The blogosphere is filled with the holiday cheer of… bling… I mean… bells… Salvation Army bells ringing in the shopping centers… tons of gift giveaways for the holidays…

Oh. Hang on. I’m conflicted. Is it better to give, or receive?

Why not do both this year?

Kate at Babylune is spearheading a Group Writing Project that asks each of us to write about a charity that is near and dear to our hearts. My first thought was for single mother charities, but I believe that women as a whole are a minority in need of safety and succor, without further subdividing us into groups who need ‘more’ help than others. Which is why I am particulary fond of the YWCA of the USA. Let me start off by saying, I’ve never found myself in the uncomfortable position of being cornered by evangilists at the Y–either the YW or the WMCA. Oh, sure, there’s an extra bounce and lilt in some voices there, and every once in a while someone will smile and call after me, ‘You have a blessed day!” But I’ve never found a friend who felt uncomfortable within the walls of those organizations, no matter their sex, religion, race, or general beliefs. And since I became a single mother and a writer here at SoloMother, I’ve become far too aware of the physical and mental abuse women and children suffer at the hands of men. “Eliminating racism. Empowering women.” Sounds good to me.

The YWCA is the nation’s oldest women’s organization. And in their own words, here is what they set out to accomplish:

Mission

The YWCA of the U.S.A. is the nation’s oldest and largest women’s movement. Operating out of over two thousand locations in all 50 states, the YWCA of the U.S.A. represents approximately 2 million women, girls and their families. Its mission, to empower women and girls and to eliminate racism, is the guiding principle of all YWCA child care, domestic violence, violence prevention, shelter, fitness and social justice programs.

Programs

Social Action and Advocacy are the cornerstones of the YWCA. Since our inception almost 150 years ago, “service” has been linked to “action.” In communities across the United States, YWCAs continue to work to improve social and economic conditions for all people. As the nation’s oldest and largest multicultural women’s organization, the YWCA is comprised of nearly 300 local associations, regional leadership and a national office in Washington D.C. - who all work together, across the nation to strengthen our voices in the nation’s capital and in state and local governments. In addition, the YWCA USA initiates and coordinates the public’s awareness on many events and programs: YWCA Week Without Violence, YWCA National Day of Commitment to Eliminate Racism, YWCA Race Against Racism, YWCA Girls Leadership Program and YWCA TechGYRLS Program.

I think this organization, whose revenue is surprisingly low for such a large constituency, needs our support. If you are in a giving frame of mind this Christmas, please consider supporting the YWCA, for all the good it does for women and children in need.

Now, if you feel that it is also good to receive, then I’d recommend heading over to GlamNest to keep tabs on editor Erika Lenkert’s holiday giveaway-a-day-fest. Enter a comment on the site before 10PM PST Monday, December 3rd for a chance to win a beautiful pair of Viv & Ingrid gold spiral hoop earrings.

And Watch This Space! I’ve got a book to give away, myself, right after the weekend.

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