A Gift for Life

Episcopal Relief and Development has some wonderful gift ideas for the charitably-minded.  That would be all Quid Nimis readers, naturally.  In its Gifts for Life program, you may choose any of several ways to change someone's life for the better in a profound way.  Your monetary contribution can be directed to

• Help families feed themselves year round 
• Provide the basics for life -- food, water and health care
• Care for children and families affected by HIV/AIDS
• Provide help in times of greatest need

ERD has a sterling reputation, which I've mentioned before. They have people "on the ground" in needy areas and are very effective at getting aid to where its needed with minimal overhead cost.  Please browse the options and consider a small contribution that can make a big difference.

Changing the subject only slightly, charity and generosity were two topics that loomed large when I began this blog on the 26th of December of last year, the same day the tsunami hit Southeast Asia.  Personally, I give a great  deal of consideration to which organizations will be the recipients of my gifts: it's a matter of good stewardship.  I want my money to go to the needy, not to line the pockets of charity functionaries and bureaucrats.  I do not give to the International Red Cross or to any UN-based charity like UNICEF.  I also rule out the Heifer Project, whose concept is very similar to parts of the ERD campaign described above.  My objection to HP is entirely subjective: their catalogue is full to the brim of cloying pictures of Hollywood stars hugging little animals and endorsing this charity. The first red flag is that they have a glossy, highly produced catalogue that they send out in a mass mailing.  The second, for me, is the trendiness appeal ("Look, all of these cool celebrities are giving to this charity!").  My scepticism hits stratospheric levels when I note which stars are adorning the pages, hugging baby goats and bunnies: Ted Danson, Mary Steenbergen, Ed Asner, Susan Sarandon, et al.  It looks like a Who's Who of Hollywood's Outspoken Leftist Has-Been Club. [I note that their website has no pictures of celebrities; I read nothing much into that.]  At this point, by not giving to this charity, I am making a tiny statement about these celebrities' influence on me, which is entirely negative.  And, if this particular concept of giving appeals, I have an alternative at ERD.

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