Written by VISTA Member Kristen Menger
Ahh, Thanksgiving. Stuffed with potatoes and pies, we counted
our blessings and were thankful.
Now we move on to the next joyous holiday! For many, that means
Christmas or
another gift-giving holiday. What are you going to get for Aunt Ethel? She
makes you cookies! With love baked right in! Surely no doo-dad picked at random
will do.
The new trendy thing to give is a
donation to a charity in her name. (And Aunt Ethel is very trendy.) You
could choose one of her pet causes, or introduce her to one you support. Many
small or local nonprofits fly under the radar at seasons of giving. Sure, Salvation
Army is ringing the bell outside grocery stores, but many organizations are too
small to spare the staff or volunteers for that kind of visibility.
Meet Prescott Alternative
Transportation (PAT). We're a small and local nonprofit working for a bicycle
and pedestrian-friendly central Yavapai community. We act as the voice for
those who cannot or choose not to drive a car to every destination, whether for
health, environmental, or financial reasons. (Aunt Ethel is always concerned about
those crazy gas prices.)
Through education and advocacy, PAT
has been guiding the Prescott area towards a future with safe and convenient
transportation options since 1997. We have brought in millions of grant dollars
to fund road improvements, work to build and connect trails and greenways, and
have been running the local Safe Routes to School program since 2001. Many of
our initiatives do not bring in any funding for PAT itself. Although we delight
in service to our community, we too have to pay the bills. (Ugh.)
If you walk or bike to work, school,
recreation or shopping, one of the easiest and most efficient methods of making
that journey safer and more convenient is to donate to PAT.
I know a few of my loved ones will
be "donating" to Prescott Alternative Transportation this year!
For more information, visit the PAT Facebook
page, email us at pat@prescottbikeped.org, or call us at 928.708.0911.
