This year, instead of doing a Gift Exchange between siblings for Christmas, Michael's brother, Brad, suggested we draw names and donate to a charity of choice in the drawn name's honor. It was such a good idea that I stole it and suggested it to my siblings, and it went universal. I enjoyed researching all the charities that each of our siblings sponsored, and thought that they deserved a small forum here, for a little more exposure...In alphabetical order...
The American Humane Society has been protecting children and animals since 1877. They have a long and established history of protecting children from abuse and neglect by supporting the development and implementation of effective community, state, tribal, and national systems to protect children and strengthen families. They are also committed to increasing the capacity of local animal welfare organizations to protect animals. The Shelter Services program directly supports the work of thousands of animal welfare professionals by providing training, funding, and advocacy across the country. That's a lot on their plate--donations will go a long way! Join Ildiko and go to www.americanhumane.org
Bat Conservation International's mission is to teach people the value of bats, to protect and conserve critical bat habitats, and to advance scientific knowledge through research. All this while using a win-win beneficial solution that will benefit both bats and people. Ildiko invites you to explore their comprehensive website and learn more about these unique animals! Go to www.batcon.org
Best Friends Animal Society is an animal shelter in Utah which is more than a sanctuary. It is a voice for the animals, politically and spiritually. If you love animals, and contribute to animal causes, I recommend checking this site out! They are amazing! Melinda recommends this group, and it is also supported by her church. www.bestfriends.org
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is working to achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime by providing critical funding for innovative clinical and genetic research at leading medical centers worldwide. No matter who you are, male or female, your life has or will be touched by breast cancer. The statistics prove it. And on both sides of my family, and with my friends, I have been already. Ildiko wants it to stop. www.bcrf.org
When visiting The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee website, a charity sponsored by the Christian Reformed Church, a catalog (literally) will be offered of ways to help. Do you want to sponsor a child's education? How about their immunizations? Want to plant a tree? It only costs a quarter...How about digging a well? You can do all sorts of things. Maybe there is something you feel passionate about? Doug and Kris (Joy) didn't seem to care, as long as something got done! Same with Greg...Brad and Kris (Beth) seemed interested in a goat for a family in Tanzania, or a Nutrition Kit for a child in Honduras. Ryan really was interested in livestock, but also liked the idea of Dry Food Rations and a Doctor Visit...www.crwrc.org
The Climate Project helps to raise awareness about the climate crisis by funding training sessions based on An Inconvenient Truth. The website offers some simple ways to help reduce global warming. If we all did these 10 simple things, how much could we accomplish? Gayle's doing her part. To do yours, go to www.theclimateproject.org
Covenant House challenges the heart to provide a place for a homeless child to sleep at night. The melody from "Away In A Manger" floats through your mind as you read the page, the words literally asking you to give them a safe place to "lay their heads." The dangers to a homeless child are significantly greater than that of an adult, and therefore, the needs much greater. Marcia asks for your help. www.covenanthouse.org
And if Covenant House didn't get you thinking, Children of the Night will! This organization works to rescue children between the ages of 11 and 17 from prostitution. This agency works in conjunction with law enforcement agencies' elite investigative groups, committed to saving girls and boys who have been forced to prostitute themselves for food and a place to sleep. It's unimaginable, but true. You can join Marcia and help. www.childrenofthenight.org
Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) is an independent international medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural or man-made disasters, or exclusion from health care in more than 70 countries. Your donations, even a small one, can do so much to help in the selfless and courageous mission these men and women have undertaken. Ryan hopes you will go to www.doctorswithoutborders.org
The Episcopal Church offers a website through which many different groups can be reached. Go to the Episcopal Relief & Development website, and if you start on the homepage, you can see all of their involvements! This was requested by both Melinda and John. www.servicenetwork.com/Olg/ERD/Donate.asp
Five Talents International, an agency based on Matthew 25:20:
"The man who had received the five talents brought the other
five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents.
See, I have gained five more.'"
