Doing Life Together

Greg and I aren’t rich, but we’re comfortable. We’re also aware that many people in our country and throughout the world are not as comfortable as we are. There’s not much we can do about that, but we can do a little. Perhaps you’ve heard the Starfish story. . .

Over the years, we’ve donated money to different organizations that help people. We give a modest amount, perhaps $10 a month or an annual gift of $100 a year, but we’re consistent about it. We know other people are giving, too. Together we can do a lot.

Here are some of the organizations we support. Maybe there’s one you’ll want to donate to.

• Our city council has a program to help the homeless population. Their goal is to find or create housing for everyone, then help people find employment once they have an address. They’ve earmarked city funds for this program, but donations will help them meet their goal faster. They ask that we not give money directly to homeless people, but let them know services are available. Perhaps your town also has a program like this.
• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital was founded by the late actor Danny Thomas to provide treatment and support for families of children with cancer and other diseases. Medical treatment is free, in addition to travel expenses, housing, and food while the children are in the hospital.
• The Gary Sinese Foundation was started by the actor who played the part of Sgt. Dan in the movie of Forrest Gump. He is an advocate for veterans and first responders. The foundation provides adapted homes, adapted vehicles, and mobility devices; outreach and education; and funding for essential equipment and training for first responders.
• Doctors Without Borders provides care for people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, natural and human-made disasters, and lack of access to health care in more than 70 countries.
• Freedom Reads provides 500-book libraries to prisons. Believing that access to literature promotes dignity and transformation, their goal is to place a library in every prison dormitory and housing unit in the United States. So far they’ve created 478 Freedom Libraries in 12 states.
• Action Against Hunger feeds people around the world who have limited access to food, brings clean water and safe sanitation to communities in need, helps people earn income and increase their food security, and partners with governments and policymakers to advance effective hunger-fighting solutions.
• The Carter Center was started by the late former President Jimmy Carter to promote peace and human rights and to eradicate preventable diseases throughout the world.

We also support our church, several missionaries, our local schools, several charities that our state will give us a tax credit for, and a scholarship fund in the name of a dear friend of mine who passed away.

There are many other worthy causes not listed here. There are also organizations run by highly paid executives. How do you know if your money is actually being used to help people? An excellent resource is Charity Navigator, which examines organizations’ financial records and rates them according to their cost-effectiveness, stability, efficiency, and sustainability.

Is there a cause you’d be willing to support? Whether it’s tossing a starfish back into the sea, or an animal shelter, a scholarship organization, a group that supports adoption, or another need near you or far away, I challenge you to take a small step to help, either donating your time or your money. A small investment from all of us will go a long way.