The first charity from this year, you may recall, went towards ending malaria. This charity does the same thing, in a specific way. Malaria, we now know, is spread by mosquitoes. Countries where mosquitoes are prevalent need nets over their beds to keep the little vampire bugs away, so this charity--Nothing but Nets--sends nets to places that need them. A ten dollar donation buys one net, so I gave $25 to Nothing but Nets . . . thereby buying . . . two and a half nets? Yeah, okay.
-Matt
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Lent Day 17: Bikes
Today I donated $25 to Pedals for Progress, an organization that provides bikes to people. For some, bicycles are a primary mode of transportation. It would be impractical--to say nothing of bad for the environment--to provide cars as primary transportation, which is one of the reasons I like this organization. Bikes will get you around well enough without being bad for the environment. So to those areas who depend on fast, clean transportation, this organization provides it.
-Matt
-Matt
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Lent Day 15: Books
One of my favorite charities is Firstbook. It's one I've talked about a number of times. It gives books to children in need. It provides reading to those who might not have had it available before.
Bookaid does much the same thing. It sends books to Africa for children in need. Every two pounds donated (a little over 3 dollars, US) sends one book . . . which, considering how much we pay for books is a pretty good deal. Books should be accessible. Being literate should not depend on one's economic or ethnic status, and yet sadly, it does. Books go to those who can afford them. Charities like Firstbook and Bookaid bring education, information, and imagination to those who aren't part of that typically well-read minority.
If you're anything like me (ie a Nerdfighter) then you believe in the importance of books and reading. This is why charities such as these are important to me. Today, I donated 24 pounds (roughly $32, US) to Bookaid, which is enough to send 12 books out to children who can't afford them.
-Matt
Bookaid does much the same thing. It sends books to Africa for children in need. Every two pounds donated (a little over 3 dollars, US) sends one book . . . which, considering how much we pay for books is a pretty good deal. Books should be accessible. Being literate should not depend on one's economic or ethnic status, and yet sadly, it does. Books go to those who can afford them. Charities like Firstbook and Bookaid bring education, information, and imagination to those who aren't part of that typically well-read minority.
If you're anything like me (ie a Nerdfighter) then you believe in the importance of books and reading. This is why charities such as these are important to me. Today, I donated 24 pounds (roughly $32, US) to Bookaid, which is enough to send 12 books out to children who can't afford them.
-Matt
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Lent Day 14: Toys
Having to be in the hospital is no usually no fun for a kid. (Well, I guess it's no fun for an adult either . . . but we're talking about kids here.) Especially when the child is there for an extended stay. Being sick is no fun. Being sick enough to go to the hospital is even less fun. And being sick enough for an extended stay at the hospital is just downright scary.
Child's Play (today's charity) attempts to make that just a little bit easier. Children's hospitals around the US, as well as a few in other parts of the world, have put together wish lists for kids on Amazon . . . toys, games, books, anything to make the child's stay in the hospital a little more bearable. Then people can go to amazon, purchase said items, and have them shipped to the hospital of their choice. It really makes a difference in the lives of kids who feel hopeless and afraid.
I bought a set of markers and play-doh, and paid for the fastest shipping to get to Akron Children's Hospital by tomorrow, a total of some $32. Akron Children's Hospital is closest to my area, and it's also the place that looks after Megan, the student with muscular dystrophy that I tutored last year, whenever she gets sick. Hope whoever is there now enjoys the toys.
-Matt
Child's Play (today's charity) attempts to make that just a little bit easier. Children's hospitals around the US, as well as a few in other parts of the world, have put together wish lists for kids on Amazon . . . toys, games, books, anything to make the child's stay in the hospital a little more bearable. Then people can go to amazon, purchase said items, and have them shipped to the hospital of their choice. It really makes a difference in the lives of kids who feel hopeless and afraid.
I bought a set of markers and play-doh, and paid for the fastest shipping to get to Akron Children's Hospital by tomorrow, a total of some $32. Akron Children's Hospital is closest to my area, and it's also the place that looks after Megan, the student with muscular dystrophy that I tutored last year, whenever she gets sick. Hope whoever is there now enjoys the toys.
-Matt
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Lent Day 13: Socks
Today's charity is special for a few reasons. First, it essentially began at the Toledo Cherry Street Mission, which is just about a half an hour north of where I live. Second, it's another organization that looks at one of those needs that most of us just kind of take for granted. Third, it was started by a child.
Hannah was four, and helping her mother give out food at the Cherry Street Mission in Toledo, when she realized that one of the men waiting wasn't wearing any socks. Despite her mother's assurances, Hannah knew this man needed socks, and offered him hers. The next day, Hannah and her mother purchased 100 pairs of socks and distributed them to homeless shelters in the area. Thus began Hannah's Socks. Socks are just one of things that we have, and we don't really think about the fact that some people don't. 4-year-old Hannah did, so I gave her charity $30 today.
-Matt
Hannah was four, and helping her mother give out food at the Cherry Street Mission in Toledo, when she realized that one of the men waiting wasn't wearing any socks. Despite her mother's assurances, Hannah knew this man needed socks, and offered him hers. The next day, Hannah and her mother purchased 100 pairs of socks and distributed them to homeless shelters in the area. Thus began Hannah's Socks. Socks are just one of things that we have, and we don't really think about the fact that some people don't. 4-year-old Hannah did, so I gave her charity $30 today.
-Matt
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Lent Day 12: Beds
Today's donation went to Sleeping Children Around the World. This organization provides beds . . . or more correctly Bedkits . . . to needy children. $35 buys a mattress or mat, pillow, sheet, blanket, and mosquito net (if needed), as well as clothes to sleep in, a towel, and school supplies. 100% of the donation goes to buying the Bedkit. So I bought 1 Bedkit for $35.
-Matt
-Matt
Lent Day 11: Late Again
Monday's charity was Vitamin Angels. The organization recognizes that part of the malnourishment problem is simply because some people do not have access to vitamins, and so seeks to provide vitamins to those in the world suffering from those deficiencies. It reminds us that while feeding the hungry is important, we also need to make sure that they are healthy. So $20 went to this organization.
Stay tuned for today's charity.
-Matt
Stay tuned for today's charity.
-Matt
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