We make sure to give money freely throughout the year because our faith tells us that it’s God’s money (we wouldn’t have received it if it wasn’t for his grace) which makes it easier to part with.   Most people are less regimented about charity and are likely to give at the first of the year as a part of their New Year’s Resolutions (which taper off just like those “work out every day” and “only eat salad for lunch” resolutions).

Whether you’re in a charitable mood from the egg nog, or you’re feeling called to regiment your generosity, here is where our money goes and we encourage you to donate as well:

1. We donate weekly to our parish to support a large number of ministries. 
2. My husband has spent great effort on micro-financing.  If you haven’t heard of this or considered it, please take a moment to read about it and find out how your money loaned to a small business owner in Zaire can support recovering economies in suffering areas. 
3. Multiple animal shelters see our cash.  We have a rescue dog (but you wouldn’t know it, he’s super smart and is almost AKC certified if it weren’t for the cream color on his ears).  The Real Estate Bloggers shed light on the Foreclosure Dog (pups given up as fallout to foreclosures).  I would be absolutely heartbroken if I had to part with Cracker!
4. ****We give to Into Abbas Arms, an orphanage in Kenya (see this article’s photo).  Over a year ago, my grandmother gave up all of of her earthly posessions (okay, minus some outfits and toiletries), packed up and moved to Kenya for good.  She lives with the orphans and cares for them and plans to for the remainder of her life.  She emails every now and then when they can get power (it comes on for a while in the night and a bit in the day).  They are up in the mountains (not the hot desert), so it’s cold year round and multiple layers are required since there is no heat.  The children are beaten at the school if their uniforms are not pristine (yet they have no parents to buy their uniforms).  I will write on this later, but I want to encourage everyone to support Grandma Campbell.  At least sign your kid up to be pen pals with one of the kiddos!
5. Catholic Relief Services helps the poor globally, usually focusing on disaster areas (they beat FEMA to New Orleans, were among the main forces in the Pakistan as well as the tsunami recovery efforts).  This is a newer charity brought to our attention. 
6. The American Heart Association is close to us (my husband and I).  Benn’s father had his first heart attack in his twenties and is now beyond heart donor status (poor health, failed final stint), my paternal grandparents both died of congenital problems and my father has a minor heart issue that he refuses to fix (but I’m praying for that).  Knowing our family health history, we pray that our money will help find solutions to various congenital problems before they affect us or worse- our children.
7. The Lance Armstrong Livestrong Foundation is here locally in Austin.  The yellow bracelets were born here and are still widely popular.  It seems that most Austinites are fairly generous to Lance Armstrong’s foundation- we’ve all followed him since long before any Tour de France win and were all touched deeply when he won his battle against cancer.  Cancer seems to be the modern day plague- I don’t know a single person who hasn’t lost (or is losing) someone to cancer.  We must all be aware of how widespread this problem really is and how far we have to go before finding cures.
8. I would assume most of you know that I lost my brother this fall who left us the gifts of his two baby girls.  I will always and forever hold money aside for the girls the same way many of you have pledged to do.  He was such a good boy man, and it’s not charity to help fill the space he used to- it’s our call.
9. Mobile Loaves & Fishes feeds and clothes the houseless.  This is a new cause for us.  We typically just send money but are now getting involved in food delivery.  We learned (and had a “duh” moment) that the homeless population wears socks (duh).  But then they get dirty and get holes (oh).  Then there are no more socks (oh no).  A simple bag of socks help these people!  One of tomorrow’s “to do” items is to buy a case of socks- people who aren’t homeless don’t realize what a gift this simple act can be (we already understand what a hungry belly might feel like).

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The needs of our globe are endless.  I believe people give to charity for personal reasons.  All of the charities that we give to are because we personally relate to the cause.  Don’t just give money freely as a part of your “to do” list- give to your chosen cause because it was never your money in the first place. :) 

Share with us in the comments which causes are close to YOUR heart.