Helping those in need.

[marutidas]

I have heard many on the forums talking about, helping those in need.
So I decided to start this thread, with information on how you can.

Many of these are well-know international, non-profit organizations.
I also encourage others to add links to sites that are local.

www.care.org

www.amnesty.org

www.defendersofwildlife.org

www.unicef.org

www.aidsfund.org

www.worldwildlifefund.org


I know not one person cannot do everything, but everybody can at least do something.
If you cannot give money, you can always give time. Spending time helping at homeless shelter, soup kitchen, organizing a, or giving to a food drive/ clothing drive.

There are many types of suffering than just being homeless or hungry, but we can try to adress as many as we can if not all of them.

Please tell me how you have been able to make at least one life better.

[marutidas]

A reading from the Letter of Saint James (James 2:14-18)


What good is it , my brothers and sisters, if someone says they have faith, but does not have works. Can that faith save him? If a brother or a sister, has nothing to wear or no food for the day and one of you says,"Go in peace, keep warm and eat well," but you do not give them the nessesities of the body, what good is it. So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, it is dead.
Indeed someone might say, "You have faith and I have works."
Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate to you my faith to you from my works.

While I am not big on using Biblical passages to illustrate my point, this one really spoke to me.

[kara speltz]

Originally Posted by marutidas

I have heard many on the forums talking about, helping those in need.
So I decided to start this thread, with information on how you can.


Please tell me how you have been able to make at least one life better.

Oh, Marutidas, what a wonderful thread.

I used to work in downtown S.F. where there were numerous people begging. I never particularly liked giving $$ to beggers, so after hearing a friend say he sometimes took folks to McDonalds, I decided to make a bag lunch for one person every day. I really got into it. Made really special sandwiches, no pbj or baloney, but good lunchmeat & cheese, a soda, and fruit.

I had some regulars who would meet me downstairs in the BART stations, just to get the lunches. The looks on peoples faces when they begged for $$$$ and I said I'd made a lunch for them, was really wonderful.

Eventually, I started adding a prayer card to the bag. Usually something like the serenity prayer or the kind of prayer that just told them they were loved.

I am now semi retired and don't get that opportunity of late, but it was really a wonderfully empowering way to assist those who had less than I.

Kara

[marutidas]

A coulpe of years ago, I helped a guy out, his name was Neil. He was 19 and he had been sleeping in an abandoned suv for two weeks. I brought him home and gave him some of my clothes and washed some of his, and gave him some food, I also had a friend help him get a job at Taco Bell. From last I heard, he was doing well. but thats all I could do for him. The rest is up to him.

I wish I could give more hand-ups instead of hand-outs

Now I am giving to Care, 10$ every paycheck, thats 20$ a month.
It's not much, and I wish I could give more. But I am Determined to help.

[suzer1013]

I have been committed to helping those in need for as long as I can remember. When I was 10 years old, I tried to sponsor a child through Christian Children's Fund -- donating my 50-cent-a-week allowance (unitl my mom found out, and didn't mail the application for me -- she saved it though and showed me years later). At some times I am able to do more, and sometimes less.

Aside from various local charities I donate to, I am committed to my former church's mission in Sierra Leone, Africa. Right now, my main priority is getting a child his epilepsy medication for the year. The medicine is unavailable in S.L.

I help in whatever small ways I can, hoping that it will make some difference. I wish I could help more, but I do what I can.

Susan

[Pablo Rafael]

A fun and easy project that our parish has adopted is to sell coffee.

Coffee farmers are among the poorest people in the world. They receive very little for the sale of their crops. The fair trade organzations contract with farmer coops to ensure a constant higher price for their goods, provide education and give low cost credit.

We buy wholesale and sell the products for no profit. The coffees, tea and chocolate are of gourmet quality. It is a fun project for someone who enjoys this type of project.

You can check them out at:

www.equalexchange.stores.yahoo.net

A church or organization can participate in this project with wholesale buying. You can also buy from them individually retail online, but the price is a lot higher.

Pablo

[marutidas]

Originally Posted by Pablo Rafael

A fun and easy project that our parish has adopted is to sell coffee, tea and chocolate products from equal exchange.

Coffee and chocolate farmers are among the poorest people in the world. They receive very little for the sale of their crops. Equal exchange contracts with farmer coops to ensure a constant higher price for their goods, provide education and give low cost credit.

We buy wholesale and sell the products for no profit. The coffees, tea and chocolate are of gourmet quality. (Best coffee I have ever bought.) It is a fun project for someone who enjoys this type of project.

There is a bussiness that I know of, its called Peacecraft. They sell clothing and other goods from all over the world. It is not for profit, all of their workers are voluteers and all profits go the people who made the porducts.

Check it out.
www.peacecraft.org

Their site has links to other sites that help fight global poverty.

