As the saying goes, health is wealth. Here in San Antonio, there are numerous charities dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of all citizens.

From local nonprofits helping mothers learn to breastfeed to San Antonio chapters of national organizations like the YMCA and the ALS Association, these 15 charities are improving health one person at a time.

Abode
Mission: Abode's mission is to offer compassionate interfaith and spiritual care in a contemplative community so those who are dying leave this world with dignity and grace.
Get involved: Donate here or volunteer. Volunteers work three- or four-hour shifts once or several times a week. They prepare meals; clean, organize, and wash guests' clothes; participate in rituals; help with scrapbooks; sing and read to guests; answer the phone; help in the yard; help with special events; and more. Call 210-967-9891 to schedule an interview.
Big event:Death Over Dinner

Allgo
Mission: For over 30 years, allgo has worked to create and sustain queer people of color activists, groups, organizations, and allies through artistic expression, promoting wellness, and grassroots organizing. Allgo celebrates and nurtures vibrant queer people of color communities in Texas and beyond by supporting artists and artistic expression; promoting health within a wellness model; and mobilizing and building coalitions among groups marginalized by race/ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation and identity in order to enact change.
Membership: Allgo members pledge either a monthly or annual donation and/or a regular in-kind donation and/or regular volunteer work. Contact allgo to sign up to become a member.
Get involved: Donate or learn how to volunteer here. For more information, email allgo@allgo.org.
Big event:Statewide Queer People Of Color Activist Summit

Alpha Home
Mission: Alpha Home offers a pathway of help, hope, and healing through spiritually based drug and alcohol treatment and support. Alpha Home has the only San Antonio gender-specific residential rehab program dedicated exclusively to treating women.
Membership: Find out how to become an Alpha Home's Angel by setting up a recurring donation each month here.
Get involved: Individuals, organizations, church groups, and companies are welcome to join in a variety of tasks, including organizing donation drives, grounds maintenance, supervising clients, and answering phones. Find out more information here.
Big event: Doorways of Hope Luncheon

ALS Association Texas Chapter
Mission: The ALS Association and the Texas chapter operate under a shared mission to discover treatments and a cure for ALS, and to serve, advocate for, and empower people affected by ALS to live their lives to the fullest.
Get involved: Learn how to become an advocate, donate, or volunteer here.
Big event:The Walk to Defeat ALS

American Heart Association
Mission: The American Heart Association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. It funds innovative research, fights for stronger public health policies, and provides critical tools and information to save and improve lives.
Get involved: Donate here. Volunteer opportunities include community events such as health fairs; signature charity events such as Heart Walk, Cotes du Coeur and the Go Red For Women Luncheon; or becoming a You're the Cure grassroots advocate. Call 214-441-4293 for more information.
Big events: San Antonio Heart Walk, Go Red For Women, and the Cotes du Coeur event series.

Batz Foundation
Mission: The Louise H. Batz Patient Safety Foundation helps prevent medical errors by ensuring patients and families have the knowledge they need to promote a safe hospital experience for their loved ones, and to support innovative advancements in patient safety. The foundation serves men, women, and children of all ages — anyone who plans to receive or has a loved one planning to receive medical treatment.
Get involved: Email Laura@LouiseBatz.org with general questions about how to get involved with the Batz Foundation.
Big event:Bingo de Mayo

disABILITYsa
Mission: disABILITYsa's mission is to educate, advance, and engage individuals with disabilities by sharing information, creating opportunities, and strengthening the organizations that serve them.
Membership: Monthly membership options range from $60-$500 for individuals $500-$2,500 for organizations.
Get involved: disABILITYsa has memberships for individuals, nonprofit disability service organizations, and businesses. You can also engage in the mission of disABILITYsa by joining one of its councils.
Big events: AccessAbility Fest, Fiesta Especial, and The Conversation 360°

Earn-A-Bike
Mission: The mission of Earn-A-Bike is to prevent obesity related diseases and inspire healthy life habits through community programs, youth development, and seasonal programs.
How to get involved: Donate here. Volunteer tasks include fixing up adult and kid bikes, sorting parts, organizing and cleaning the Earn-A-Bike shop, and more. If you are interested in volunteering to learn, earn a bike, or generally contribute, simply show up during open hours and talk to a shop coordinator to get started. If you have a specialized talent or skill you would like to contribute to the Earn-A-Bike Co-op, email info@earnabikecoop.org.

HeartGift
Mission: HeartGift provides lifesaving heart surgery to children from around the world where specialized medical treatment is either scarce or nonexistent. All participating physicians and medical partners contribute 100 percent of their professional fees and services, while HeartGift staff and volunteers coordinate travel and temporary housing arrangements, meals, translator services, entertainment, and other needs for the HeartGift child and parent.
Get involved: Donate here. There are many ways to get involved with HeartGift, including sponsoring a child, serving as a host family, providing an airport welcome or hospital visitation, and more. Head here for a list of opportunities.
Big event: HeartGift Heroes Golf Event

I Care San Antonio
Mission: The I Care Vision Center provides direct patient eye care to low-income and homeless individuals. Services include vision screenings, eye exams, and diagnostic testing for glaucoma and other eye diseases. The center also provides eyeglasses, medications, and surgical care.
Get involved: Donate here. I Care Global Missions also partners with Medical Ministry International Canada to provide volunteer opportunities abroad. To learn morning about joining an I Care San Antonio mission, head here.

Latched Support
Mission: Latched Support serves mothers, children, families, and communities in Bexar County with the mission to break through cultural barriers and to bring education and support for breastfeeding during prenatal and postpartum periods.
Get involved: Donate here to support breastfeeding families or email hello@latchedsupport.com for volunteer opportunities.
Big event: Material Assistance Drive

Project MEND
Mission: Project MEND is committed to improving the quality of life for individuals living with disabilities and illness through the refurbishment, reuse, and distribution of medical equipment and other assistive technology.
Get involved: Volunteers are needed to help clean, professionally sanitize, and organize donations of medical equipment. For more information and to RSVP (which is required), head here.

SLEW Cancer Wellness Center
Mission: Incorporated in February 2003, SLEW Cancer Wellness Center is a nonprofit agency helping uninsured, underinsured, and low-income women with all types of cancer.
Get involved: Make a donation here. For more information about getting involved with SLEW, head here or call 210-654-7900.
Big event: Faith, Strength and Courage Luncheon

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Mission: The mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is to advance cures and means of prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.
Get involved: Make a donation here. If you are interested in volunteering with St. Jude, there are several committee openings and event day volunteer opportunities.
Big events: The St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer, The Rock n Roll Series, Friends of St. Jude Crawfish Boil, and the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway.

YMCA of Greater San Antonio
Mission: Regardless of age, ability, faith, gender, or income, the Y ensures everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential, including by offering financial assistance through the Open Doors Scholarship Program.
Membership: Become a member here.
Get involved: Learn how to volunteer here or donate here.
Big event:Síclovía