Create a Better World
Do you sometimes wish you could do more to make the world a better place? You can.
The Create a Better World (CBW) team creates opportunities for people like you who want to build community and make a difference in the lives of others. By guiding and supporting people to take action in the world, we are channels of God’s Love, Grace, and Power as we help transform ideas into reality through mindful service.
Through CBW, we have contributed to projects and organizations such as St Francis House, local Food Banks, Rebuilding Together, Habitat for Humanity, and the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI)—to name a few.
How to Get Involved:
You are invited to participate in one of our seasonal upcoming service opportunities listed below. If you are searching for another way to volunteer your time and energy or get more involved with the Create a Better World Team, we can match you to your specific interest or help you organize and lead your own effort. Contact Cathy Lindsay.




CBW Monthly Donations
CSL Seattle and Create a Better World supports charitable organizations to do their good work in the world by donating $100 to three local nonprofits every month. Recipients are nominated by CSL members and congregants. Monthly nominations can be submitted to Sherry Dawley and should include organization name, web site, and one sentence why you love this nonprofit. Let’s help others who need our support!
Scroll down to see past donation recipients.
May 2023 Donations
- Sammamish Animal Sanctuary in Renton provides forever homes for abused, neglected, unwanted, and/or homeless barnyard animals. We do not breed, sell, nor buy our animals. Nominated by Laurel Tomchick.
- Pasado’s Safe Haven This incredible organization investigates cases of animal cruelty and neglect, rescues domestic animals, provides medical care and rehabilitation services at their Sanctuary, education and advocacy programs, and adoption opportunities. I adopted my sweet Wally kitty from there. He came from a horrible hoarding situation and blossomed into the most loving, affection kitty. Nominated by Julie DeVito.
- Homeward Pet in Woodinville is a no-kill adoption shelter. We got our dear (recently departed) kitty there 19 years ago. They are a wonderful organization and do a lot of good in the community. Nominated by Diana Sergi Khoury.
CBW Monthly Giving
Past Create a Better World Monthly Donations
April 2023 Donations
- Washington Farmland Trust protects and stewards threatened farmland in Washington. They help keep land in production by making it accessible to a new generation of farmers. Nominated by Betty Gibelyou
- IslandWood is an environmental education nonprofit serving the Puget Sound region. We believe every child should have access to the sense of wonder and discovery that comes from meaningful experiences in the natural world. IslandWood was founded to increase access and lower financial barriers to nature-based learning for our region’s children. Nominated by Marilyn Gregory
- ECOSS bridges industry, government, and communities to promote practical and sustainable environmental solutions. We are leaders in community engagement, working in tandem with a broad base of immigrants and refugees to mitigate stormwater pollution, disseminate education on transportation electrification, improve green space access, reduce food waste, and more. Nominated by Laurel Tomchick
February 2023 Donations
- $1000 to World Center Kitchen, helping feed those in need in Ukraine.
- White Center Food Bank’s Mission is to Minimize Hunger… While nourishing community, nurturing self-reliance and embracing our rich cultural diversity. Nominated by Liz Mirante and Marjorie Billings McKinney.
- Food Lifeline is on a mission to end hunger in Western Washington. We believe that access to food is a basic human right and that nobody deserves to be hungry. Food Lifeline provides nutritious food to 1.37 million people facing hunger by sourcing nutritious food from a variety of food industry partners. Nominated by Cindy Warren.
- Renewal Food Bank in Bellevue is helping many of the families/youth of the schools in the nearby area. Nominated by Janell Shiers.
January 2023 Donations
In January, CBW donated to the following charities including $1,000 to World Central Kitchen, helping the people of Ukraine. Please consider donating to some of these well-vetted organization. Also, check with your employer to see if they are matching donations (many are):
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- World Central Kitchen http://www.WCK.org
- Center for Disaster Philanthropy http://www.disasterphilanthropy.org
- Global Giving (Click on Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund.) http://www.globalgiving.org
December 2022 Donations
- NAMI Seattle (The National Alliance on Mental Illness) is a United States-based nonprofit organization originally founded as a grassroots group by family members of people diagnosed with mental illness. Nominated by Tim Brincefield and Marilyn Gregory.
- Lutheran Community Services Northwest is a 100-year old organization working across Washington and Oregon. One of their key service lines is mental health services focused on youth, foster care, crime victims and refugees relocating to the United States. Nominated by Sherry Dawley.
