Helping Haiti

 Causes, Finding Meaning, Spirituality  Comments Off on Helping Haiti
Jan 212010
 

As most people, I’ve watched helplessly as the tragedy in Haiti has unfolded.  Tears sprung to my eyes as kids searched for parents, with one girl wondering if any female that walked by was her mother.  My heart went out to parents that lost children or who had to hold their child’s hand to help them cope with the prospect of amputation, and further dealing with the impact of this for their grim future in Haiti.

Although we donated to the Red Cross, it seemed very passive and frustrating that more can not be done.  I’m sure many of us have felt the urge to get on a plane and be there, which of course is impractical given the country’s infrastructure barely being able to allow the planes that are trying to get there, and other impracticalities that would make us get in the way of helping, along with our responsibilities at home.

Many of us are turning to our faiths and spirituality to try to make sense of it all.  I believe in reincarnation and that we have souls that go on.  I like to believe that there is a bigger plan that we may not be aware of.  It is comforting to think that the souls who lost their physical bodies in Haiti will be born again to live out their purpose and journeys.

I believe that our souls have been around perhaps for different lengths, so some of us may have older souls than others.  I’m sure some of us have felt this when thinking of others in our lives!  It can make us more compassionate to others if they don’t seem to “get it” or appear immature for their ages.  Maybe their souls are younger??  I think this way about my ex.

Regardless of the above beliefs, I do feel strongly that we have to do what is within our power to try to make the world a better place.  It is our moral obligation and “dharma,”  which is related to performing good acts and achieving good “karma,” which lasts into future lives.

On a practical level, in the realm of what we can do, many of us want to make sure that what we do donate does the maximum good.   Organizations that can help with sorting out the most effective charitable companies include Charity Navigator and Guide Star.  There has been some controversy regarding the salary of the CEO of the Red Cross (apparently $500-$700k).  This has been compared to the salary of the CEO for Hope for Haiti (apparently about $53k).  It seems Hope for Haiti has been focused on helping Haiti and perhaps your money can go further towards helping Haiti by donating to this organization.

I Have a New Sister!

 Causes, Finding Meaning, Women  Comments Off on I Have a New Sister!
Dec 172009
 

women_for_women_logoI have finally been matched with a sister in Afghanistan I’ve sponsored through Women for Women International.  The organization has had a great response recently, so it too them a few months to expand and match sisters.

It’s such a great concept to get specifics on a specific individual one is helping.  It personalizes world events that can be easy to shut off because they are not occurring in our neighborhood.  In the future, I hope to get a letter from her that I can show my preteen son.  I want him to know about a world beyond Ipods (what he wants for Christmas) and the latest video game system (another wish of his).

Sponsoring a female survivor of war through Women for Women allows me to feel more meaning in my life.  Maybe doing so would allow you to feel the same.  Unfortunately, there are many women that have had to struggle with the effects of war and could use a helping hand.  Make a donation by the 31st for a tax deduction in 2009!

Click here now to make your tax-deductible year-end gift by December 31st.

Shop/Sell Kids’ Stuff

 Causes, Children, Parenting, Recycling  Comments Off on Shop/Sell Kids’ Stuff
Oct 232009
 

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An inevitable part of parenthood is the amount of clothes and other stuff our kids keep growing out of.  This means constant shopping for things that are age-appropriate and finding practical and non-wasteful ways to part with the items no longer needed.

One solution is Just Between Friends, the nation’s leading children’s & maternity consignment sales event franchise.  The concept was started in 1997 by Daven Tackett and Shannon Wilburn.  Starting from a living room, they now have events nationally.  Some events occur here, in the Denver area.  Just input your location to see where.  Shopping events occur about twice a year per location, where consignors can bring children’s and maternity merchandise to sell.

Shoppers can then clothe themselves if expecting or their children at significant savings.  Sellers can make up to 70% on sales.  A free on-line tagging system is also available.  Some proceeds and remaining donated items help local charities.

How We All Create Change

 Causes  Comments Off on How We All Create Change
Oct 082009
 
Young Ladies in Rajasthan, India

Young Ladies in Rajasthan, India

Often times, it can be so discouraging to watch the news. Watching world news, we see that we’re in our 8th year of war in Afghanistan. There is much going on just there, particularly for women and children, that leaves us feeling helpless. News of local crimes leaves us feeling even more helpless. What can I do about a crime against a local child that occurred yesterday? As a parent, hearing of such news is even more heart-wrenching. After the international flight that went down a few months a go, I thought for several nights about the child that perished and how his or her Mom must have felt right before, knowing what would happen.

It is encouraging to focus on the solutions and the people and organizations that focus on solutions. Supporting women who are survivors of war through Women for Women International is something that we all can do.  For $27 a month, we can help women build their lives and enrich the communities around them.  This eventually ripples back to our lives.  Another fascinating concept that anyone can use to make a difference is through microfinance.  An organization to provide a microfinance loan through is World Vision.   This process allows us to make a loan of even $25 to someone in an impoverished place to become an entrepreneur.  This is not a charity as the recipient pays back the loan with a success rate of about 98%.  The recipient is empowered and we feel less helpless to create change.

As my daughter turns 8 months today, I want to be able to tell her that I’m doing my part in her experiencing a better world. I want to role-model for my pre-teen son about caring for a world larger than our suburbs.

Help People With Disabilities Through shopgoodwill.com

 Causes, Education  Comments Off on Help People With Disabilities Through shopgoodwill.com
Sep 162009
 

shopgoodwillrcsConvertAnother member of Time’s 50 best websites 0f 2009 is shopgoodwill.com.  The site is an alternative auction site to ebay.  It is cheaper and non-profit, with some of the profits going to educational programs for people with disabilities.  The site’s hot categories include art, clothing, toys, books and electronics.

Created and operated by Goodwill of Orange County in Santa Ana, CA, the site is the first internet auction site that has been created, owned and operated by a nonprofit.   Participation includes Goodwills from across the country with inventories of their donated goods encompassing estate items, collectibles, antiques and new or nearly new items.

Sales revenues fund the organization’s training, education and “job placement programs for people with disabilities and other barriers.”  The organization’s presence includes 5 continents.  In 2005, Goodwill helped over 846,000 people.

Converting Clutter to Goodwill

 Causes  Comments Off on Converting Clutter to Goodwill
Aug 312009
 

Outside of the traditional places to donate unwanted items, the following organizations may not be well-known:

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