This article was planned to be published a few days from now, but with the newly created #GivingTuesday, we put a rush on it. It's time to address that collection of suggested donation sources that you file in the back of your bills folder, and write the checks for end of the year donations because they make a big difference. Beacon is steeped in volunteer organizations that provide vital services that many come to depend on, whether it be for enjoyment or a life threatening emergency. Here are a few ideas for you to donate to this Holiday Season.

BEACON VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE CORP.

When I got the letter in the mail to donate to the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corp (BVAC), I almost overlooked the word "Volunteer". When my husband called 911 for me a year after we'd moved here, while we were hosting a spring BBQ, I was having a then undiscovered bout of appendicitis which left me blue and shaking in my bed while my guests ate potato chips (I felt extremely embarrassed to be so unsocial). An ambulance and medical people showed up (even more embarrassing as our new neighbors viewed the scene from their front porches), because that is what happens when you call 911. What amazes me to this day is that the ambulance service is volunteer based, and has been since its inception. It is also the "busiest volunteer service in the country" with 2200 calls per year, according to their website.

When they started, the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corp made calls out of a 1948 refurbished Cadillac ambulance. The "dispatch system" was 3 volunteer members setting up a phone in their house. Then 7 volunteer members set up phones in their houses. Then they got pagers. And now the Dutchess County Bureau of Fire dispatch system is their system.

If you want to make sure these guys stick around, consider donating to the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps. They have a membership PDF, but consider just sending a check to the address on their website.

DONATION DETAILS >

CITY OF BEACON FIRE DEPARTMENT

A combination paid and volunteer organization, the City of Beacon Fire Department has been protecting Beacon since 1913. It has 13 paid firefighters, 3 support staff, and a volunteer organization of 60. That's a lot, and possibly how they fill 3 fire stations and have been designated with the fastest response time in Dutchess County, according to the City's website. Currently, their entire website has been under construction since early November, so when they are out fighting fires, perhaps your donation can help them make the updates they need. Or buy new equipment and maintain trucks ;)

Send your donation to:

City of Beacon Fire Department

Fire Department

13 South Avenue

Beacon, NY 12508

COMMON GROUND FARM

Common Ground Farms is hosting their Annual Benefit Auction this Saturday, December 6th at the Scenic Hudson River Center Red Barn, 8 Long Dock Road, Beacon for food, drink, and live music from Tall County.

All proceeds go to support the Farm's nonprofit farm-to-school programs in which local Beacon school kids visit the Farm, and which allows the farmer to visit Beacon classrooms. In 2014 every third, fourth, and fifth grade class from J.V. Forrestal Elementary School (which is one of four elementary schools in Beacon) visited Common Ground Farm to learn about worms, bees, compost, organic farming, and local vegetables. Common Ground Farm also provides Chefs in the Classroom that conduct taste tests of local veggies and who prepare healthy food and recipes, which are then served in the school cafeteria. Common Ground Farms' goal is to increase funding so that they can work with their partners, including Hudson Valley Seed, to expand programming to additional schools.

BUY TICKETS HERE >

BEACON DOG PARK

After a year of fundraising, the Beacon Dog Park finally hosted a ribbon cutting to officially open its gates in March of 2013. Right next to Memorial Park for Kids, where dogs are not allowed, the Beacon Dog Park has made socializing dogs and humans easier and more attainable. Your membership as a dog owner is donation enough, but if you wanted to donate a little extra, it does help to buy new benches, fix any fencing, etc.

DONATE NOW >

GIANNETTA SALON & SPA

Near and dear to Giannetta Salon & Spa's heart for the Children's Tumor Foundation, which has made great strides in developing cures for cancer, tumors, bone disorders, and learning difficulties. Right now, Giannetta's is hosting a raffle for a basket of wine, as well as 3 Kerastase Chroma Thermique system products. This is sort of major because if you've ever tried Kerastase, you'll know it's the most luxurious shampoo lather you've ever experienced, and really does make a big difference in your hair. A donation box for the Children's Tumor Foundation is available as well. You can stop into the salon to enter the raffle.

MORE ABOUT GIANNETTA >

MID-HUDSON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM

Any city is so lucky to have a Children's Museum, and if you're not already a member or a regular attendee of this museum, you should know that Mid-Hudson Children's Museum, located on the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie almost under the Walkway Over the Hudson, is a special place for kids. They celebrate childhood and are proud to offer exhibits that get kids moving, exploring, building, pretending, collaborating, creating and discovering. Their exhibits focus on nature, science, literacy, art, music and community and allow children the opportunity to develop foundational learning skills. The museum also builds a lot of their own exhibits.

BECOME A MEMBER or JUST DONATE >

Remember, these are only a few ideas. Let's see how creative you can be in your Holiday Giving!