How To Spend Presidents Day Productively

Check out this tool from the Women’s March organization to find a Presidents Day protest near you. I found one near me just by Googling my city and “Presidents Day protest.” There are rallies happening across the country, from New York to Chicago to Kansas City. If you don’t see one near, organize one. Here’s a step-by-step guide to organizing a protest.

Yeah, you. Got an hour or two or a day to spare? There are plenty of organizations that would love your help. If you’re not sure where to start, check out Volunteer Match or any of the places below.

• Planned Parenthood
• United Way
• International Rescue Committee or your local refugee resettlement organization
• A domestic violence shelter near you
• Or, look local, like your neighborhood school or local library

Take a note from the lawyers who showed up to airports after the executive order on travel and immigration. Can you redesign an organization’s website to make it easier to donate? Can you write a compelling newsletter to help increase membership? If you’re an artist or a writer or have a unique skill, creative or otherwise, find an organization you care about and see how you can help.

Finally clean out your closet or garage or that drawer that has who-even-knows-what in there. Then, find an organization that accepts donations for anything you have that’s in good condition, like Goodwill or The Salvation Army. Find a local food pantry and donate nonperishable food (or money, which is often more useful). Don’t forget to check with your local refugee resettlement organization. They may also accept donations for home goods.

If you’re planning on doing a little Presidents Day sale shopping, you could always pick up a few things to give away.

Did you know you can donate makeup (new or gently used) to women’s shelters? Find a local women’s shelter and see if they could use any of that foundation you accidentally bought in the wrong shade. You can also check out Project Beauty Share, a nonprofit that gives makeup and other products to women who need them.

I tend to forget about donating blood until I get a call from my local blood bank. Last month, Red Cross reported a blood shortage. So if you’re eligible to donate, find a blood drive.

Consider spending what you would have on sale shopping on an organization whose mission you support. The great thing about online donations is you don’t even have to put pants on to do it. Also, the money will go to someone who needs it. Here are just a few places you can donate to:

• ACLU
• Human Rights Campaign
• The Arc (Advocacy group for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities)
• National Center for Transgender Equality
• GLAAD
• NAACP
• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
• Planned Parenthood

The actions of this administration will likely disproportionately affect students of color. You can donate to and become involved with groups like the National Coalition on School Diversity, which works to support policy that promotes diversity. Do your part to help ensure all children have access to equal education opportunities.

A little can go a long way. Really. This single tweet from writer Ashley C. Ford inspired hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to pay off overdue lunch accounts of students across the country. Contact your school district (they likely have a website) or a specific school in your neighborhood to see how you can donate towards this cause.

Many teachers end up paying out-of-pocket for school supplies. Sites like DonorsChoose crowdsource donations from generous people like yourself to help ease the financial burden educators often face when stocking their classrooms.

Stay up-to-date on their 100 Day action plan, including preparation for upcoming protests like A Day Without a Woman.

Let them know you’re paying attention. 5 Calls is a great resource for phone scripts and your reps numbers. If you need a reminder, The Weekly Phone Protest will text you one to call congress during office hours. Write them a letter. See then they’re hosting their next town hall.

It’s nominated for an Oscar for a reason. If you want to get angry, informed, and motivated, take 100 minutes of your day to watch this documentary on Netflix, directed by Ava DuVernay, about race and the criminal justice system.

This weekly series on race and culture, hosted by Franchesca Ramsey, answers questions like “Why is the one percent so white?” and “Is PC Culture Anti-Free Speech?” with healthy dose of humor.

Watch the full series here.

Supporting women-friendly media, like BUST or Bitch Magazine, is imperative to keeping those outlets alive.

It’s an app that helps you stay up to date on what congress is doing as well as contact your reps about specific issues you care about. Check it out here.

Go see a show. Visit your museum. Check out a local art gallery. It’ll be like protesting Trump’s rumored decision to defund the National Endowment for the Arts in the most cultured way possible.

Really. You can’t be productive if you’re sleepy. You can still be angry and take care of yourself.

Did you know there is a thing called “outside”? It’s got trees and sun and no naturally-occurring CNN alerts. Give yourself an hour or an afternoon to recharge however is most helpful to you.

It’s never too early. 2018 will be here sooner than you think. Trump is already thinking about his 2020 campaign. See if you’re registered to vote and make sure your friends are registered too.