skip to Main Content

DIY FRIDAY: Yes, you can make an impact all by yourself!

‘Tis the season for giving and giving back.  It’s been a rough year for many families.  Heck, it’s been a rough couple of years.  More and more people are facing unemployment, reduction in wages and rising prices at the pump and grocery store.  Things are tight.  Plus, awareness of global issues such as human trafficking, safe & clean water shortages, and unprecedented child sex abuse cases.  You may watch this happening and want to do something, but it can seem so overwhelming.  I mean, what can one person do?

One person is all it takes.  You can’t make a million people take a stand but you can decide if YOU are going to do something or sit on the sidelines and wring your hands, hoping SOMEONE acts.  All it takes is individuals like you to step out…

This Christmas, my DIY FRIDAY post is focused on a way that you can DO IT YOURSELF–meaning, you can help fight these global giants.  There are many avenues to meet these needs, but I’m presenting only a few that are near and dear to my heart.

  Convoy of Hope has been a constant presence in National and International disasters and is based right here in our neck of the woods of Springfield, MO.  Their efforts were felt locally immediately after the devastating Joplin tornado in May, as well as the Haiti earthquake and many other disasters.  Their mission is to provide clean water and food to struggling communities.  Please consider giving to their organization this holiday season.  You can go here for an online donation.

 I really wish there were no need for organizations such as this.  Child abuse cases, in particular sexual abuse, has been all over the news and there will be more.  Organizations such as CASA and SNAP–Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests help provide assistance to children and their families when dealing with the horrendous acts of child abuse.  It breaks my heart for this poor kids.  Sometimes legal action is needed, yet unavailable to the families due to financial reasons.  Justice for the innocent must be made.  Assistance can be made to help judicially or even use in the form of counseling for the victim and their families as the repercussions of abuse last through adulthood.  You may donate to CASA here or to SNAP by clicking here.

 In your own community, there are churches and schools that are holding food and clothing drives for families that are struggling, so I encourage you to get involved locally if you can.  North Point Church here in Springfield, MO has based their outreach strategy, called ImpACT, on attacking the four global giants of disease, poverty, illiteracy and spiritual emptiness.  They are strategic partners with the ONE Campaign (cofounded by Bono and other campaigners) that fights extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa, by raising public awareness and pressuring political leaders to support smart and effective policies and programs that are saving lives, helping to put kids in school and improving futures.  Through their monthly ImpACT events, North Point Church clothes thousands of children with coats and shoes, back-to-school supplies, provides assistance to local AIDS organizations, and provides holiday meal assistance to the needy families of Southwest Missouri. You can give to the ImpACT campaign here.

Facebook Twitter Email