Do you have a charitable passion?

[Medusa]

I mean is there a charity, group or organization that you are passionate about? My husband and I are both patched member's of Biker's Against Child Abuse or BACA. It has been a very rewarding experience for us to belong to this organization.
We exist as a body of Bikers who's mission is to empower abused children to not feel afraid of the world in which they live. We make home visits, stand with them in court, and will even stand guard at the home if they are in danger.
Tel me about your passion... ask me about mine.... let's get this thread rolling

 

[cactus71]

I do Medusa... Best Friends Animal Society and Watermelon Ranch... both no-kill shelters for dogs and cats and they really do allocate most of the donations to the care of the animals. Having dogs all my life and a couple cats growing up... I just have a soft-spot in my heart for them and their care.

Heck if links are okay then I'm on board....

 

[dialx7]

Please... include links, so we can learn about your causes!

Surely that's allowed? I hope!

 

[Seebs]

Just like cactus71, only difference is my weakness are doggies... Never had a cat so I haven't had the chance to build that bond. I shared my life with dogs ever since I can remember.

My first one was a German Shepherd that my grandpa got when I was born. He is my first ever memory of having a dog and he was already about six when I became aware that he was "mine".

After that it's been a long string of adoptions and rescues... All in all; one black lab (his name was keeper: pure breed), one dalmatian (his name was Pecas which is Spanish for freckles: pure breed), one black little mutt (his name was toy: mix. Never knew what he had in him but he was a tiny riot) and the last one that "left" me a couple years ago was my white American Bulldog baby (her name was Luna: pure breed. That's her at 10 weeks old on my avatar).

I try to help out with the local shelter when I have some funds and volunteered there for a couple months after losing Luna, but it got too depressing for me so I stopped that.

Sorry; no website as it is one of many shelters run by the County here in South Florida and they do all their on-line stuff through PetFinder.

 

[cactus71]

Just like cactus71, only difference is my weakness are doggies... Never had a cat so I haven't had the chance to build that bond. I shared my life with dogs ever since I can remember.

My first one was a German Shepherd that my grandpa got when I was born. He is my first ever memory of having a dog and he was already about six when I became aware that he was "mine".

After that it's been a long string of adoptions and rescues... All in all; one black lab (his name was keeper: pure breed), one dalmatian (his name was Pecas which is Spanish for freckles: pure breed), one black little mutt (his name was toy: mix. Never knew what he had in him but he was a tiny riot) and the last one that "left" me a couple years ago was my white American Bulldog baby (her name was Luna: pure breed. That's her at 10 weeks old on my avatar).

I try to help out with the local shelter when I have some funds and volunteered there for a couple months after losing Luna, but it got too depressing for me so I stopped that.

Sorry; no website as it is one of many shelters run by the County here in South Florida and they do all their on-line stuff through PetFinder.

Wait a minute there Seebs ... no way... I'm a dog person first and foremost - only had cats 'cuz the family had them when I was growing up, but I've had dags my entire life... appreciate them both but have never owned a cat on my own Dogz rule and cats are sorta cool - if you like poop in your house

Aren't dags the coolest things ever... so hard to let them go when time calls. My best buddy growing up was Mister, a German Shepherd / Collie Mix... such a cool dog - never had to leash him because he was right by my side while hiking and skateboarding, then I had my GFs dogs, Barbara the Boxer, Humphrey The Basset Hound, Chester the mutt, and George the PB - all great dogs.

Out here in NM, we later got Dalmatian/Boxer cross pups (Doogan and Audrey). Doogan developed diabetes and had cataracts, which we had repaired through lens-implant surgery, and that's when I quit my job to take care of him... took 2 months of healing and by-weekly removal of stitches (one-at-a-time) keeping his eyes mostly closed so he couldn't "undo" the surgery by rubbing his eyes, but when it was done... he could actually see again - (amazing). Unfortunately, his and my battle with his condition failed (a few years later) and then his sister got bladder cancer that we just couldn't fight any longer.

