In the thick of gift-buying and trying to sort out who's getting what for Hanukkah or Christmas this year? It can be a headache.

Why don't you, take a different approach?

Our faculty members have curated their favorite not-for-profits and community service organizations (many of them local to studio BE's home offices in Northeast Pennsylvania). Try these on for size.

The first eight service organizations on this list are run by activists we've been honored to host on our bi-weekly Meet Your Center interview series. We're especially inspired by their work, and encourage you to send them some support.

Give someone you love the gift of generosity and collective care. You just might find yourself lit from within, too.

Image via InsideCreativeHouse/Adobe Stock

Amas Musical Theatre

Amas Musical Theatre is devoted to the creation, development and professional production of new American musicals, the celebration of equity and minority perspectives, the emergence of new artistic talent, and the training and encouragement of inner-city young people.

Breathe International

Breathe International is an international NGO that seeks to establish mindfulness practice as a practical and effective peacebuilding strategy in different parts of the world, particularly those struggling with war or violence.

Dancing Saved My Life

Dancing Saved My Life is a grassroots community started by Andreina Febres, a Bay Area Zumba instructor who lost her mother to cancer, and her student, Joy Glasier, who was going through cancer treatment in 2014. Andreina wanted to find a way to support the cancer community. Simultaneously, Joy was taking a stress relief class specifically tailored to cancer care with Maura Singer. These two practices were instrumental to Joy’s healing. Based on Maura and Andreina’s particular expertise, they teamed up to launch a sustainable program that benefits the cancer community.

Fill-A-Bag

Fill-A-Bag works with coastal communities to set up FAB stations that hold reusable bags and buckets, inviting folks to turn daily beach strolls into meaningful clean ups. By giving people gateway access to clean ups, we not only help to protect our oceans and marine life, but we also become more mindful of our own behaviors and lifestyle choices.

Save The Wave

Our oceans are full of plastics. Join the movement to clean American beaches, educate people about single use plastics, and raise $1,000,000 for 501(c)(3) NFP organizations fighting for our oceans.

Yoga4Change

Yoga 4 Change is a non-profit organization that achieves lasting, demonstrative change for veterans, individuals who are experiencing incarceration, youth, and people living with mental health conditions through a purpose-driven yoga curriculum.

Yoga Of Recovery

Yoga of Recovery (YoR) retreats integrate the wisdom of Yoga and Ayurveda with the modern recovery ideas and the tools of 12-Step Recovery. It is open to all who are looking to overcome self-destructive or addictive tendencies.

You're Going To Die

A 501(C)3 nonprofit bringing diverse communities creatively into the conversation of death and dying, inspiring life by unabashedly sourcing our shared mortality, with concerts, open mics, and workshops for the general population and programming specific to hospice patients and our prison community.

Image via DisobeyArt/AdobeStock

Every Mother Counts

Every Mother Counts is working towards a world where no one dies from, or experiences, preventable pregnancy and childbirth complications.

Facing History and Ourselves

Facing History and Ourselves uses lessons of history to challenge teachers and their students to stand up to bigotry and hate.

Fork Over Love

We're helping Northeastern Pennsylvania thrive by purchasing dinners from local restaurants and distributing dinners to the community.

FreeFrom

The FreeFrom team is made up of queer, trans, im/migrant, and BIPOC survivors. We envision a world in which all survivors are able to build the wealth and financial security necessary to support their individual, intergenerational, and community healing — enabling them to thrive.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that helps people in your community and around the world build or improve a place they can call home.

National Bail Fund Network

The National Bail Fund Network is made up of over ninety community bail and bond funds across the country. We regularly update this listing of community bail funds that are freeing people by paying bail/bond and are also fighting to abolish the money bail system and pretrial detention.

RAINN

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) is a broad-based, national, interfaith movement that brings the moral force of religion to protect and advance reproductive health, choice, rights and justice through education, prophetic witness, pastoral presence and advocacy.

Southern Poverty Law Center

Your gift will help win justice on behalf of those who have no other champion, expose and fight the hate that thrives in our country, and provide tolerance education materials free of charge to schools across our nation.

Surfrider

The Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network.

TogetherRising

Together Rising transforms collective heartbreak into effective action.

The United Way

United Way fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community.

World Central Kitchen

World Central Kitchen uses the power of food to nourish communities and strengthen economies through times of crisis and beyond.

Got a favorite inspirational non-profit to add? We've love to highlight their work. Shoot us an email at hello@meetyourcenter.com and we'll take care of it.