Are you as tired of the pandemic as I am? We have read a lot about COVID-19 fatigue. According to the American Medical Association, “people are tired of being cooped up due to restrictions on indoor gatherings outside the home. They are tired of wearing masks, social distancing, being away from family and friends, and increasingly fed up with the new-normal routines. Many are experiencing a type of burnout that experts are calling COVID-19 fatigue, which can lead to careless behaviors and a sharp rise in cases.”
Well, let us forget about careless behaviors. Let us instead do something positive with the time we have on this planet. Let us all resolve to make a difference in our own communities in ways that will lead us back to a new and greater freedom and better communities in which to lead our lives.
Meanwhile, it is tax time. Ugh! It seems that every day something new and something old comes along to bring us back to the bleak realities of life, death, and taxes!
But with new guidelines, we can make real impact with the money we already have spent.
Did you know there is a provision under the CARES Act that makes it possible to write off charitable contributions, up to $300, without having to itemize your taxes. These are considered “above the line” tax deductions, and cash donations to any 501© (3) nonprofits can qualify.
So, who could benefit from this deduction? Well, you, of course. Who did you choose to help in 2020? I hope you chose to help someone. Was it a scout troop? Did you give to the VFW or American Legion? Did you support your Senior Services Center or senior center? Do not forget to include that in your income tax forms this season.
The IRS notes, “Taxpayers age 70½ or older can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from their IRA, up to $100,000, directly to an eligible charity. It is generally a nontaxable distribution made by the IRA trustee to a charitable organization, and it counts toward their minimum distribution requirement for the year.” You can learn more at: www.irs.gov/newsroom/how-the-cares-act-changes-deducting-charitable-contributions
You did not help anyone? Really? To me it is unimaginable, but every day I do talk to some who just do not give to charity, and to others who cannot imagine donating their time. It is so easy to help now, too. There is a myriad of online virtual volunteer opportunities now, too. Isn’t this the time to make good on those New Year’s resolutions of recreating your life, making changes to do better this year?
If you are interested in online virtual volunteering, using your talents, and lifelong earned knowledge in a new way, check out Volunteer Match. Volunteer Match is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization which provides a national digital infrastructure to serve volunteers and nonprofit organization in America. It is the number one search portal for volunteering across America. This past holiday season you probably heard their radio commercials encouraging you to shine through volunteering. According to their website, www.volunteermatch.org, there are 628,153 volunteers needed to fill the virtual volunteer opportunities that have been posted on their site.
You can help organizations such as, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), wildlife protection agencies, Hospice agencies, homeless, and disease awareness groups such as Alzheimer’s support groups. Creative writing opportunities exist there, and there are opportunities for artists, educators, citizenship mentors, and more. The list is endless. Can you think of a better way to use the devices we have in our homes? Why not give our expertise to the world through virtual volunteering.
Do you want to get out and get involved in live volunteering opportunities? You can find many new ideas there, too. Volunteer Match quickly sends your inquiries to the charities that are partners with them, and you soon will be in contact with someone in your area who needs you!
Whether we benefit from last year’s charitable donations, or this year’s new resolutions, we can rebuild our world and open our minds and hearts to new endeavors this year, with little more than the click of a button.
Let us celebrate being alive! Let us do something good with the time we have today.
Barb Nadeau is the community relations manager for the Voluntary Action Center of Northern Illinois, in five counties. Barb has worked many years as a professional television and radio host, as well as a print and social media journalist, and as a volunteer coordination professional networking amongst non-profit social service agencies throughout Illinois. She is a freelance writer and an elected alderman in the City government of Plano. Contact Barb at bvnadeau@gmail.com.