That's when I swore off owning another dog... the pain of not being able to fix 'em with all efforts to do so was just too much. Several years passed and that's when my new buddy showed up in our driveway at 5AM... no tags, not neutered... I had the vet check for a chip - nada, posted flyers, Craigslist ads, etc - nada. He decided to keep us and wow has he ever been the best... great hiking buddy, Frisbee dog, so social w/ other dogs and people - just all you could want from a dag.

Don't get me wrong, cats have their place in my heart too, since they do need our care as well, but it really is dags that that I hold dearest. To dags and thanks for your story - nice to meet other dog-lovers

 

[Medusa]

Very cool guys! I am also involved on animal rescue, but not through an organization exactly. I have reptiles, I also take in and adopt out reptiles when people can't handle them any more for whatever reason. But we are basically a huge pet family, we have an English bully, my best little mutt friend Lucy (rescue), a rescued devil possessed cat, 4 snakes, a bearded dragon and a rescue iguana.
Also if links aren't allowed then mod please delete
This is the international web site for Bikers Against Child Abuse I mentioned in the original post
www.BACAworld.org

 

[dialx7]

BACA... what an awesome cause! Thanks for sharing, I see my nearest chapter is St. Louis area. Will definitely look into that. I know children always love to see the bikes, and how safe they must feel to have bikers on their side! Wonderful!

 

[dialx7]

Oops, silly me, I didn't acknowledge the animal causes. I have too much of a soft spot for animals. I have had rescues (German Shepherds) in the past, and my most current rescue is a 200 lb St. Bernard. I've had her since 2006. I can't go to shelters, because it upsets me terribly, and of course, I'd have to bring them all home. Kudos to all of you that can. I have to keep my involvement to donating supplies for the critters, since I can't go through the pens.

 

[Medusa]

BACA... what an awesome cause! Thanks for sharing, I see my nearest chapter is St. Louis area. Will definitely look into that. I know children always love to see the bikes, and how safe they must feel to have bikers on their side! Wonderful!

You are on a great area for BACA. The international president Scootr is a member of the St. Louis chapter.

 

[cactus71]

You are on a great area for BACA. The international president Scootr is a member of the St. Louis chapter.

I think that BACAs cause is great Medusa... thanks for bringing it to my attention. I do much prefer "smaller" organizations that actually carry out their mission statements. Of course, like so often, New Mexico, doesn't have a local chapter - even though there are plenty of bikers in state. I miss the 21st century sometimes since leaving the Bay Area, CA

 

[PRIMER]

Struggling and incarcerated artists.
I run a gallery and send art supplies to county jail inmates.
We are very low budget and grass roots, but I know it helps real people in need.
I have trust issues with non-profits, like most corporations.

 

[Medusa]

Struggling and incarcerated artists.
I run a gallery and send art supplies to county jail inmates.
We are very low budget and grass roots, but I know it helps real people in need.
I have trust issues with non-profits, like most corporations.

That is a great cause. I do a lot of art myself, I work with water colors and encaustics.
We go to the Angola Rodeo every year. They have a huge craft and art sale with the rodeo. The items there are absolutely beautiful. I actually have a painting of my children that was done by an inmate there. It is my favorite piece.

 

[Medusa]

I also wanted to add that I too have issues with non profits. I looked very deep into BACA before we started the process of joining. The organization is 100% voluntary, not one person is paid a salary for the work they do with BACA, from the founder on down. Even the lawyers are pro-bono, our pay day is when one of our BACA kids is empowered. When an abuses child can come out of their shell and hold their head high. We don't focus on what happened to them. We don't try to fix the wrongs. We are the people that say we are here with you through this. we do what our mission statement says.

Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) exists with the intent to create a safer environment for abused children. We exist as a body of Bikers to empower children to not feel afraid of the world in which they live. We stand ready to lend support to our wounded friends by involving them with an established, united organization. We work in conjunction with local and state officials who are already in place to protect children. We desire to send a clear message to all involved with the abused child that this child is part of our organization, and that we are prepared to lend our physical and emotional support to them by affiliation, and our physical presence. We stand at the ready to shield these children from further abuse. We do not condone the use of violence or physical force in any manner, HOWEVER, if circumstances arise such that we are the only obstacle preventing a child from further abuse, we stand ready to be that obstacle.