Patch Picks: 5 Great Non-Profit Organizations Close to Home

For every worthy cause out there, there is a worthy organization that works towards funding these causes. From health care to housing, to education and nutrition, animals and even unborn children, there is a non-profit organization out there waiting with open arms welcoming help and donations from philanthropic individuals. 

Here is a list of great non-profit organizations right here on Long Island that is making a difference in the world.

1.       Planned Parenthood- 110 School Street, Glen Cove (Center)

Planned Parenthood is a trusted health care provider an educator committed to providing reproductive health care, sex education, teen education and other women’s health and well-being based information to men, women and young people. With about 820 centers nationwide, this non-profit dedicates its energy to preventing unintended pregnancies through conception, reducing the spread of sexually transmitted infections through testing and treatment and screening for cervical and other forms of cancer. They aim to offer high quality and affordable medical care to those in need.  

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/centerDetails.asp?f=2787 

2.       Make A Wish Foundation Metro New York- 1111 Marcus Avenue, Lake Success

The mission of this foundation is simple- to make the wishes of children with life threatening illnesses between the ages of 2 ½ to 18 years come alive. Since its Metro New York chapter launched nearly 30 years ago, it has granted about 8500 wishes. This chapter, which covers the five boroughs and Nassau County is based in Lake Success and has a field office in Manhattan.

http://metrony.wish.org/

 3.       Long Island Children’s Museum- Garden City

Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM) invites visitors of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to explore and appreciate the communities and world we share while discovering their passions. The museum was first opened in 1993 and now serves more than 265,000 children and adults every year across the metropolitan region. There are 14 hands-on, interactive exhibit galleries, a 145 seat sate of the art theater and three classrooms sized learning studios. Visitors can enjoy interdisciplinary, age appropriate and intergenerational indoor and outdoor gallery spaces which fosters both independent and cooperative exploration and encourages skill building and concept development.

http://www.licm.org/

 4.       Long Island Cares, Hauppauge

Long Island Cares is a community based organization working in partnership with other charitable agencies to fight hunger in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Their aim is to provide nutritional food and support services for a network of more than 540 community based agencies such as food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, child care programs, disability organizations and veterans. This non-profit also sponsor programs such as hunger education, job training, supplemental food programs for children, school supplies, job development and advocacy opportunities.

http://www.licares.org/

5.       Island Harvest, Mineola.

Established in 1992, Island Harvest bridges the gap between those who have a surplus of food and those who are in need of it. Aiming to end hunger while reducing food waste on Long Island, the non-profit works with over 600 local restaurants, caterers, farmers and other food businesses collecting surplus food which is then distributed to a network of nearly 500 soup kitchens, food pantries and other places those in need can access it. Island Harvest also conducts educational programs to increase hunger awareness and inform the public how to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island.           

http://www.islandharvest.org/index.aspx?skipintro=true