After writing the post Give One Get One, I started thinking about the things that make a smart philanthropy project.
I did a little research and believe that Heifer International has got it right. If we want to make a dent in the poverty or educational discrepancies in our global community, donating to this worthy organization seems like an excellent way to do it.
Go on over and give a little.
'Tis the season.
Showing posts with label charity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label charity. Show all posts
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Philanthropy Thursday
A former 2nd grader at our school has passed away.
Her name was Gema. She was in 2nd grade at our school last year and in April was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.
This year, had she been well enough to attend school, she would have been in 3rd grade. She was a dear, sweet little girl with two older brothers who also attended our school. When she was diagnosed, the whole family moved to a larger city nearby so that she could receive better treatment for her cancer. She and her brothers were pulled from school. Our entire school prayed for her and her family.
Tuesday, she died.
She was 8 years old.
Not that it makes much difference, but today we donated to her family's account, The Gema Chavez Charitable Fund, so that her parents may better afford the funeral services.
Today, our principal said this when telling us about Gema's death---
"Life on earth with our family and friends is very precious. Please unconditionally love one another each and every moment, for we never know when we will no longer have the opportunity to be together."
I cannot think of a more important message.
Her name was Gema. She was in 2nd grade at our school last year and in April was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.
This year, had she been well enough to attend school, she would have been in 3rd grade. She was a dear, sweet little girl with two older brothers who also attended our school. When she was diagnosed, the whole family moved to a larger city nearby so that she could receive better treatment for her cancer. She and her brothers were pulled from school. Our entire school prayed for her and her family.
Tuesday, she died.
She was 8 years old.
Not that it makes much difference, but today we donated to her family's account, The Gema Chavez Charitable Fund, so that her parents may better afford the funeral services.
Today, our principal said this when telling us about Gema's death---
"Life on earth with our family and friends is very precious. Please unconditionally love one another each and every moment, for we never know when we will no longer have the opportunity to be together."
I cannot think of a more important message.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Well Received
Our gifts yesterday were well received indeed.
It was simple. It went like this:
O: Mom, you ask her.
Me: Child 1, O would like you to have this lunchbox if you would like to have it.
Child 1: (eyes beaming bright) Oh yes. Thank you.
Child 1 took the lunchbox to her cubby. Simple. Done. Whew. O went into class.
Next scenario with J and Child 2:
J: Mom, you ask him.
Me: Child 2, J would like you to have this lunchbox. Would you like to have it?
Child 2: (drops what he's playing with in the sandbox, grabs lunchbox) Yes!
Child 2 took the lunchbox to the gathering spot for lunches. He sat there and hugged it. Then stared at it. I noticed his lunch was in a paper bag. Again.
It was amazing how such a simple little thing could be so delightful for these children!
Then I saw the Dad and felt I should talk to him.
Me: For some reason, O and J really wanted Child 1 and Child 2 to have these lunchboxes. I hope that's okay.
Dad: Sure, that's great. (pause) I gave up buying lunchboxes because they seem to always lose them. But this is great. Thank you.
Me: You're welcome. I hope they are useful.
He didn't seem at all offended. He graciously accepted the gifts.
The end.
As I walked off the playground, Child 2 was still hugging his new lunchbox.
It was simple. It went like this:
O: Mom, you ask her.
Me: Child 1, O would like you to have this lunchbox if you would like to have it.
Child 1: (eyes beaming bright) Oh yes. Thank you.
Child 1 took the lunchbox to her cubby. Simple. Done. Whew. O went into class.
Next scenario with J and Child 2:
J: Mom, you ask him.
Me: Child 2, J would like you to have this lunchbox. Would you like to have it?
Child 2: (drops what he's playing with in the sandbox, grabs lunchbox) Yes!
Child 2 took the lunchbox to the gathering spot for lunches. He sat there and hugged it. Then stared at it. I noticed his lunch was in a paper bag. Again.
It was amazing how such a simple little thing could be so delightful for these children!
Then I saw the Dad and felt I should talk to him.
Me: For some reason, O and J really wanted Child 1 and Child 2 to have these lunchboxes. I hope that's okay.
Dad: Sure, that's great. (pause) I gave up buying lunchboxes because they seem to always lose them. But this is great. Thank you.
Me: You're welcome. I hope they are useful.
He didn't seem at all offended. He graciously accepted the gifts.
The end.
As I walked off the playground, Child 2 was still hugging his new lunchbox.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Philanthropy Thursday
Finally, an idea from O and J.
It's a simple thing and may not even be appreciated, but since they came up with it on their own, we're going for it.
Last night at dinner, we got on the topic of a family at school that doesn't seem to have a lot of money. I'm not sure, but it seems like the parents are divorced, and the kids are always showing up to school all disheveled looking. The kids in this family always, always carry their lunches in grocery bags. Not the little paper bags that you buy intentionally for lunches, but the larger paper bags you get when you buy groceries. The dad does work for a grocery store (we have seen him there) and the way the lunches are thrown together (we've seen the contents on field trips and class parties), it really seems like he grabs whatever is dented or free to employees of the grocery store, throws them into a sack, and sends the kids off to school.
