So many of us strive for things outside ourselves to define our happiness only to find that having achieved what we thought would make us happy, we are still left unfulfilled. There is a part of us that still feels empty. Some of us stay on that wheel for all our lives, others realize there is something more they could do.
I realized that the more I was able to give and share with others, the better I felt about myself. It was such a simple truth. The more I got out of the "me" mentality and shifted to the "we" of this world we all inhabit, the more I wanted to be doing more.
So, in that spirit, I want to share two Giving Back sites I think are wonderful, and make one more mention of Kiva.org.
Since the first "Bookmarks" column, there has not been a time when more than one of you has mentioned Kiva. It also has my vote, and President Clinton featured Kiva in his book Giving.
What a unique concept: at Kiva you don't unconditionally give, instead you loan money to a specific entrepreneur in the developing world, empowering them to lift themselves out of poverty.
So it seems to be unanimous, Kiva works. Please visit their site.
The two sites I like and have been exploring all this past week are:
1. Modestneeds.org
Modest Needs first came to my attention this past Christmas when friends of ours sent a donation in our name to this organization. At the time I was so involved with finishing up PSA's for Donorschoose.org, I did not focus on Modest Needs.
What a wonderful website with a wonderful vision.
In their own words, "Founded in 2002, Modest Needs is an award-winning charity that works to stop the cycle of poverty before it starts for low-income workers struggling to afford emergency expenses like those we've all encountered before: the unexpected auto repair, the unanticipated trip to the doctor, the unusually large winter heating bill. Modest Needs, believes that EVERY person has the power to make a difference. So, by choice, the work done at Modest Needs is funded exclusively by the 'small change' donations given by people who care. Since 2002, our donors' 'small change' has stopped the cycle of poverty for 3811 individuals and families who stood to lose everything over a short-term financial emergency. But more importantly, simply by working together in this very modest way, we can make sure that no hard-working person is ever forced to choose between taking a child to the doctor and putting food on the table."
2.Csdw.org (Children's Safe Drinking Water)
Millions of children die each year from diseases drinking unsafe water. But an innovative new method is bringing hope. The PUR water purifier helps transform contaminated water into clean drinking water.
Water is one of the fundamental elements of life.
According to the World Health organization, over one billion people lack clean drinking water. This contributes to the death of more than 2.2 million children each year.
In their own word "The Children's Safe Drinking Water Program (CSDW) has provided enough product to produce more than 500 million liters of clean drinking water for children and their families in need around the world. Since it was established in 2003, CSDW has provided clean drinking water to people in 23 developing nations with the introduction of the Purifier of Water."
I urge you to visit this site. They are making a difference and we can help.
Please let me know what charities you support that have an online presence. I would like to list them next week.
Thank you,
Carole