I don't know how to start a blog like this. Do I start off by introducing myself, what I do, what I have done in the past, why I started this business? I don't think any of that is relevant to anything I am going to say throughout this post.
This blog post is about charity. Those who know my business know I have always given to charities throughout the year (on a month to month basis) donating 25% of what I make at photography to charity. Its something that has always been important to me - through good and bad - if there is or is not a major event that happens in Japan or Haiti or anywhere around the world. Charity always has been and always will be important 24/7 365 because SOMEONE always needs help in some way. Even if you cannot help them personally you would be shocked at how much $1 can do for a life.
I am always amazed at how quick the world responds to natural disasters! People giving as much as they can, it makes me so proud to be part of the world. What I don't get is....why does it stop?
"How come when the media stops covering and there’s a little help from the government we forget about the people still struggling and assume that its really all love again, see we don’t have to wait for things to break apart if you weren’t involved before it’s never too late to start." -Young Artists' for Haiti
Why do we forget? Why do we stop giving? I work at a retail store and often have to ask people to donate to natural disaster relief and so often I get "I already did" like, honestly, there is a limit to how much you can donate. (Especially when someone spends $50 on something they don't really need, but can't donate even points, or even $1 to the cause but will get their Starbucks coffee the next day.)
Another thing I don't understand is why people donate. What is their motive? Are they doing it because "everyone else is" and they are followers? Are they doing it because they feel obligated to? Or are they doing it to get ahead themselves? Too often do I see people "playing god" when something happens so that they get more and more attention. But for the wrong reason. While everyone thinks they are giving attention to the cause, that person "in charge of it" becomes more and more popular and bringing more and more attention to one person instead of a community of people doing the same thing.
I STRONGLY encourage any reader of this blog to RESEARCH ANYONE you desire to give money or time to. Do their motives match yours? & Try to always donate to a bigger charity (such as a red cross or Salvation Army) with a great reputation with following through so you know that everything you donate (or a large portion) will go to relief efforts (or what you're donating to). Do not always trust people you think you know. If they seem to be trying to act like God, they probably are doing it for the wrong reason, let the big charities do that. I also encourage you to donate whenever you can, even if it's only $1! Also, do NOT get involved in charities that do not have complete understanding of what is happening. If they seem unorganized, and unsure, they probably are.
WHAT $1 CAN DO:
- Feed a family living in the garbage dumps of Reynosa, Mexico a meal.
- Or, give an indigenous child living in the mountains of Chiapas, Mexico a Christmas present.
- Or, print 4 studies that we give to Mexican pastors, or print and mail a study to a pastor who lives farther away.
- Or, copy a CD of a teaching, which will minister to a pastor.
- Or, print and mail a copy of "Life-Line for Pastors" to an American pastor who needs help and encouragement.
- Or, buy one minute of air time on Mexican radio.
- Or, allow us to visit a Mexican pastor to encourage him and pray for his family.
- Or, keep our web site, which is ministering to thousands of people per month, on the Internet for two days.
- Or, provide materials for Vacation Bible School for a Mexican child.
- Or, put 100 tracts in the hands of a Mexican pastor.
http://www.365act.com/
