Have you heard about the anonymous couple that made a New Year's resolution to donate $52 each week for a year (52 weeks)? They started a blog to chronicle their experience and encourage others to join them: http://www.52times52.com/.
Each Friday they choose a different recipient. If you read only one of their posts, I recommend this one. And have kleenex handy. http://www.52times52.com/our-own-awakening/
This concept completely delights me. Even if you can only afford to give $5 each week, can you imagine how fun it would be to sort through the options and decide how to donate it?
I imagine it would change my default orientation to day to day life -- I'd start paying attention to my daily surroundings in a different way, looking for potential recipients.
I get really excited thinking about all the fun things I could do with just five dollars a week:
feed parking meters
buy some 99 cent cheeseburgers and give them to the beggars on the street corners
leave an extra big tip at IHOP
drop my change in those little jars and cans at the checkout stands
leave $5 with the cashier at the thrift store and tell her to put it toward the purchase of the big family behind me in line
and if I don't get out much that week, paypal and the internet make it super easy to find options:
donate to one of our wonderful local charities
give to the private families in need of help with medical bills that we read about in the newspaper or on facebook
visit sites like www.kiva.org, or www.heifer.org, or www.seva.org or www.habitat.org or one of the thousands of others who are doing good work in the world
I already do most of those things when they present themselves, but what I don't do that I think would be fun is to set aside the money each week and make sure to look for ways to give it away.
I also realized that I do most of this giving in private, so my daughter does not know about it. But there's something so sweet and empowering about making it transparent and weekly, and inviting her to help me choose the recipient.
If you decide to try it, I'd love to hear about your favorite places to give!
and if you love this idea, you might enjoy this site as well:
http://www.dailygood.org/
Saturday, October 29, 2011
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I saw this, Karen! The posts are amazing. I loved the one about the Linus Project. It really is a fun idea. Thanks for posting!
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oh, i know, wasn't it amazing? I sent that one to my friend who is a member of a women's knitting group. maybe they will make some blankets! it's such a win-win ... always more fun to create something when you know it will go to someone who will appreciate it!
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