Other Causes

I hope you have a favorite charity to which you contribute and volunteer regularly.  Since working abroad and seeing how very fortunate we in this country are, I tend to contribute to foreign charities where the need is so great and a dollar goes a long way.  I also favor charities that allow me to focus on the needs of women and children.  Here are my favorites........ let me know if you are aware of others in a similar vein.



The charity I've been with the longest is Heifer International (www.heifer.org).  It seemed like such a logical, practical idea that just keeps on giving.  The options range from bees and bunnies to goats and water buffaloes, or parts thereof!!  Since most of my friends have all they need and have also worked abroad and know the need, I usually make a nice donation at Christmastime in honor of friends and relatives.  Here Alton Brown can tell you about it much better than I.....

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My current favorite is KIVA, which allows one to become a micro-lender.......it's great!  You can go to kiva.org and select someone (or a group) to make a small loan.  Again, I usually select a woman or a women's coop.  The really neat thing is that when the money is paid back, you can loan it again.  It's a wonderful circle and, if I had kids instead of kitties, I'd introduce them to this site at some point.  Kiva keeps you informed of repayments, how businesses are going, etc.  AND in the time I've been doing it, I've had only one default.  I think this is a fantastic concept.  The following video (by CNBC) is about 10 minutes long but is excellent.....and says it all in an entertaining way.


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Locally, I've been a longtime supporter of Palmetto Animal League.  They began as a devoted band of animal lovers that rescued animals in need and found foster homes.....there was no building, no real resources..just a group of people who wanted to help animals.  Over the years they've had fundraisers and done everything they could to become established.  Then someone donated a plot of land and this past weekend (10/30/10) they opened a new, top of the line facility......and I'm so happy for them.  I became acquainted with them when I adopted Chloe from them and was impressed with the care and devotion I saw.  Then, when I was trying to figure out what to do with Mama Mia and her kitties, Amy helped with no hesitation.  They got the kitties adopted and then called to let me know that Mama Mia could not be put up for adoption because she wasn't socialized.  So, I brought her home and add her to my merry band!  Amy has followed Mama's progress (which she calls a success story!), just as I've followed their growth as an organization.  I'll be going over next week to see their new digs and make a contribution.  They do great work.

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This is just a fun one.  Go to this site (www.freerice.com), play the word game (which is addictive!!) and earn rice for hungry people!!

Fight World Hunger