Why the "Lesser-Known" Causes Need You Now
When we think about giving back in Central Texas, our minds often jump to the same vital categories: food banks, animal shelters, or children’s education. These are beautiful causes, but during a recent "How to Give" session hosted by I Live Here I Give Here, community leaders Perri Travillion of Spurs Sports & Entertainment, Julie Johnson of Central Texas Community Foundation, and Summer McAfee of Consuela pulled back the curtain on three imperative areas that often fly under the radar: Sports & Recreation, Disaster Relief, and Veterans Affairs.
The Gap in the Community
Why are these categories overlooked? According to our brilliant panelists, it is often a matter of "out of sight, out of mind."
Disaster Relief nonprofits see a surge of support during a flood or freeze. But, as Julie Johnson noted, these groups need year-round funding to keep their "coffers" ready and "boots on the ground" so that they are ready to go the moment a crisis strikes - like the recent devastating floods in Central Texas.
Sports & Recreation is about more than just games. Perri Travillion highlighted that for many kids, these programs are their only access to safe play, leadership skills, and a sense of belonging. Without programs to engage all kids in healthy sports and recreation opportunities, we create "gaps in access" that divide our community.
Veterans & Military Affairs support families through constant, sometimes difficult transitions. Summer McAfee emphasized that the organizations serving veterans and military families provide a lifeline of community for spouses and children when a loved one is deployed, and imperative support once a servicemember returns home.
How Can You Help? The Five Ts
Giving isn’t just about the "Treasure" in your bank account. You can support these "overlooked" but heroic organization using the Five Ts:
Time: We can volunteer at a recreation center teaching volleyball or fencing, or write notes to veterans returning home.
Talent: We can use our professional skills (like human resources or accounting) to help a nonprofit do its work even better, maybe by serving as the treasure of a board of directors or helping organize a fundraiser.
Treasure: We can make donations of any size. Summer McAfee talks about her "taco money," meaning each month she takes what she would spend on one taco dinner and sets that aside to give to a nonprofit.
Testimony: We can share stories of how these organizations have impacted our lives; maybe a nonprofit is helping your cousin address the PTSD he developed in the marines, or maybe your sister-in-law was rescued from her home during the recent floods.
Ties: We can connect our networks with the amazing nonprofits doing the work. I Live Here I Give Here has hundreds of nonprofit members working in the areas of Disaster Relief, Sports & Recreation and Veterans & Military Affairs.
Join the Movement
Amplify Austin Day is the perfect time to explore these categories. Whether you give up a few tacos to fund a new cause or volunteer your talent to help a coach with social media, your engagement ensures that Central Texas doesn't just survive—it thrives.
For more information about I Live Here I Give Here, Amplify Austin Day, or just how to find the thing YOU care about, please contact me at piper@ilivehereigivehere.org.