Two Great Charities at Work to Beat Poverty [Blog Action Day 2008]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/421741829/two-great-charities-at-work-to-beat-poverty

The midst of an economic meltdown isn't the most obvious time to start thinking about how you can donate money and time to those in need, but if you're reading this blog you might be in a position to do so. Today's Blog Action Day, so along with thousands of other blogs, we're shining the spotlight on the issue of poverty. Earlier Kevin told you about Computers for Children, and now I wanted to tell you about two of my favorite charities working towards beating poverty locally and abroad: DonorsChoose.org, and Women for Women International.

DonorsChoose.org

Lifehacker readers are probably familiar with DonorsChoose.org because we've featured it several times before. In short, DonorsChoose.org's focus is education: it uses the web to connect teachers with donors interested in helping students in need. Teachers post a specific thing they need for a classroom project—everything from school supplies like markers and pads to a digital camera—and donors browse the projects and decide which ones they want to support. Last year Lifehacker readers and editors raised almost $5,000 for DonorsChoose education projects just through a few posts here on this site. The most gratifying thing about donating there is that you g! et handw ritten letters from students and photos of them using the materials you helped purchase. Check out just two of the letters and photos I received from my donations to a math teacher through DonorsChoose.org.

Women for Women

After seeing a gut-wrenching 60 Minutes segment on rape in the Congo back in January, I immediately signed up to sponsor two women through Women for Women International, an organization that helps war survivors in the DR Congo. My Women for Women donation is a monthly, recurring payment of about $25 per sponsored woman that comes directly out of my checking account, so it's a set-it-and-forget-it scenario. Like DonorsChoose.org, you also get letters from your sponsored woman, which is the best part of the experience. Here's a translated excerpt of a letter from one of the women I sponsor, who has four children aged 4 through 12 years old, but doesn't have electricity or running water in her home.

How are you doing? I am doing a bit well so far, but only God knows about tomorrow.... I live in a thatched house and we fetch water from a public standpipe. It is near our house. Thank you for the financial assistance I am receiving from you. May God bless you.

Here's a scan of one of her handwritten letters, and here's the translated version.

If you can do it and you're not already, take time today to sign up with a charity that works for a cause you care about, and send them what you can. Not only are your donations tax-deductible, but they're a worthwhile deposit in your karma account, too. What are your favorite charities working to beat poverty? Tell us about it in the comments.