- REACH Seattle provides mental health services for those who are homeless. Nominated by Patric Creelman.
November 2022 Donations
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People’s Popup Pantry offers popup pantries in different Seattle neighborhoods that need it most. Nominated by Marilyn Gregory
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Westside Baby meets the basic needs of children to promote safety, security & healthy development. They provide essential items to keep children safe, warm, and dry by collecting and distributing formula and baby food, diapers, clothing, and equipment throughout Western King County. Nominated by Jeri Hudson
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Community Loaves is a network of bakers and chefs in the community who bake bread and energy bars that are distributed to food banks and food pantries. Founded in March 2020, Community Loaves has donated a total of 98,530 loaves and 11,203 energy cookies to date. Nominated by Karen Binkhorst
October 2022 Donations
- League of Women Voters Washington is a nonpartisan organization that is fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice. The League encourages citizens to register and vote and to participate in government and politics. Nominated by Sherry Dawley
- National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington is a multi-partisan grassroots membership organization dedicated to increasing the number of women in appointed and elected offices at all levels of government through recruitment, training, and PAC support for endorsed women candidates. Nominated by Debbie Carlsen
- Common Power works to foster, support and amplify a democracy that is just and inclusive. We provide creative on-ramps to civic fieldwork, expand the people engaging in and benefiting from it, and sustain this effort by investing in the next generation of leaders. One of the key things they do is organize hundreds of volunteers to mail get out the vote postcards to known areas of voter suppression and sponsor voter registration events. While they work in several states, they were founded here in Seattle and are headquartered here. Nominated by Sherry Dawley
September 2022 Donations
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Wolf Haven International, Nominated by Karen Schiller, is nationally recognized and has rescued and provided lifetime homes for 300 displaced, captive-born animals.
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Discovery Bay Wild Life Rescue, Nominated by Alex Perlman, rescues, rehabilitates and releases hundreds of wild birds each year. They also provide educational outreach programs near Port Townsend.
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Friends of Animals Foundation, Nominated by Catherine Schatzel, is an all-volunteer organization. Their mission is to foster greater compassion for animals by example and through education.
August 2022 Donations
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Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club – Children and students can be given free school supplies as well as electronics/toys, books, haircuts and more. There is a one time per year giveaway. Nominated by Marilyn Gregory
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Project Cool – For children dealing with the daily chaos of homelessness, school can be an important source of stability. For over 33 years, Project Cool has supported more than 36,500 homeless students. Every fall through Project Cool, Coalition members and volunteers make sure that hundreds of unhoused students start the school year off right with the supplies they need. In addition to school supplies for students, the Coalition also regularly provides training for staff working with youth and unaccompanied minors to help them advocate for and support the educational rights of homeless students. Nominated by Marilyn Gregory
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YWCA programs in Snohomish County – The YWCA serves thousands of families every year who are rebuilding their lives from homelessness, poverty and domestic violence. This year’s back-to-school program is providing gift cards for school supplies and clothes so that parents can shop for exactly what their children need to start the school year right. Nominated by Sherry Dawley
July 2022 Donations
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Terra-Forma Education – Summer Camp – Terra-Forma Education offers many unique programs based on a model that incorporates the concepts of mythic journey and magical realism with environmental education. In these programs, participants of all ages interact with characters in a complex story that is forming around them. Nominated by Janell.
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Next Thought Gathering supports those 18-35 in exploring conscious spirituality. Join group members in-person every 1st Sunday to explore a different topic. Nominated by Cathy.
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Coyote Central sparks creativity in young people, putting tools in their hands to build skills and forge their futures. Nominated by Marilyn.
June 2022 Donations
- Alliance for Gun Responsibility works to end the gun violence crisis in our community and to promote a culture of gun ownership that balances rights with responsibilities. Nominated by Sherry.
- Grandmothers Against Gun Violence, founded a few weeks after the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2013, Grandmothers Against Gun Violence is a growing grassroots non-profit organization with ~1,200 members from over 30 states and a vision to eliminate gun violence in all our communities. Nominated by Marilyn.
- Washington CeaseFire is dedicated to reducing gun violence since 1983. Nominated by Sherry.
