2009 Charity Giving Challenge

[SweetPea]

I want to challenge myself this year to give to charity. I have in the past had good intentions to help the less fortunate or to give to a cause that I feel deeply about but haven't always followed through.

So I had an idea this year to give 10% of my monthly savings budget, which in my case would be $20, each month to charity.

For January, I've chosen Heifer.org. My $20 donation will give a flock of chicks to a needy family somewhere in the world.

From their website:



Flock of Chicks
Chicks: A Good Choice

A flock of chicks can help families from Cameroon to the Caribbean add nourishing, life-sustaining eggs to their inadequate diets.

The protein in just one egg is a nutritious gift for a hungry child. Protein-packed eggs from even a single chicken can make a life-saving difference.

Heifer helps many hungry families with a starter flock of 10 to 50 chicks. A good hen can lay up to 200 eggs a year - plenty to eat, share or sell.

Because chickens require little space and can thrive on readily available food scraps, families can make money from the birds without spending much. And chickens help control insects and fertilize gardens.


Would anyone like to join me this year in this challenge? You pick the charity you feel strongly about and the amount you can afford. This would just be the place to share about your charity.

[Thrifty Mom]

I like your choice! I have heard of this before. A church I know raised money to buy a cow!! I already have charities I give to, so I'm not sure if I'll go for a challenge, but I'll share what I contribute to. I have payroll deduction for $10.00 per pay for United Way. I also donate to the local food bank. Our church stocks the food bank in April & November & I buy $100.00 of food each time to donate.(I picked $100.00 because my kids each get $100.00 for their birthday & $100.00 for Christmas, so I am donating the same amount.) Also I bake frequently for church fund raisers.

[pinecone]

Although I am not doating money, I make quilts for the NICU at the hospital and comfort quilts (small) for the police to give children in crisis.
I also donate my time and tallents to our historical society.

piney

[SweetPea]

Thanks Thrifty Mom and Pinecone for posting. I admire both of you for giving of yourself and your talents to others.

I want to involve myself more in giving to my community more personally like both of you. I know that there are plenty of opportunities, I just need to put myself out there and find them.

[miaumiau]

I hope I can keep up about the same as last year's donation. Usually I would donate to:

Local SPCA
Local Food Bank
Doctors without Border
Red Cross
Sierra Club
World Wildlife Fund
Star of Hope

I sincerely admire people who put their time and effort into something they believe in and work hard to make the world a better place, I want to support them when I can.

[SweetPea]

Thanks Miaumiau, there are several on your list that are also on mine for this coming year. I'm also looking at some of my local homeless shelters and food banks.

[forHISglory]

For most of our married life, Hubby and I have made it a priority to give 10-15% of our income (before taxes) to our church, which in turn helps support children's homes, hospitals, care for the elderly, street people, etc. We know that our money is well used. I have also given to Heifer, and feel that it is a well run program.
In addition to that, I cook dinners for local people in crisis. I'll get a phone call that a family lost their home, or is having serious illness etc, and I start cooking. I deliver the meals in containers that don't have to be returned. I don't always get to meet the family in crisis, but I sure feel good knowing that I have provided in this way for them. We also adopt a local family at Christmas, and now we are cooking for a weekly local group of folks who working on beating addictions (sort of like AA).

I guess this sounds braggy; I don't mean for it to sound that way. But just wanted to encourage you to give to charity in many different ways.

[SweetPea]

Thank you for posting forHISglory! I love the idea of cooking a meal for people in crisis. I live in a small rural community where almost everybody knows each other, and when there is a death of a neighbor, complete meals, groceries, and desserts are brought to the home. I've experienced this first hand and I know how much these thoughtful gestures are appreciated.

[Pamela]

When my Momma passed away the thing I remember are people bring napkins, paper plates, toilet paperalong with all the food. People wre wonderful and very thoughtful at that time

My charities
cocoa cola prizes go to Toys for Tots/Teens
paw print points go to the ASPCA
crochet baby hat and bootees for local hospital and child afghans
Baking more
sweet breads
cinnamon rolls[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]