provides microenterprise loans to people, mostly in developing countries. It helps them obtain micro-credit, business training and spiritual development. Melinda, who actually is a Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters in Rock Springs, Wy, chose this organization. They can be found at www.fivetalents.org
The Gideons International was formed in 1899 by three traveling men. With an interest in how to be most effective in the hotels while they traveled, one of the members suggested they supply a Bible for each room of the hotel in which they stayed. This would not only be beneficial for their discussions, but would be "a most gracious act." That first Bible was placed in a hotel in Montana in 1908, and continues today. Now they distribute Bibles in more than 80 languages to hotels, motels, hospitals, convalescent homes, medical offices and domestic violence shelters, prisons and jails. They are distributed to students in the 5th grade and above, prisoners and police, fire, military, and medical personnel. To join Michael and learn more, or to have a memorial Bible placed, go to www.gideons.org
Habitat For Humanity was founded in 1976 and has built more than 200,000 houses for poverty stricken families. These homes are provided at affordable prices with no interest and at no profit, allowing poor families to get back on their feet with dignity. A popular charity, both John and Michael wanted to see donations go to this worthwhile group. To learn more, go to www.habitat.org
Heifer International is an organization that is familiar to many of us, I think. Or at least it's work is similar to that of other organizations. The principle is based on the "teach a man to fish" philosophy and provides impoverished countries around the world, including America, with the animals and supplies necessary to begin to become self-sufficient. This is one of my charities...The stories are heart-warming: www.catalog.heifer.org
The Humane Society of the United States' mission is: Celebrating Animals, Confronting Cruelty. They set the standards for shelters, advocate training programs, and help with legislation against barbaric practices of dog-fighting and puppy mills. Did you know, you can sign up through Windows Live Messenger and the Humane Society so that every Instant Message you begin a portion of the advertising fees will be contributed to HSUS? Interested? Robert chose to help out animals this year, and, sadly, lost one of his own shortly after choosing the Humane Society as his charity. Check it out--go to: www.hsus.org
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is the nation's first and largest group dedicated to the Troops and Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the civilian supporters of those Troops and Veterans. Today's military is different than it was 20 years ago, and definitely 30, 40 and 50 years ago. So is today's war. Therefore, the way our Veterans are treated needs to be reviewed--their benefits, their medical, their education, their families. IAVA does that. They are looking into the way we treat our Troops coming home from the battlefield, and making sure they are getting what they need. Gayle cares and is looking into it. You can, too, go to www.iava.org
The March of Dimes is a long standing organization that has been fighting the causes of birth defects and prematurity for decades. This charity was chosen by Lisa. We are all so grateful for their work, as the technology they have helped fund was available to Lisa's daughter, Celia, born 3 months premature, 2 years ago. Check the archive on this blog for pictures and info on her. She's beautiful! Oh, and in researching The March of Dimes, I discovered that November is Prematurity Awareness Month! How cool is that? Mark your calendars, as donations during this month may be matched by various organizations...go to www.marchofdimes.com
Parachutes Teen Club and Resource Center is just what it says it is--a place for teens. Parachutes is a place where kids can feel safe from the hardships of life. The teens that stop in come from diverse backgrounds and ethnicity, but the common thread with many is that they have an unstable or unhealthy home environment. Through relationships, Parachutes demonstrates the unconditional love of Jesus to teenagers by seeking to minister to their physical, social and spiritual needs. This amazing place is run by good friends of Doug, Kris and Greg, and it was a request of both Greg and Kris that donations be made to them. Check out www.parachutesalaska.com
Petfinder.com Foundation--is a sort of clearinghouse animal charity. They donate to shelters across North America to help place animals in homes. By collecting donations and distributing where the need is greatest, homeless animal placements can go up, while euthanasia rates can go down. Win-win? Gayle thinks so--see for yourself: www.petfinder.com
I first learned of Share Your Soles from a magazine in the waiting room of one of my mom's doctor's office. I was literally moved to tears. It happened that a woman on a plane was sitting next to a man, a doctor, who was leaving a country after donating his time there amputating the feet of children who had developed injuries and infections running and playing on the tarred roads of the country. Apparently, these amputations could easily have been avoided by simply providing shoes for these children. And so she did. And does. It's easy, inexpensive, and all you need to do is go to www.shareyoursoles.org
Smile Train is an organization that provides corrective facial surgery for children born with cleft palates. Each surgery is about $250, but is provided at no charge to the patient's family, thanks to donations. This charity was requested by Lisa and Bill, whose smiling faces, and that of Celia, their gorgeous daughter, can be seen soon on my next edition...The website can be viewed at www.smiletrain.org
Rescue Mission, Grand Junction CO--The Lighthouse Gospel Ministries provides mission services in Grand Junction CO, as well as Praise and Worship Services, Dental Services, and Clothing and Food Assistance. Mission services include beds provided nightly (37 men and 15 women) and two hot meals a day, 365 days a year. As residents of Grand Junction, Brad and Kris asked that the Mission be remembered this year--donations will go to prepare more than 23,000 hot meals and food pantry packages and sleep over 50 men and women. Go to www.grandjunctionrescuemission.comTroy and Faith Bierma, cousins to the Bierma/Baas Bunch,are preparing to leave for Bangladesh. They will be leaving early in January for what will likely be an 8 year mission teaching theology at a seminary...we currently don't have a site for them, but stay tuned, as I will post any and all info I get on them. In the meantime, if you are interested in sponsoring them or sending supplies to them, their camp, or the nearby orphanage, feel free to contact them (Faith) at Faith.Bierma@gmail.com. Doug had them on his heart this Christmas...
Vision Literacy is a Santa Clara County (Northern California) based organization which is committed to empowering adults through improving their literacy skills. It exists to replace their struggle with the opportunity to build reading, writing and leadership skills. Developing these skills sets them on a path of confidence that will lead them to a life of fulfillment. Bill thought this was a valuable resource in his community, and you will, too, once you go to www.visionliteracy.org
I have been so moved by the passions of my siblings. The burdens they carry on their hearts make mine ache. I wish all these organizations had all that they needed this Christmas to help all that are in need...They will remain in my prayers throughout the year. Thank you all so much for sharing and for caring.
God's Peace!
