This blog is meant primarily for anyone who is feeling as deflated, disappointed and disheartened as I have felt for the couple of days since the US election. But you’re welcome here, whoever you are.

I was stunned that Trump was re-elected, but not surprised. I had hoped the US was ready for a stable, well-organized, intelligent, knowledgeable, compassionate, strong woman president who enjoys a life dedicated to service. But apparently people’s concerns about the economy were more present for them than character, which voters in swing states said was not an important issue for them; in fact, most of them said they “liked” Kamala Harris more than Donald Trump.

Of course, as a former accountant, I think that a couple of years from now, some of these same folks will find that they have less available income, and prices will be higher, because within the plan the Republicans say they want to implement, there are reductions of Social Security and health care services and higher taxes for the middle class in order to offset the lower taxes they wish to implement for the uber-wealthy. Also, if tariffs are placed on imports, people will be paying higher prices for anything that is not made in the US… and we have over the years convinced ourselves that we need a whole lot of items that are not made here, from clothing to computer components to parts for vehicles.

But putting that aside, I am holding on to what Michelle Obama said: “Do something.” And what Kamala Harris said in her gracious concession speech, to paraphrase: “We have a lot of work to do. Hard work. But hard work is good work. We like hard work. And we can do it with joy.”

So here are some suggestions I have for anyone who feels like they would like to Do Something.

Contribute to charities, if you’ve got money to do so. Maybe give more than you have in other years. (Or volunteer; check into whether there’s a local chapter; there are lots of local organizations that need assistance.) Here are some charities I have checked out which use nearly all of their donations for programs, not fundraising, with officer salaries that are realistic for the level of work they are expected to do, and the orgs really do what they say they will do. (This is unlike many veterans’ orgs and some cancer orgs. I did not list cancer and some other types of orgs because I wanted to primarily address areas where the Trump administration has said it will cut services.)

Black Americans: United Negro College Fund

Civil Rights: ACLU Foundation, Innocence Project, Public citizen Foundation

Environment & Climate Change: Conservation Fund, Earth Justice, Green America, Natural   Resources Defense Council, Trust for Public Land, Union of Concerned Scientists, World Resources Institute

Gun Control: Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund

Hispanic: Hispanic Federation, Latino Justice, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund

Human Rights: Committee to Protect Journalists, Human Rights First, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund

Human Services: American Red Cross, Remote Area Medical, your local Independent Living center, women’s shelter, community clinic, library or volunteer services for disabled and seniors

Hunger: Your local food bank, Feeding America

International Relief: All Hands and Hearts, Direct Relief, Doctors without Borders, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, World Central Kitchen

LGBTQ+: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)

Mental Health: NAMI National Alliance on Mental Illness

Older Adults: National Council on Aging (and your local senior organizations)

Public Policy: Common Cause Education Fund

Reproductive Health: Pathfinder International, Reproductive Freedom for All Foundation

Veterans: Fisher House Foundation, Homes for Our Troops, Semper Fi Fund, Tunnel to Towers Foundation

Women’s Issues: Global Fund for Women, Madre, Women for Women International, local women’s shelters

Youth: Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs, Donors Choose (local schools), Girls Inc., Scholarship America

So that’s a whole lotta relevant need right there where you might even find joy in giving of your money and/or time.

Hang in there.