[marutidas]

One is the lack of food, clothing and shelter.
The other is not as well known but as detrimental to our society,
that is the lack of love. I came across this video, I pretty sure have already heard of it.
Free hugs in Korea, part of the Free Hugs Campaign
http://youtube.com/watch?v=RKILQPBcVTI
What happen in the world if share our love with complete strangers?
Could you change the life of a person with a simple act,
I say yes.

[Vanessa White]

That ABSOLUTELY made my day. One act of kindness at a time, I firmly believe, literally CAN change the world.

Peaceful holiday to all. Love, Vanessa

[marutidas]

If do not take care of youself, how will you help others?
If you are stressed, you can not see the simple solutions.
If you cultivate inner peace then ideas will come very easily.
Here are some sites I have been reasearching dealing with Kundalini Yoga, and natural body care products.

www.3ho.org

www.a-healing.com

---Maruti Das

I will post more as I find them.

[keltic63]

I have hesitated to post in this thread. You all are doing/have done such wonderful things. I am humbled by you all. I was taught from my childhood that it's better to do your good deeds in secret so that you don't get all proud of what you're doing. Altruism, and all that.....

with that said, I will indicate that I'm always able to find children in need of something, and since I have children, I can spare some of their old things for those kids in need. remember, I work in a school.

one year, a little girl here at school wrote a letter to Santa, a class assignment. In her letter, she requested a Bible. I worked with the classroom teacher, another friend, and together we were able to give her an age appropriate Bible, anonymously. It was wrapped, with a note from Santa (and the famous picture of Santa kneeling at the manger) and hidden in her bookbag. I can honestly say that I do not know what her reaction was, or that of her parents. there was great satisfaction in being able to fulfill that little girl's wish, and do so in a way that brought me absolutely no honor or praise from anyone else.

[marutidas]

Originally Posted by keltic63

there was great satisfaction in being able to fulfill that little girl's wish, and do so in a way that brought me absolutely no honor or praise from anyone else.

This thread isn't ment to inflate ego, but inspire those who what to help, but don't know how to.

You don't have to share any of your stories if you don't want to, the other purpose of this thread is to show us things you are concerned about, and to help if we can.
But I encourage you to share anything you feel is wothy of our attention, to help our fellow human beings.

[keltic63]

Originally Posted by marutidas

This thread isn't ment to inflate ego, but inspire those who what to help, but don't know how to.

You don't have to share any of your stories if you don't want to, the other purpose of this thread is to show us things you are concerned about, and to help if we can.
But I encourage you to share anything you feel is wothy of our attention, to help our fellow human beings.

Funny thing is, I never thought that was the intention. Perhaps it was my intense "training" as a child that just prevents me from talking too much about those kinds of things.

I have yet to join together with a large group to accomplish some kind of benefit for a group, like soup kitchens, food banks, etc. I find myself drawn to helping families and individuals with very real, very particular needs, and finding out what I can do to help them. sometimes, I feel like "It's only money." If my extra dollars can make a difference to someone with a large medical bill, or utility bill, etc. Then I'm willing to part with it.

[Daniel]

Since the weather has turned cold here in NYC, one sees many more homeless walking the streets, sleeping against grates, going from car to car on the subway. There have been campaigns to give money, not give money, get people off the streets and out of the park at night. I've given up trying to figure out who really needs that extra buck- that seems kind of miserly- doesn't it? The person who babbles like they are nuts, the one who thinks they can sing, the woman who has been out of work for the last decade and supporting those kids she says she has- everyone has a different speech but the same need- a roof under their heads and a hot meal. So I give what I have in my pocket, sometimes coins, sometimes bills, sometimes food, but always a look in the eye to show respect. We have to see each other there- really see each other- if there is going to be a better day tomorrow.

It's the ones who sit with their heads down- not saying a word that bother me the most. But for the grace......

[Dash]

I am generally cautious about engaging people directly, I'll admit. I...was not always this way. In Oklahoma I did my best several times to befriend and serve. I was used and conned a few times by strangers...frightened even by a couple of guys who figured out where I lived. Came to Chicago and was immediately conned. Hah! Naive little farm boy that I was... I suppose I needed to learn that one really doesn't let strangers into their apartment building.

Was actually a "social worker" for a few months in Oklahoma...the only job from which I was ever fired. It was a small community action agency that dispensed emergency food and utility assistance among other things. I'm just a bit too sensitive to actually survive as a social worker, though. When I wasn't being conned (hah!) by the folks who came into my office, I was hiding in the pantry weeping. Alas! That was some bad three months, let me tell you.