2022 Ukraine Donations
Please consider donating to a cause that is helping the people of Ukraine. Also, check with your employer to see if they are matching donations (many are):
Here are a few suggestions from well-vetted charities.
- World Central Kitchen http://www.WCK.org
- Center for Disaster Philanthropy http://www.disasterphilanthropy.org
- Global Giving (Click on Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund.) http://www.globalgiving.org
May 2022 Donations
- Puget Sound Keeper protects and preserves the waters of Puget Sound. “On the water every week, stopping pollution every day.” Nominated by Marilyn Gregory.
- Earth Corps brings together young adults from the US and other countries for a yearlong leadership training program in Seattle which includes restoration projects along shorelines, trails and forest. Nominated by Marily Gregory
- Environmental Coalition of South Seattle – ECOSS leads industry, small businesses, communities and government to practical and sustainable environmental solutions. They deliver strategies and results in stormwater compliance, pollution prevention, electrical vehicles, solar energy and recycling. Nominated by Laurel Tomchick.
April 2022 Donations
- Washington Environmental Council Conservation NW Northwest Energy Coalition’s mission is to connect the big landscapes, restore iconic wildlife and protect our natural heritage for future generations. Nominated bv Diana Sergi Khoury
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Shelton View Forest Stewardship Assoc. mission is to is to preserve the Shelton View Forest for current and future generations. Nominated bv Diana Sergi Khoury
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The Adopt a Stream Foundation Northwest Stream Center was established to ensure that Pacific Northwest streams continue to provide healthy spawning and rearing habitat for salmon, trout, steelhead, and other wildlife. At the same time, serve our growing population by providing clean drinking water, applicable knowledge via environmental education, and beautiful places for rest and relaxation. Nominated by Lynn Widell Perry
March 2022 Donations
- Pasado’s Safe Haven work to increase compassion for all living beings and to eliminate animal cruelty. Nominated by Laurel Tomchick
- Imagine Peace for Pups was founded by two good friends and animal advocates, Lisa Clark and Lisa Nelson, in the Seattle, Washington area. Nominated by Marilyn Gregory
- Pigs Peace Sanctuary is a place of tranquility and happiness located one hour north of Seattle in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing a safe home for unwanted, abused or neglected animals in need and we are committed to spreading the message of compassion and respect for all animals. Nominated by Marilyn Gregory
February 2022 Donations
- East West Food Rescue prevents WA farmers’ crops from going to waste by transporting their excess harvest to food banks. Their services were especially important during the pandemic (restaurant) shutdowns and closures. Nominated by Diana Sergi Khoury.
- YWCA Central Area Food Bank distributes food weekly to residents in YWCA emergency shelter and transitional housing, as well as low-income families throughout the community. Nominated by Lisa J. Trigg.
- Teen Feed works with the community to offer support to meet basic needs, build strong relationships, and ally with homeless youth as they meet their future off the streets. With the tremendous support of the community, Teen Feed responds to the most basic needs of homeless and at-risk youth in the following focus areas: healthy meals and lives, youth support coordination, street outreach, healthcare access, and engaging the community through service. Nominated by Edan Zebooloon.
January 2022 Donations
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Dress for Success Seattle provides career clothing and job retention services for women re-entering the workforce or entering for the first time.
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Treehouse offer children, youth and young adults who have experienced foster care and their caregivers can shop for high quality clothing, shoes, school supplies, toys, books, free tickets to events and other essentials at the Treehouse Store.
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Facing Homelessness invites all of us to come closer, and to contribute our unique passions and skills toward the effort of ending homelessness.
2021 Donations – September-December
- Community Roots Housing Nominated by Lucca Danigelis
- Sound Foundations NW Nominated by Tim Brincefield
- YWCA of Seattle | King | Snohomish Counties Nominated by Lynn Perry
- FareStart Nominated by Jerrie Paul
- Lifelong Nominated by Lynn Perry
- Meals on Wheels Nominated by Marilyn Gregory
- Meow Cat Seattle in Kirkland, Nominated by Jeri Paul
- Rooster Haus Rescue, Nominated by Cindy Clay
- Serenity Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation, Nominated by Marilyn Gregory
- Real Rent Duwamish, Nominated by Shannon Rae and the Diversity, Equity & Belonging Committee
- Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Nominated by Edan Zebooloon and the Diversity, Equity & Belonging Committee
- Rainier Scholars