Like a lot of you, I’ve been trying to wrap my mind around what happened in Haiti last week. When I see the pictures of complete and utter devastation, part of me wants to throw up, part of me wants to hide my eyes, part of me wants to get on the next plane down there, and part of me wants to believe it’s not true (how many parts is that?). Many of the awesome bloggers that I love and admire have been busy pledging money (per post, per comment, etc.) and I’ve been struggling with how to help and what to do.
The bottom line is that we simply don’t have the funds to give much. And that’s the main reason we’re pursuing a life without debt. We want to be able to give more. We want to be able to do more. We want to be able to be more. The Dave Ramsey truism might sound cliche, but right now we’re living like no one else – we don’t eat out, we don’t vacation, we don’t buy extras, we live in a small house, we’ve never purchased a tv – so that someday we can give like no one else. Now, a word to the wise/trap we’ve fallen into in the past that I’d like to warn you against.
If you want to donate but it means you have to put part of your living expenses on a credit card in order to be able to give, DO NOT DO IT. You are not helping yourself or anyone else. Don’t be fooled. Instead spend that money on getting out of debt completely so that some day you can give whenever you feel like it. OR trim your grocery budget for the month. OR don’t go out to eat and use that money to donate. But don’t fool yourself into thinking you’re being generous when all you’re truly doing is tying yourself up into more bondage.
Now, if you do you have money to give or can figure out a way to reduce your spending this month in order to give more, here are the Queen’s Royal Suggestions of how to lend hope and help in Haiti.
Some of my favorite Bloggers Making a Difference (with your help):
Lady Bargain Briana
Lady Crystal, the Money Saving Mom
Lady Erin, the 5 Dollar Dinner Mom
Lady Emily, DesignHERMomma
Lady Mercedes of Common Sense with Money
Many of these AMAZING women have or are still making pledges to donate/number of posts written or comments made on their posts. You should definitely support them!
My Top 3 Favorite Charities Providing Relief in Haiti:
World Vision
Children’s Hunger Fund ($24 provides a box of food)
American Red Cross
I have to be honest that I’m still struggling with/trying to figure how much we can give right now. But we will be doing something. And I’ll keep you updated. The Eldest Princess is planning her own fund raising efforts. She has a phone meeting scheduled this afternoon with a Philanthropic Studies Ph D student to figure out what to do and where to donate. That kid is going to do something and be someone someday (and is right now).
And of course as small and sometimes powerless as it seems – we can pray. I believe prayer makes a difference in the world. And of course praying is free (and freeing).
Thanks for letting me struggle through all of this.
www.queenoffree.net
