Three Ways You Can Change the World
(ARA) - In this age of junk mail, do-not-call lists and spam, it's often difficult to find valid, worthwhile messages. As a result, people might be hesitant to donate to a good cause, fearing a flood of direct mail, phone calls and e-mails will follow.
As the problem gets worse, people are seeking a way to give without being constantly bombarded with unwanted solicitations. A not-for-profit organization based in Portland, Ore., has developed an innovative approach to making donations hassle-free while respecting people's privacy. They've also devised a way for donors to customize their giving to fit their unique interests and lifestyles.
In order to serve people in need both quickly and continually, Mercy Corps has launched three monthly giving programs: Give for Kids, Heroes Against Hunger, and Partners in Mercy.
- Give for Kids specifically addresses the most urgent needs of poor children around the world, helping them gain more reliable access to nutritious food, clean water, shelter and a good education.
- Heroes Against Hunger helps Mercy Corps ensure that children and families have enough to eat by supplying nutrient-rich foods to communities and establishing feeding programs in local schools.
- Partners in Mercy works to guarantee a brighter future for poor families by establishing projects that carry out such vital tasks as providing clean water to villages, creating economic opportunities for those most in need and building good, safe schools for children.
These three innovative monthly giving programs enable donors to choose the way they would like to help fight global poverty. Through their monthly donations, supporters help establish long-term solutions to eradicating poverty and making a difference in the world. Donors will receive periodic newsletters and information, but no additional solicitations. These programs are also important inspirational gifts to family and friends who share the understanding that so much help is needed.
"The need for mercy is ongoing," says Dan O'Neill, the organization's president and co-founder. "We need to provide constant relief to children and families and let them know that the world hasn't forgotten about them."
According to the United Nations, 3 billion people (half the world's population) live on less than two dollars a day. Among them, more than 1.3 billion people live on less than a dollar a day. The consequences of this severe poverty are catastrophic: families suffer from malnutrition, preventable diseases, contaminated water supplies and decreased educational opportunities.
"The monthly support of our benefactors ensures that we have the resources to fight poverty and alleviate suffering," O'Neill says. "It allows us not only to respond quickly to tragedies and disasters, but also helps us to assist individuals in learning valuable skills to rebuild their lives."
Need has no nationality. Mercy Corps seeks to help people across the world, putting the needs of children and families first by providing rapid, long-term assistance to those most affected by the ravages of starvation and poverty. Mercy Corps has provided lifesaving assistance to people in 76 nations since 1979, helping families in need restore their lives, dignity and hope.
The needs of children and families around the world are overwhelming, but Mercy Corps' monthly giving programs are helping to meet those needs in ways that touch and save lives. To learn more about how you can help transform lives around the world, please call (800) 292-3355 (extension 250) or visit the Mercy Corps Web site at www.mercycorps.org. Courtesy of ARA Content
