Today’s world has seen plenty of disasters. Merely looking at the last few years, we’ve seen a multitude of devastating earthquakes (Japan, Haiti, Chile and New Zealand, to name a few) on top of the poverty and suffering that exists in third-world countries. Some tragedies, like those in Darfur, go under publicized.
It’s not fun to think about, but there is a lot of suffering in the world.
You’ve all seen the commercials for Feed The Children, too. Those are heartbreaking moments, aren’t they? They want to melt your heart in hopes that you’ll donate. Obviously some people do.
Our question is simple. Do you?
We aren’t passing judgment, merely asking. We don’t want to preach to you. Is it worth it to you to pass on going to the movies in order to donate money? Today’s economy is not strong, and everyone is scratching to make ends meet. It’s really nice to have something to reward yourself with at the end of a hard week.
There are things to consider. Is the charity honest? Even the Red Cross has been tarnished. Can you trust where your money is going?
Taking the time to investigate where your money is going is beneficial if you decide to donate. If you donate but the money never finds its way to those in need, it’s a waste.
Still, taking just $10 out of your monthly check can provide a lot of the essentials we Americans often take for granted.
Japan and Haiti didn’t see their disasters coming, but if America were to be hit with another disaster on the scale of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, immediately we would want our neighbors help, and we would hope the donations from other countries would come pouring in.
Also, don’t forget that donations don’t have to be monetary in nature. The Hope Foundation of Greater Dayton’s Beavercreek branch uses volunteers to distribute food. St. Vincent De Paul uses volunteers to provide food, meals and shelter for people in need. If you can build, why not help Habitat for Humanity?
The bottom line is this, donate what you can, and if you can’t afford to, why not consider volunteering your time and effort? In the end, you will leave knowing that you made a small difference in the world. Donate to become a better you!