Can’t afford to give a lot of money to charity? Looking for other ways to give generously? Here are two ideas for you - one which takes an hour or two, another which is a much bigger commitment…

Give blood
It won’t cost you a thing, and you’ll probably even get some free orange juice and cookies. Giving the gift of yourself can be the sweetest gift of all.

Raise a guide dog or service dog
You love dogs and helping people? Change someone’s life by raising a puppy to be used as a guide or service dog.

With so many veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, the need for these dogs is very high. You’ll need to follow specific guidelines on raising the puppy, and someone will need to be with the puppy most of the time. Couples with split-schedules, Retirees, or families with one stay-at-home parent are ideal.

Do an internet search on “guide dog schools” to see if there’s an organization near you which raises and trains these exceptional animals. Fair warning: 60% of families which raise one puppy sign up to raise additional puppies. It’s a wonderful community of families and individuals which choose to provide this community service.

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