[DONATE to NMCAA] The episode of The Collective US focuses on NMCAA’s new Gift Guide, a way for donors to support community members through three core “buckets”: Educational Opportunities, Housing Support, and Economic Stability. Erica Austin, Ryan Buck, and guest Melissa Thompson explain that while gifts are framed as things like safety items for families, classroom supplies, home repairs, or Meals on Wheels support, the money actually goes toward flexible funding that fills gaps federal and state dollars can’t cover. They tie the guide to NMCAA’s Cornerstones of Culture—respect, accountability, acceptance, compassion, and cooperation—and show how giving moves people from being “them” to part of the “us.”

Throughout the episode, they share stories and sound bites from staff, clients, and volunteers that illustrate impact: helping a single mom repair an ice-damaged mobile home, supporting a client named Larry from apartment to homeownership and then crucial repairs, delivering 187,000+ meals to seniors, and the deep personal connections Meals on Wheels drivers and other volunteers build. They emphasize that any level of giving—one-time, recurring, matched, or legacy—creates life-changing opportunities and invite listeners to donate, volunteer, and see themselves as part of the broader community action network.