The week after Thanksgiving is all about leftover turkey sandwiches, finally putting up those Christmas lights, and of course, Giving Tuesday! This special holiday allows us to spread the holiday cheer in the form of donation or volunteering for an organization that you’re grateful for.
Here in Mammoth Lakes, we have so many amazing non-profits and conservation teams that deserve a highlight for the hard work they do all year long. If you’re considering making a donation for Giving Tuesday, definitely keep them in mind!
Mono Arts Council
MAC is a hub for creativity and community here in Mammoth Lakes. They specialize in visual, performing and fiber arts for both K-12 aged kids and adults. They also provide a physical gallery right in the center of town for local artists to be able to showcase their work!
If you’ve ever visited us for Fourth of July, Labor Day, or the winter holidays, you might have even enjoyed one of MAC’s special art fairs hosted throughout town.
Mono County Library System
Every town benefits from a free public library, and here in our area, we’re lucky to have a library system that includes 7 beautiful locations throughout the Eastern Sierra! Each Mono County Library has a wide range of books in English and other languages, plus plenty of reading nooks, work tables, and family-friendly spaces. They also offer in-person and virtual author talks, free events such as tech help for seniors, and winter clothing drives for kids in the community.
Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra
Disabled Sports has been a pillar of the community for twenty years! In fact, this year, they’re celebrating their 20 year anniversary with a black-tie optional Winter Ball!
This well-loved non-profit raises money throughout the year with the help of their affiliated Second Chance Thrift Shop on Old Mammoth Road. The proceeds go towards giving people with disabilities the opportunity to enjoy adaptive sports and therapeutic outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding, cycling, kayaking, rock climbing, fishing, hiking and more. With the help of their patrons and support from Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, DSES is able to provide the latest equipment and teaching methods for a range of different needs their students may have.
Eastern Sierra Land Trust
The ESLT is dedicated to preserving and protecting the wild and working landscapes of the Eastern Sierra. Through conservation efforts, garden rehabilitation projects, and the highly successful 395 wildlife crossing construction, ESLT works tirelessly to advocate for the wildlife of our area while also making the Eastern Sierra a place for us to enjoy for generations. They work closely with family-owned ranches so that they have the chance to flourish and maintain their lands under growing pressure for subdivision and land development. In this way, ESLT is helping to preserve this area as a safe-haven for wildlife and livelihood for locals.
Dave & Roma McCoy’s Mammoth Lakes Foundation
The Mammoth Lakes Foundation is all about setting up the next generation for success! They provide housing scholarships, tuition help, book stipends, mentorship and more to a number of local residents attending Cerro Coso Community College. Thanks to the efforts of the late Dave and Roma McCoy, these students are able to pursue their higher education goals while remaining a part of the Mammoth Lakes community.
Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserves
Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserves consist of two research locations in Mono County: Valentine Camp, right here in town, and the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory, located across the highway from the airport. Both science facilities are owned and run by the UC Santa Barbara Natural Reserve System and are dedicated to researching our unique Eastern Sierra ecosystems. Past and current studies have focused on Mono Lake, Mammoth Lakes snowfall, aquatic biology, endangered species, fire ecology, and much, much more! They also provide hands-on learning experiences for K-12 students throughout the Eastern Sierra and beyond. Valentine is a huge asset for our local community and ecosystem as well as to the larger field of science!
Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access
As a visitor to this area, you’ve probably noticed that we’ve got some beautifully-maintained hiking and biking trails! That’s all thanks to the MLTPA. Every year, they dedicate their time, effort and resources to maintaining Mammoth’s most beloved public spaces. And they are always grateful for financial help and volunteers to keep their projects going!
Eastern Sierra Audubon
The Eastern Sierra Audubon is here for the birds—and the birders! Their efforts are focused on maintaining current data on the avian populations here in the Eastern Sierra, while also putting forward projects for conservation and community education. If you’re looking to learn more about our area’s unique bird biodiversity, they have many different resources in the form of bird maps and guided tours. And, they also partner with another non-profit on our list, the Eastern Sierra Land Trust, to help community members transform their yards into pollination gardens for birds, bees, and other pollinators.
Mono Lake Committee
The Mono Lake Committee is one of our area’s oldest and most well-known non-profits. Since 1978, they have been responsible for researching, protecting and restoring Mono Lake, as well as providing education opportunities to the many people who visit this special place throughout the year.
Donations to MLC help to maintain their stunning visitor’s center as well as fund tufa tours, field seminars, and other community events.
This year, Giving Tuesday is extra special for the Mono Lakes Committee as a generous member of their community, Joan, has offered to match all donations made today! That means that all donations will be doubled up to $50,000 specifically for Giving Tuesday!
There are so many ways to celebrate Giving Tuesday!
We are so lucky to be able to live in the paradise that is Mammoth Lakes. And this wild, beautiful place wouldn’t be nearly so special without the tireless efforts of our local non-profits. So, if you’re looking to make a difference this Giving Tuesday, you really can’t go wrong with any of the wonderful organizations on this list!