Giving thanks to individuals and organizations who make their communities better and brighter
Giving back and supporting the communities we serve is integral to TaskRabbit’s mission. This holiday season, we’re thanking individuals and organizations who make a positive impact on their local communities through our ‘Task the Season initiative. We scoured the US and UK for unsung local heroes and surprised them with Taskers to help make their holiday wishes come true. Meet our honorees and see how they’ve made the people and places around them better and brighter.
The Local Heroes
Our first honoree is Kay Champagne, a Grant Writer who has been with the Texas Ramp Project for 12 years. Kay’s work securing grants has helped the organization expand into 36 regions across Texas, ensuring that no Texas resident lacks mobility and safe access at home. To celebrate her hard work and dedication, Taskers will help construct ramps for Austin-based residents in need this month.
Anita Buckel of Furnishing Dignity is our second ‘Task The Season honoree. Anita co-founded the organization in 2014 because she saw that many people transitioning out of homelessless or foster care lacked living essentials for their new homes. Taskers will be helping Anita and her team set up furniture in the homes of several individuals and families who are transitioning out of homelessless or foster care in the Phoenix, Arizona area, ensuring that their houses feels like a home this holiday season.
We’ve also partnered with journalist and cancer survivor Amanda Salas to honor someone she considers a hero: Vanessa Henriques. Amanda and Vanessa bonded over a shared struggle — Vanessa’s son was battling Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, the same cancer Amanda herself has been dealing with. Vanessa is often stretched thin, as she is managing her son’s care and raising her children as a single mom. We will be providing Vanessa with Tasker support so that she can focus on what matters most: her family.
Additionally, we’ve partnered with Sergei Urban, founder of The Dad Lab and stay-at-home father of two boys, to recognize the life-changing work Child.org is doing in the UK. With programs such as comprehensive education, support groups for pregnant moms in Kenya, and women’s groups focusing on life skills, Child.org helps lift families out of poverty in order to achieve their full potential – a mission that Sergei whole-heartedly stands behind. TaskRabbit will be providing Child.org with Tasker support to renovate its newly opened co-working space, Cahoots, which provides flexible, affordable, central London workspace and a friendly community for small charities and social enterprises.
TaskRabbit for Good Grant Winners
In addition to our ‘Task The Season recipients, we’re awarding three $10,000 grants to local nonprofits through our inaugural TaskRabbit for Good (TR4G) community grant program. This year’s recipients are all closely aligned with TR4G’s mission of helping neighbors in need find work and a place to call home, and we’re excited to help them continue their great work.
Grateful Gatherings furnishes the homes of families transitioning from homelessness or crisis as they move into a new place. They provide new beds, furniture, kitchen items, linens, curtains, carpets, and other household essentials – all within a single day – to create a safe, comfortable home for those who need it most.
Run by formerly incarcerated individuals, The First 72+ aims to end the cycle of incarceration by fostering independence and self-sustainability through education, stable and secure housing, employment, health care, and community engagement. The organization will leverage the TaskRabbit grant to expand the support they offer and help more people get back on their feet.
Based in the UK, The Beam Foundation aims to promote the education of people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities, and people with a criminal record by providing assistance in the form of crowdfunded vocational training to help their community members into stable, skilled work. It will leverage the TR4G grant to support six individuals experiencing homelessness with job training so they can seek and obtain skilled work.
We’re proud and thrilled to honor these individuals and local organizations, and hope that it helps make their holidays merry and bright, while also inspiring others to give back and spread good cheer.
For more information about ‘Task the Season and these heroes and organizations, please visit http://tasktheseason.taskrabbit.com/.
Ready to tackle that to-do list — and maybe do some good in the process by scheduling a donation pickup or drop-off? Book a Tasker today. Interested in becoming a Tasker? Sign up here.
