Charity - We Put Love Into Giving :)

CHARITY – WE PUT LOVE INTO GIVING

It seems to me that every time I open a newspaper, turn on the news, or listen to the radio, there is struggle and strife somewhere in the world. At times, I feel helpless. I read about Hurricane Harvey in Texas, USA; about Syrian refugees; about starving children in developing nations; about millions of people affected by wars, famine, drought, and political unrest all over the world. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed I don’t know what to do. I wish I could help, but I don’t have much money or time. And then I remember this quote:

“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” ~Mother Theresa

She was so right! So, I came up with this very simple swap that should leave us all with an extra “feel-good” feeling. Here’s what to do:

For this Swap, you will engage in a charitable act of any kind. Then you will tell us about it! That’s it. :) Here are the rules:

1. Do something charitable any time from the date you sign up until October 1, 2017.
2. Keep the “proof” of your charitable act – this can be a photograph of you volunteering, a receipt for your charitable donation, videotape of you reading to children, a picture of goods you compiled and donated or shipped off to a local charity! The list is endless.
3. Send the “proof” and a short email to your partner by October 2, 2017. The email should identify the swap and also tell your partner what you did, how it made you feel, and whether you’re going to do it again.

So … what is considered “charitable?” Let’s not be too picky here, folks! I’d rather not get into details about whether your country’s Internal Revenue Service, Revenue Agency, Taxation Office, or Tax and Customs Administration would consider your donation “charitable giving” under formal regulations. If you are giving back to your community, it counts!

What can you do, then? Well…

• Feed the homeless at a soup kitchen.
• Help with Hurricane Harvey Relief (whether you volunteer or send money/goods).
• House or feed refugees.
• Work as a candy striper in a hospital.
• Spend time with children at a school, daycare center, or house of worship.

The charitable activity does NOT have to be physical! Some swappers want to give back but can’t make a commitment to physical activity or they live in areas where charities maintain waiting lists or lengthy screening procedures for volunteers. Not a problem.

What can these swappers do? Let’s see…

• Send pill bottle donations to Matthew 25: Ministries, http://m25m.org/pillbottles/.
• Send stamps to the Holocaust Stamp Project, http://www.foxboroughrcs.org/students-families/frcs-holocaust-stamp-project/.
• Donate money or goods to any charity or relief aid of the swapper’s choosing.

This swap requires you to dedicate your time or your money to a charitable organization within the next 30 days. If you don’t have these kinds of resources, please skip this swap. This is a flake-free zone.

Easy, right? If your partner sends you an email where he or she has done a charitable act and given you his or her thoughts about it, you rate a 5. Hearts may be earned if the swapper’s email is particularly moving, if the charitable act was particularly generous, or if the swapper got other people involved! None of these things are required, of course. Charitable giving is charitable giving, even if there is only a $5 donation involved. The amount of money or time does not matter; the love put into it does. Hearts, as always, are at the sole discretion of your partner.

On a personal note, I would really like this swap to be an inspiring, heart-warming swap – so let’s make it great! The minimum rating for this swap is 4.98; no unexplained 1s or 3s; you must have at completed least five (5) Type 3 Swaps or ten (10) Type 2 swaps; and you must have a profile that is filled out well. I reserve the right to ban for any reason. This is a Type 3 swap because it’s a time-intensive swap that cannot simply be done by putting postage on an envelope/postcard and sticking it in the mail or by sending an email without having donated your time/money to a charity. You’re doing or making something (volunteering/sending money/sending goods) and then writing about it.

Because of the nature of this swap, I cannot angel. Please don’t let me see any 1 ratings. This swap is about charity, after all.

HAPPY SWAPPING!