Charitable Giving

Some people struggle to determine what gift to give. I like to take my time and try to determine what sort of gift would truly delight the person I am giving it to. I don’t always strive for it to be useful, just that it is appreciated and makes the other personal happy. I don’t give cash or other financial types of things. But, some people do. I often find it interesting to understand other points of view. With that, here are some thoughts on charitable giving that were expressed to me, which I am sharing with permission.
Charitable Giving: Giving As Your Heart Tells You
As first recorded by Saint Paul in I Corinthians 13:13, he writes: “ And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Interestingly enough, the word love is replaced by the word “charity” in many versions of the Bible. Whichever word one does use, however, one way to best express one’s care and concern for others is by the giving of financial gifts–no matter the amount given.
Online Giving
Today, thanks in great part to the convenience, speed and advanced technologies available through the Internet, people from every walk of life can now be secured in knowing their efforts will render the most effective results via online giving.
By simply donating to any one of the many fine online charitable organizations through their official websites, millions of people are today being helped that could not have been reached in previous decades.
Inspired Gifts Of Love
Through distinguished organizations such as UNICEF, people can simply give to the project or effort that is closest to their heart at the level that is best suited for them personally. Giving is no longer limited today by distance, political and/or religious constraints as people typically give best when their hearts dictate when, how much and to whom they should give.
Giving To Designated Projects
At many websites, a smile forms on the face of a young child, and yours too, because of your $20.00 gift. Going towards reconstructive surgery following an attack on a child’s face by a wild animal in the African bush, many children will be able to smile where no smile existed before.
At another organization’s website, a one-time $100.00 love gift goes a long way in helping provide bicycles for people without reliable transportation in some remote regions of the world. In desolate areas, a bicycle is the sole means of transportation for bringing in food/medical supplies, teachers and healthcare workers. Being that it’s so energy-efficient and cost-effective, a bike is one of the best modes of transportation for villages and some mountain trails.
A one-time gift of even $10.00 can help build badly needed wells of water for certain parts in India, Africa or wherever there is a desperate water distribution effort needed.
During the holidays, what better way is there to express your caring concern than by saving up all year long for charitable donations? One well known international ministry only asks for a donated shoebox filled with everyday toiletry items such as shaving cream, tooth paste/tooth brushes, soap, feminine hygiene products and razor blades for the adults. All boxes are then gift wrapped in colorful holiday paper.
Children receive small toys, coloring books and crayons as well as proper toiletry items. Naturally, adding a Christmas holiday greeting card, plus a heart-felt online donation, makes your giving all the more effective. More importantly, giving online whenever your heart prompts you takes your love to a higher and more far-reaching level than you ever thought possible before.