Here in Chicago, there are plenty of people on the street where I live asking for money. If I give to them, I find it is best to not listen or think too much while I do. Everytime I've listened to their stories, I realized afterwards that they were lying to me. Not that it changes anything...they obviously had some need. I simply prefer to not give them the opportunity to be dishonest...no need to mix a lie (and my judgment) into our brief interactions. Like Daniel, I try to look everyone in the eye, and smile even if I do not share. I find that they do not respond well to any apologies on my part for not having anything to give...a small window, I guess, into the shame of begging. There is always a certain amount of pain when I do not give...and sometimes a very great deal.

I feel most comfortable giving to organizations. My current pet charity is the Chicago Food Bank. I hope that when I give, it is used well, but one never really knows. Giving is somehow deeply shaming to me, and I hurry away from every act of "generosity." Truth is...it's hard to think of myself as being very generous, but I'm trying to learn.

[Zerbie]

Thank you for this inspiring thread. I wanted to reply the day it went up, but had to force myself to get off the forum and write a paper/presentation.

We give mostly to the Red Cross and to animal shelters, and groups working to preserve wild animal habitat. We give to the Phoenix Zoo because they are breeding Mexican Wolf pups which were literally on the edge of extinction until the Phx Zoo bred them and started re-introducing them back into the wild. That's hubby's influence - he adores animals.

I like this cause:

http://www.karunamayi.org/charities/...Hosptial.shtml
(If for some reason that link doesn't work, just go to www.karunamayi.org and click on "charities" and then on "free hospital."

Funds go to operating a hospital in rural India completely free of charge to patients. This is a part of the world where for lack of medical care, people often have limbs amputated because small cuts get infected and there is no antibiotic care. Polio has continued to cripple thousands of people there. The hospital has already been operating on an out-patient basis and is providing basic services and polio vaccines. Please consider making a donation to the free hospital - even a small amount goes a long way, since medications there are much cheaper than what we pay here.

One of my favorite things about being married is that I can donate time and money to causes that matter to me.
I try to give back more through active engagement with the world, activism and all that - with my time and effort. Fighting so hard against Arizona's marriage amendment was the bulk of my commitment for the past 17 months. That was the biggie for me. And we're also members of national and local LGBT groups.

I would like to be more active in giving back to the greater community. Now that Prop 107 has gone away, I've got some energy left for other things now.

I appreciate this thread MD. Thanks.

[marutidas]

I am glad to hear that you do help people and anials(zerbie) in any you can. It is not important how or how many, it is important that you do and if this thread can point someone to help, then its all the better. You truely live your faith by helping.

Have you heard of Muhammad Yunas,
He is a noble prize winner that created a micro credit firm call the Grameen Bank. I give small loans to low income families so they can start small bussiness.
This started in Bangledesh, Targeting mostly Women, in the beginning there was about 1 million people that had signed on, and now the are over 7,000,000, and 10% of the country has risen above the poverty line.

Here is an article that I have found on this project that he started.
http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/003864.html

There has been a program started in arkansas that is base on the micro credit system, an others are popping up in many other under developed countrys.

I wish I could start one of these Micro Credit Banks in India, Bangledesh is right next door, so to speak, I think I may want to try going to the finaical feild, just enough to get a programm like this started. We'll See.

[Pablo Rafael]

Marutidas,

I just listened to a NPR (National Public Radio) interview with Muhammed Yunas (Did I spell that correctly?) a few days ago. I am glad you brought the topic up. The help that can be given with micro credit in places like Bangladesh is amazing. If everyone in our world could take up just one project to help those in need, think what would be accomplished.

I am always touched by your kindness and concern for others in what you say. Thanks.

Tu Amigo, Pablo

[marutidas]

Thank you Pablo,(almost, an "a" instead of an "e" in Muhammad)

I do it out of my love of God. I do it because I want to see a world that has no poor, and everyone is rich with love. It is the greatest form of worship to God. But I thank you, I see how you and the others who have posted on this thread (and many others who like to help in secret), how you care for others, And I am touched . I am always on the verge of tears, of both happiness, seeing the best in humanity, and saddness, seeing how much suffering still exists.

I feel that this micro credit program is the key to making the poor of the world self sufficient. This is some thing that I have been become greatly interested in. The who thing is is based on trust, you must trust that they will pay it back, and if they do not they get cut off, and this hurts them in knowing that, then they come back, say they are sorry and I will pay you back, and you welcome them back. If you build on the idea that they are going to cheat you, then you create an enviroment for mistrust and people will not care anymore and try to cheat you. A system base on the inborn goodness of people.
Muhammad Yunas' creation could be the turning point in the fight against world poverty.

[marutidas]

If you are having trouble about what to give and to whom, lets not forget the poor during the holiday season, Give to you local food drive, donate clothes to a homeless shelter, give toys that you children have out grown.

Let us remember our brothers and sisters in need during this holiday season.