The various holidays are coming up and McCulture dictates that we each dig deep into our personal balance sheets and glorify our credit ratings in a dismal, frantic and finally empty mockery of Potlatch. Instead of participating, I'm asking my family and friends who might otherwise send me a gift to instead donate to some worthwhile cause and send me a card or token to indicate which charity received the help. I don't insist on any particular cause or even that it be one that I support, although I'm happy to make suggestions if asked. I'm looking for an improvement in the ugly mood of this season not a dollar goal for some particular cause. And don't send me the original receipt for a charitable donation. Keep that and use it to reduce your tax investment in [insert objectionable government program of your choice].
Let's take back our lives.
Posted by bill at November 19, 2004 03:06 PMIs there a particular charity you'd prefer? If I'm going to support someone on your behalf, it should probably be one you support.
You've also motivated me to make a similar request on my blog, so you've done that much good in the world, at least. :)
Thanks Pat, I really appreciate your support. There are two types of charities that I think are pretty important. The short-term help, which are best represented by local charities in your own community, and the long-term charities that are focused on a particular global problem. Here are a few examples that seem good, but part of the fun of this idea is learning about charities that I didn't know about, so new ones are always welcome.
Here's some local charities (or local chapters of big ones). Habitat for Humanity and the Arc are particularly effective at what they do.:
http://www.charity-charities.org/charities/TX/Amarillo.html
The domestic abuse safehouse can always use donations of food that kids would enjoy and nice "Bath and Body Works" type stuff that might make an adult's stay a little better:
Family Support Svcs Rape Crisis/D.V.
900 S. Lincoln Amarillo TX 79101
Business #: 806-372-3202
Among the global concerns that make alot of sense to me are the fight against ageing. I support these folks because if we can extend the healthy and helpful life of people, they can help us do alot more. Imagine if Mother Teresa were still alive and able today? Albert Schwietzer? The Methusalah Mouse Foundation is working on this with a prize similar to the x-prize. :
http://mprize.org/
The Salvation Army, is about as efficient as an organization can get at delivering help to the people that need it.
http://www1.salvationarmy.org/use/www_use.nsf
I believe people need freedom almost as much as they need water, so I donate to the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
http://www.eff.org/
But people do need water, clean water. And a huge number of people don't have it so these folks are doing something about it.:
http://www.wsp.org/
Posted by: Bill at December 10, 2004 03:24 PM (Spam: 50%)