Social Networking and Non-profits

Part of being a nonprofit is networking and reaching out to the community to ask for help.  Today that means more that just having a bake sale or a spaghetti dinner or raffling off a prize.  Those things are still important, it gives the charity an opportunity to directly interact with their supporters; however, today the use of social media is just as important.  The Internet has given nonprofits an endless stream of supporter and partners.

Today I decided that I would do some general upkeep on our Twitter account (@TCCOC) and I thought it would be a good idea to find and follow some like minded organizations.  It really is impressive… the number/diversity of the nonprofit organizations that you can interact with is really astonishing. From clean water projects (@charitywater, @TheWaterProject), AIDS (@GreaterThanAIDS, @AIDSgov), environmental causes(@nature_org, @RainforestUS) , to disaster relief (@SalvationArmyUS, @RedCross) sites like Twitter have really helped nonprofits connect with supporters and partners.

While all these causes are more than worthy of your time and donations, the TCCOC would like to highlight the following organizations.  These are, for the most part, based in the Washington, D.C. area, or they are the national partners of charity organizations that work in D.C.

Fair Chance DC

http://www.fairchancedc.org

@FairChanceDC

Fair Chance provides capacity building services to community based nonprofits in Wards 5-8 to give every child in DC the Fair Chance to Succeed.

TCCOC Blog Picts

DC FoodForAll

http://dcfoodforall.com

@DCFoodForAll

Eaters and advocates, growers and wonks, working to bring healthy, sustainable and affordable food to all.

SOME-Facebook-Logo

So Others Might Eat

http://www.some.org

@SOME_DC

SOME (So Others Might Eat) is an interfaith, community-based organization that exists to help the poor and homeless of our nation’s capital

DCCK_Logo_medium

DC Central Kitchen

http://www.dccentralkitchen.org

@dcck

DC Nonprofit that uses food as a tool for community empowerment

CAFBlogowithfood_fortwitter

Capital Area Food Bank

http://www.capitalareafoodbank.org

@foodbankmetrodc

We feed people at risk of hunger

FA_Logo

Feeding America

http://www.feedingamerica.org

@FeedingAmerica

Feeding America is the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity helping more than 37 million Americans each year.

FAFB_Logo1

Fredericksburg Area Food Bank

http://www.fredfood.org

@FredFoodVA

More than 7,000 people are receiving food assistance each month through our network of non-profit, faith-based, and community food assistance organizations.

A Twitter request « Feeding America Blog

JC Dwyer, the Public Policy Director at the Texas Food Bank Network, never imagined a call for help could come from social media. During the 2011 Anti-Hunger Policy Conference, he told Feeding America about a surprising inquiry from a Twitter follower, and why he felt confident this man would get the help he needs through the well-functioning nutrition safety-net that includes  both charitable and government-funded programs.

A Twitter request « Feeding America Blog.

Next meal elusive for hundreds of thousands of needy in D.C. area – The Washington Post

More than 400,000 Washington area residents experienced periods of hunger and empty cupboards during the recession, including tens of thousands living in some of the country’s most affluent counties, according to a new study released Thursday.

Statistics like this are sometimes hard to believe.  The interactive study paid for by Feeding America is a great way to put into perspective the shortfalls individuals and families face trying to put food on the table.  The index measures the level of “Food Security” in the United States. Food Insecurity is the the state of, or risk of, being unable to provide food (to oneself, or family.  According to the index, Washington, D.C. has a food insucurity rate of 15.8%, or 93,180 people.  Although there is a link between food insecurity and poverty, many individuals and families that are considered food insecure are actually not considered impoverished. 

The study, “Map the Meal Gap,” used Agriculture Department, 2010 Census and unemployment data for a sweeping county-by-county portrait of hunger in America

By donating to charity organizations committed to easy the problem of hunger in the area is a great way to help. 

via Next meal elusive for hundreds of thousands of needy in D.C. area – The Washington Post.