ghana, Greenland, Guyana, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Kenya, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Finland, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago and the United Kingdom.
- In South Africa, it's known as "the day of goodwill."
- One theory states that the tradition has long included giving money and other gifts to those who were needy and in service positions. The European tradition has been dated to the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is unknown and there are some claims that it goes back to the late Roman/early Christian era. (Source: Wikipedia)
- Another possibility is that the name derives from an old English tradition: in exchange for ensuring that wealthy landowners' Christmases ran smoothly, their servants were allowed to take the 26th off to visit their families. The employers gave each servant a box containing gifts and bonuses (and sometimes leftover food). (Source: Wikipedia)
- Around the 1800s, churches would open their alms boxes (boxes where people place monetary donations) and distributed the contents to the poor. (Source: Wikipedia)
About DeliverGood
DeliverGood.org is FREE for charities and donors and only takes minutes to set-up a profile. Organizations can set-up a real-time, dynamic wish list that is searchable by the entire country.
For further information:
Robb Price, Founder
403-837-7622 - cell phone
[email protected]
(Completely available during the holidays)
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