While we've been through hard times before, 2025 looks like the beginning of one of the hardest yet. Stripping away civil rights, destroying efforts at international goodwill, and tanking the economy is just the start for this corrupt and bigoted administration. Many of us are hurting and afraid of what has been going on and what may come next. We are intentionally being made to feel like nothing can be done, but that isn't true.

What can we do? More than you might think, especially if we do it together. To that end, to celebrate Discover Teas' birthday a little differently this year, I am launching a new incentive program called Take a Stand, Make a Plan to encourage us to do what we can, where and how we can. Here’s how you can help:

Option 1:

Donate to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations doing the groundwork to support and protect our most vulnerable communities (locally, nationally, and globally) from the bigoted attacks of the current administration.
• Send proof of your donation of $100 or more (with your private financial details edited out) to such an organization via e-mail to hello at discoverteas dot com with the subject line "Take a Stand, Make a Plan donation" and I’ll send you a $25 Discover Teas gift card code.
• You can do this multiple times and receive gift codes each time, whether it’s by donating to different organizations or setting up a recurring donation and sending proof each time, but I request that you only redeem or gift 1 code per month so that I can afford to keep doing this.
• This is limited to nonprofit organizations that are not affiliated with any political campaign or party, since the funding (and therefore existence) of these organizations are most at threat from the current administration.
  Click to see a list of organizations I know of, but you can donate to other organizations whose missions align with any of these as well.

  Lavender Rights Project

  Hampton Roads Refugee Relief

  Clever Communities in Action

  Dos Santos Food Pantry & Thrift Store

  Legal Aid Justice Center

  Young, Black + Lit

  Darkness Rising Project

  Movement 4 Black Lives

  Equal Rights Advocates Rise & Defend Fund

  National Black Justice Coalition

  National Black Trans Advocacy Coalition

  Campaign for Southern Equality

  Trans Empowerment Project

  Transgender Law Center

  Black Alliance for Just Immigration

  Al Otro Lado

  Afghan-American Community Organization

  Refugee And Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES)

  National Immigration Project

  Immigrant Legal Resource Center

  National Network of Abortion Funds

  National Abortion Federation

  Undue Medical Debt

  Helping Hand for Relief and Development

  eSims for Gaza

  International Rescue Committee

  World Central Kitchen

  Doctors Without Borders

  Your local mask bloc (click to learn more about mask blocs)

Option 2:

Starting this month, I will be holding monthly virtual Action Hours you can join. With the added pressure of current events on top of the existing demands of day-to-day life, it can be hard to set aside extra time to advocate for each other, so however you are choosing to spend your energy in resistance, during these Action Hours, we can do it together alongside other people.
• These meetings will take place over Jitsi Meet, a video conferencing platform that is free to use, works on desktop and mobile browsers, is available to all attendees without needing a login, and does not collect or sell your data.
• There is no pressure to use your full name, or have your camera or microphone on (although you can if you wish). The link may prompt you to turn on your camera/microphone permissions, but you can mute and turn off your camera before you join if you want.
• At the conclusion of each month’s session, I will send everyone their $25 Discover Teas gift codes through Jitsi’s private messaging feature.
• Action Hour dates, times, and session passwords for each month will be sent out as part of that month’s newsletter. I know everyone's schedule is different, so I intend to offer different hours on different days each month so people in different timezones or who have different schedules can also participate. If you are already doing work in the community but cannot make Action Hour sessions, contact me via e-mail at hello at discoverteas dot com with the subject "Take a Stand, Make a Plan questions" and we can figure something out.
• You are welcome to attend multiple sessions and will receive a gift code for each one, but I request that you only redeem or gift 1 code per month so that I can afford to keep doing this.
  
  Click to see a list of ideas for how to take part in these Action Hours (this is not an exhaustive list, many other actions can be taken!):

  writing your representatives to encourage them to support civil rights for everyone and to fight against harmful, bigoted legislation and policies

  calling or writing a script to call your representatives (local, state, and/or federal)

  finding existing mutual aid, direct action, or other community organizations to support in your area (such as food pantries, mask blocs, rapid response networks)

  working to help said organizations during this time if you have already joined some

  finding other ways to stand up for the people around you and to get into what the late Rep. John Lewis would have called "good trouble, necessary trouble"

Individually, these actions may not change the world, but they may mean the world to those around us—and may prepare us and our communities to come together and do what it takes to change the world.

And for those who may ask, "What does any of this have to do with tea?" Well, there have been a lot of changes since Discover Teas was founded in 2011, but one thing that's stayed the same is the mission: Tea with Love, Purpose, and Gratitude.

"When isolation, trauma and despair are weaponized; building community, helping people heal, and bringing hope are acts of resistance."—A. Marshall