To the dismay of hundreds of thousands of women, it’s been recently confirmed that the GOP will defund Planned Parenthood in their efforts to dismantle current health care protocol. Those who support the defunding of the organization claim that federal money indirectly supports abortion, which has been a heated political debate topic for a long time. However, under the Trump administration, people everywhere will lose access to affordable birth control, STD testing, cancer screenings and more.
If you’re a supporter of Planned Parenthood – and given how many services it provides to the country, you should be – this is the time to come through. Although the government is refusing to provide for it financially, we the people can still help. Here are some different ways to get involved and contribute to a hugely important service:
Donate money
It’s as simple as that. Planned Parenthood needs our donations now more than ever. It’s a not-for-profit that relies on public funding and donations to keep its centers open. Public funding has made up over 40% of Planned Parenthood’s financial stability…so now it’s up to us.
The site has a donation page, where you can make a one-time gift or donate monthly. We’d recommend a monthly donation if you can swing it; give up your Starbucks run once a week and put that money towards a cause that provides sexual health services to women all over the country. Even a $5 donation will make a difference.
Bonus: Make a donation in Mike Pence’s name. Not only is he seriously homophobic, but he’s been trying to defund Planned Parenthood for several years now. It’s become a recent trend to make a donation using Pence’s name and contact information, so he knows the country is fighting back.
Volunteer
Time is money, as they say. If you don’t have the financial means to donate, joining Planned Parenthood in your local area as a volunteer helps them greatly as well. Donating your time and skills gives the organization strength in numbers. You can learn about openings in your area by visiting the Planned Parenthood Jobs and Volunteering page; there are links at the bottom of the page that will guide you to employment positions and volunteer opportunities.
There are many different positions to suit a variety of skills, including marketing, administrative, and more. Even if you’re on a tight schedule, many Planned Parenthood branches will offer a monthly volunteer night where those who want to volunteer can spend a few hours helping with specific projects. If you’re a college student, you can also join the Planned Parenthood Generation Action and take a role in the movement.
Support by shopping
Many companies support Planned Parenthood in one way or another. AmazonSmiles is a branch of Amazon that allows you to donate a fraction of your purchases to a charity of your choice. You can search your local Planned Parenthood branch and choose them as your non-profit of choice. So long as you shop on using AmazonSmiles (as opposed to the regular Amazon site), you’ll be contributing to the cause.
The Presidential election has spurred more companies to support the organization. Google Ghost Press is also donating half their profits from their “Nasty Woman” line to Planned Parenthood. They’ve given back over a hundred thousand dollars so far!
A pro-life group has released a list of over 30 companies that have directly funded Planned Parenthood, including large businesses such as Bath & Body Works, Ben & Jerry’s, Groupon, Nike, Pepsi and Starbucks. Although the source doesn’t necessarily support the organization, we can use their information to help out.
Be loud and be proud
Misinformation is often spread about Planned Parenthood, and it’s often decried for its abortion services from pro-life protestors. But it provides so many reproductive health services for so many women and men! One way to show advocacy is to be vocal about it – taking the time to engage in discussions and posting accurate information about Planned Parenthood and what it has to offer.
Social media is a great platform for this. Although it can seem uncomfortable or lead to comment arguments with people who disagree, being active in your viewpoints may change the minds of others or convince supporters to take more of a role. Speak out against discrimination too; many patients are part of the groups that Trump has targeted: immigrants, Muslims, Black, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ communities. Social media solidarity will spread a message of compassion and support.
Join the Women’s March
Planned Parenthood has signed on as a partner to the Women’s March in Washington D.C., adding their supporters and activists to the largest inaugural demonstration in history. In one move, you can show that you advocate not only for this protest, but for women’s rights across the nation. Even if you can’t make it to the one in D.C., you can find a march nearby and register for that instead.
You can find more ways to help Planned Parenthood by going to www.istandwithpp.org. It’s time to show the nation the power of solidarity and unity.