Last week we received the following email from our member, Jessica. Rather than follow her suggestion, we thought we would just let Jessica say it to you.

“Today I received an email from Amazon Smile informing me that in 2020 my charity of choice, CCDC, received $33.47 based on .5% of my purchases to date. Reading this, it occurred to me that I will not be the only member whose heart wants to give much more than my pocketbook allows in this year of broad financial hardship. Thus, I thought I would write and suggest that you remind members IN BIG BOLD LETTERS that .5% of all Amazon purchases made on AmazonSmile.com can be donated to CCDC. 

Almost everything purchased on Amazon Smile will generate real dollars for the organization we love and depend on. Purchases like all Kindle books, heavy bags of World’s Best Cat Sand, toilet paper not found at any store, birthday presents, new socks, the window air conditioner that was shipped overnight this past summer, and even MP3 music can qualify. I have no idea how many members there are with CCDC, but 200 members times $33 each is $6,600. It’s not the Moon, but would $6,600 cover a new advocate training? What else that is vital to CCDC would $6,600 pay for? With a New Year starting, I’d love knowing that every member’s Amazon purchases are yielding donations for CCDC.

Last, on the cover page for Amazon Smile is a page full of directions and FAQs. Maybe link to it, or better yet, if you have time, summarize it in steps 1 -6 (or whatever) in your message, so those who have for so long meant to change their bookmark from Amazon to Amazon Smile will finally see how easy it is to do.

As always, my input stems from only my appreciation for all CCDC does for my husband. 

Please stay safe. Be happy! And be at peace.

Jessica”

If you would like to take up Jessica’s suggestion, go to https://smile.amazon.com/ref=smi_se_dshb_bk_smi and bookmark the page. If you already have an Amazon account, just log in and follow the instructions. Type into the “pick your own charitable organization” box “Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition”. Our organization will come up. Then, delete your existing Amazon bookmark and use this one instead.

The thing to know about Amazon Smile is that it doesn’t restrict your Amazon search. By starting at Amazon Smile, the system identifies qualified products as you buy them and automatically makes the donation while allowing you to search all of Amazon. One study shows that 82% of American households have an Amazon Prime account. So, we ask you to set up the easiest passive giving you can engage in. Year to date we have received $497.16 and while I have only generated $.88, it is $.88 that Amazon coughed up – and for me, that might be the best part. 

We thank Jessica and all of you for your generosity.