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I am writing this article because it is my moral duty as a human to want to help those who are less fortunate. I believe that anyone with a soul and a heart should feel this same way. Everyone knows that the world has been moving at an amazing pace lately: Barack Obama defeated John McCain for the US presidency, gas prices have sky rocketed then tumbled, we are in the middle of what could turn out to be the worst global recession in history, etc. All of these factors have caused me to be a very distracted individual when it comes to realizing how fortunate my wife and I are. I saw my first Salvation Army bell ringer on the downtown streets of Boston and it brought a smile to my face. All of these distractions have been a major distraction, and it is now time for me to help myself and hopefully you refocus some of your energy for the greater good.
The recession can be very tight on the wallet during the holidays with travel and gifts for the family. If you are smart with your money, I guarantee that you can slightly alter your lifestyle without losing quality and be able to directly help those in need. And while some of these tips are about saving money, other are about giving because if you I guarantee that 95% of you reading this can spare more money than you wish to reveal, you just need to be motivated.
Save a dollar and give it back
I think all of us realize how much wasteful money we spend, especially if you are doing well. I’m very happy for those of you that are doing well, and I’m in no way proposing that you give all of your hard earned money back to create a socialist world. After all, capitalism is a beautiful thing and allows me to pursue financial freedom. But with great freedom comes great responsibility. Here are a couple ways to save a dollar here and there so that you can redistribute to those in need.
Brew your own Coffee instead of buying everyday
Do you realize how much the average American spends on coffee every year. If you were to curb that habit for a couple of days and donate that, millions of dollars would be given to amazing causes for those less fortunate. Do you really need that $5 Latte?
Bring your lunch to work instead of going out
I don’t think I have to even mention how much money this would save. I do this regularly with my colleagues and it is a great time for us to catch up in a personal environment that can be hard to find in a loud restaraunt at lunch time.
Rent a movie instead of going out
My wife and I are becoming very good at this practice. To tell you the truth, I enjoy just spending time of the couch and knowing that we didn’t spend $20 to see the same movie. It’s more personal, you can always find a seat, popcorn is nearly free, and you can pause the movie if you need to go to the bathroom!
This one’s for the children
I have a soft spot in my heart for children in need and that will never change. I have an amazing family who would always spoil a less fortunate child who might not have a joyful Christmas morning. Here are a couple ways you can help children in your community who need your help.
Sponsor an ‘angel child’ at your local mall
Most malls where I am from will have Christams trees with paper angels on them that contain names of local children who may not have a Christmas at all if you do not help. I have done this for years, and it is the part of Christmas that I always look forward to. My wife and I don’t have any children, so most of the time we spend the money that we would have spent on each other and use it to buy gifts for this child.
Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
In light of Veteran’s Day yesterday, I couldn’t pass up the great work being done by our armed forces in the form of local charity. I am very happy to donate a toy to the Toys for Tots truck that is usually parked outside of a Toys R’ Us store. You can even donate online through the form found here at the Toys for Tots website.
Giving throughout the entire year
There are a number of charitable foundations which have solid reputations for taking your donations and distributing it to your favorit cause. I am in biomedical research and work on creating novel antibiotics for diseases like dysentery that ravish develping countries. While I am proud to give back by working on research in this field, I realize that not everyone is a scientist. Here are a couple ways to reach outside of our communities. While I believe in giving back locally, I know that there are many more people in the world that need my help in less fortunate countries.
Sponsor a child in a developing country
The conditions in these places are miserable, and children die everyday because of a lack of food. This is not something that you have to deal with and might not be able to comprehend if you are sitting here enjoying your internet. The most well known foundation is the Christian Children’s Fund, and they do a great job of making sure your money is put to good use. More rewarding than you could ever imagine, and you’ll want to give more once you are a part of this cause.
Donate to Save Darfur
The genocide that is occuring right now in Darfur Sudan and it’s surrounding areas should not be ignored. I was fortunate enough to attend a benefit dinner for this cause and it was the most eye opening, sould searching moment of my life. If you want to help these innocent people as they fight for their lives from unjust ethnic cleansing, then go to the Save Darfur website to learn more and to donate.
In summary: We can all do more
Times like these make it difficult to focus on other while sometimes it is hard enough to take care of our own families. I feel we can all be a bit more proactive and help our fellow man in times of need. While this is by no means an exhaustive list of ways you can help, I figured I had to bring it to our attention. You can donate your time also, which is a great way during hard financial times. I hope that I have given you an idea of how fortunate you probably are, and how excuses about not being able to give something back this year just aren’t going to fly with me. The hardest person to lie to can be yourself. Cheers, and here’s to being above yourself.
Show some Love and Pass it on!!...
Wed, Nov 12, 2008
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