I have no idea how we got to discussing this family, but all of a sudden one of the girls says proudly, "I have an idea! We could give them our lunchboxes!" Both girls immediately thought it was the best idea since sliced bread and went on to discuss who would get what lunch box. They each have at least three each and the boxes they've decided to give away are practically brand new.
So today at school we'll give our gifts. Let's hope they are well-received and no one is offended.
It's a simple thing and may not even be appreciated, but since they came up with it on their own, we're going for it.
Last night at dinner, we got on the topic of a family at school that doesn't seem to have a lot of money. I'm not sure, but it seems like the parents are divorced, and the kids are always showing up to school all disheveled looking. The kids in this family always, always carry their lunches in grocery bags. Not the little paper bags that you buy intentionally for lunches, but the larger paper bags you get when you buy groceries. The dad does work for a grocery store (we have seen him there) and the way the lunches are thrown together (we've seen the contents on field trips and class parties), it really seems like he grabs whatever is dented or free to employees of the grocery store, throws them into a sack, and sends the kids off to school.
I have no idea how we got to discussing this family, but all of a sudden one of the girls says proudly, "I have an idea! We could give them our lunchboxes!" Both girls immediately thought it was the best idea since sliced bread and went on to discuss who would get what lunch box. They each have at least three each and the boxes they've decided to give away are practically brand new.
So today at school we'll give our gifts. Let's hope they are well-received and no one is offended.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Philanthropy Thursday
I know it isn't Thursday anymore. But yesterday, I really wanted to write about Maya.
I did donate to charity yesterday. Not exactly to a charity I would have chosen, but since the opportunity landed on my doorstep....
A woman came to our door. An attractive young woman. She was selling books. Books she claimed had funded her first year of college. Books she hoped would fund her second.
She planned to be a nurse. She chose her small, Christian college because she wanted to find out who she was and what she believed in before she dedicated her life to helping others. She wanted to do medical missionary work when she was finished. Her father didn't support her idea to attend this small Christian school and therefore didn't help her with her tuition.
My dh is a doctor. I'm currently pursing a degree in nursing. We both dream of doing medical missionary work, albeit not quite the kind she intends to do.
I appreciated her desire to follow her dreams. I appreciated her motivation to do so in the face of family objection. I appreciated her work ethic. So I gave her some money, bought one of her books, and wished her well. Honestly, I wish there were more young women in the world just like her.
Knock on my door. And if I'm in the right mood to appreciate your spirit, I just might give you some money.
I did donate to charity yesterday. Not exactly to a charity I would have chosen, but since the opportunity landed on my doorstep....
A woman came to our door. An attractive young woman. She was selling books. Books she claimed had funded her first year of college. Books she hoped would fund her second.
She planned to be a nurse. She chose her small, Christian college because she wanted to find out who she was and what she believed in before she dedicated her life to helping others. She wanted to do medical missionary work when she was finished. Her father didn't support her idea to attend this small Christian school and therefore didn't help her with her tuition.
My dh is a doctor. I'm currently pursing a degree in nursing. We both dream of doing medical missionary work, albeit not quite the kind she intends to do.
I appreciated her desire to follow her dreams. I appreciated her motivation to do so in the face of family objection. I appreciated her work ethic. So I gave her some money, bought one of her books, and wished her well. Honestly, I wish there were more young women in the world just like her.
Knock on my door. And if I'm in the right mood to appreciate your spirit, I just might give you some money.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Philanthropy Thursday
My good friend, Jen, over at http://www.lottakids.blogspot.com/ is a genius. A sensitive, do-something-about-it, genius. She and several other bloggers are starting a thing they are calling Philanthropy Thursdays. A day a month, the last Thursday of the month, when we are all to count our blessings and give to those in need. She's selling her rock, her gorgeous rock from the early years of her marriage (her awesome hubby gave her a new, bigger one, recently) on eBay and the money is going straight to the New Orleans Habitat for Humanity. You gotta get over to her site, find the link to her sale on eBay, and catch the spirit. The giving spirit, as they say, and it ain't even Christmas.
It's got me wondering...hmm...besides bidding on Jen's ring, what can I do? What should I be doing? We all get so caught up in our own selfish existences, that we forget there is real tragedy out there. Real suffering. And real needs. Let's all put our heads together and come up with something good. Even if it's something small.
Thanks everyone!
It's got me wondering...hmm...besides bidding on Jen's ring, what can I do? What should I be doing? We all get so caught up in our own selfish existences, that we forget there is real tragedy out there. Real suffering. And real needs. Let's all put our heads together and come up with something good. Even if it's something small.
Thanks everyone!
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