Even the hardest hearts can make room for charity during the holidays.
Think of the Scrooge in your life. It could be a good friend or a close relative. They scrimp and save and hold onto and account for every penny but then spend freely on gold-plated puzzles, platinum-specked designer nail polish, diamond-encrusted cell phones. But ask them to give a buck to charity and you hear: “Can’t spare it. On a budget. Got bills. Not right now. Maybe later.”
That’s OK, because every tightwad knows there’s other ways to be charitable. No cash? No problem. Bring groceries to a shut-in. Send an e-mail to someone who’s lost a family member. Donate books or clothes to a homeless shelter. Everybody’s got a soft spot for something and charity doesn’t have to cost a dime.
For The Cheap
Can’t part with a penny, then let someone else do it for you. Change your search engine to http://www.goodsearch.com http://www.goodsearch.com/whosdoinggoodpage.aspx?goodid=350
GoodSearch gives your favorite charity a penny with every search.
Add your favorite charity http://www.goodsearch.com/addcharity.aspx
Share with friends http://www.goodsearch.com/getinvolved.aspx#email
Pennies add up in a year.
For The Lazy
Can’t quite get off the couch or the computer long enough to support a charity? Then sit and click. Support six charities at once EVERY DAY with the CLICK of your cursor (Hunger, Breast Cancer, Literacy, Children, Rain Forests, Animals):
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_home_from_lit_home_sitenav
For The Indecisive
Help the helpless. Children, animals, those struck by natural disasters:
Second Chance Dobes: http://www.secondchancedobes.com/donation_form/donations.php
Hollow Creek Farm: http://hollowcreekfarm.org/animal_rescue/adoptions/donations
The Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.d8aaecf214c576bf971e4cfe43181aa0/?vgnextoid=46f51a53f1c37110VgnVCM1000003481a10aRCRD
The Jane Goodall Institute: http://www.janegoodall.org/
For The Hard of Heart
So you don’t want to give to the poor, hungry, animals or children? Then go with your gut. A hobby, interest, religious or political belief and support it. Sign a petition online, forward e-mails, write a letter to a congressman, go to the events. There’s nothing wrong with following your heart, no matter how hardened. http://www.charitynavigator.org/
Make Room For Charity
Take a few minutes daily to click a button. Search charitably online, pick a charity and stand by it. Sure the economy…times are tough…money’s tight… But to all the excuses, share this:
“Goodness is the only investment that never fails.”
- Henry David Thoreau -
Who Will You Help Today?
©2010 Rebekah Brown
