Small change CAN make a difference
Who says small donations can't make a difference?
Thanks to a story on CNN, today I came across a charity called Modest Needs. The idea's very simple: ordinary people in the US and Canada with urgent but limited needs that, if not met, could tip them into financial disaster - a car repair or medical bill that's just too expensive, back-rent they can't pay, a one-off essential purchase, employment start-up costs - can apply to the charity for funding. They complete a questionnaire and the staff at Modest Needs investigate to ensure that their circumstances are as described. Once that is complete, their situation - anonymised - goes onto the website. Donors can either select a recipient for their donations ('points'), or allow Modest Needs to allocate their points. The website is kept constantly up to date, so it's always possible to see how close particular applications are to their target. Once the target is reached, Modest Needs sends the payment - usually to the creditor, not the applicant - and everyone who has donated to that particular application is informed at that point, so you know that your gift is doing good.
The organisation is an accredited charity with the Better Business Bureau and has four-star accreditation with Charity Navigator. Tax receipts are provided for donations, and it's possible to give a one-off donation or set up a regular payment. And apparently 68% of those helped by Modest Needs then become donors themselves, once they're back on their feet.
If you can forgo that trip to Starbucks, or lunch out, or something else you won't really miss, then send a donation. I did, and it was easy, secure and I got a letter in temporary lieu of a tax receipt within seconds. Even $5 could make a difference by contributing to helping someone get back on their financial feet at a time when so many are struggling.
ETA: The CNN story generated a huge response - just look and see how many people got the help they need in just one day! What a fantastic Christmas present.
Thanks to a story on CNN, today I came across a charity called Modest Needs. The idea's very simple: ordinary people in the US and Canada with urgent but limited needs that, if not met, could tip them into financial disaster - a car repair or medical bill that's just too expensive, back-rent they can't pay, a one-off essential purchase, employment start-up costs - can apply to the charity for funding. They complete a questionnaire and the staff at Modest Needs investigate to ensure that their circumstances are as described. Once that is complete, their situation - anonymised - goes onto the website. Donors can either select a recipient for their donations ('points'), or allow Modest Needs to allocate their points. The website is kept constantly up to date, so it's always possible to see how close particular applications are to their target. Once the target is reached, Modest Needs sends the payment - usually to the creditor, not the applicant - and everyone who has donated to that particular application is informed at that point, so you know that your gift is doing good.
The organisation is an accredited charity with the Better Business Bureau and has four-star accreditation with Charity Navigator. Tax receipts are provided for donations, and it's possible to give a one-off donation or set up a regular payment. And apparently 68% of those helped by Modest Needs then become donors themselves, once they're back on their feet.
If you can forgo that trip to Starbucks, or lunch out, or something else you won't really miss, then send a donation. I did, and it was easy, secure and I got a letter in temporary lieu of a tax receipt within seconds. Even $5 could make a difference by contributing to helping someone get back on their financial feet at a time when so many are struggling.
ETA: The CNN story generated a huge response - just look and see how many people got the help they need in just one day! What a fantastic Christmas present.