I had no idea that issues of fair trade affected the flower market, but it makes sense. With Valentine's Day coming up tomorrow, check this out...http://fairtrade.change.org/blog/view/fairness_in_flowers
It may be too late to plan for this year, but not for the next time you buy flowers. Hmm. I wonder if I can even find fair trade flowers in Pasadena?
Friday, February 13, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Next Quest: Sustainability
Last night at my church small group, I was chatting with a friend when we started comparing strategies for staying awake while driving. Both of us work full time jobs and then come home to invest in relationships with at-risk kids and youth in our low-income neighborhoods. I also spend many evening hours at Servant Partners trainings whereas she doesn't, but she has kids over at her place almost daily until very late at night. Suffice to say, we are both pretty tired! So we laughed and joked about blasting music on the commute to work, turning on the A/C full blast, and sometimes resorting to slapping ourselves in the face to keep focused.
It struck me today, however, as I thought back to our conversation, that this is not a very good thing that we are so tired we have trouble concentrating while driving. I joined the Servant Partners internship because I wanted to learn how to incorporate loving the poor into my life, as Jesus did, and I wanted it to become part of me, part of who I am and how I operate. In many ways, that's taken place. I've received some experience and practical training, and as I consider my future, I am compelled to take into account how to include living out Jesus' call to care for the poor and the oppressed. But I think the next step for my life is to figure out how to do this sustainably, without exhaustion and burnout, and to find a balance that can last--for one's own sake and for modeling a healthy example for the kids and neighborhood. Figuring out a balance that doesn't involve hitting oneself in order to avoid a traffic accident.
It struck me today, however, as I thought back to our conversation, that this is not a very good thing that we are so tired we have trouble concentrating while driving. I joined the Servant Partners internship because I wanted to learn how to incorporate loving the poor into my life, as Jesus did, and I wanted it to become part of me, part of who I am and how I operate. In many ways, that's taken place. I've received some experience and practical training, and as I consider my future, I am compelled to take into account how to include living out Jesus' call to care for the poor and the oppressed. But I think the next step for my life is to figure out how to do this sustainably, without exhaustion and burnout, and to find a balance that can last--for one's own sake and for modeling a healthy example for the kids and neighborhood. Figuring out a balance that doesn't involve hitting oneself in order to avoid a traffic accident.
It's worse when you don't have a home
I realized this week that I should complain less about having been sick for nearly seven weeks straight. Two homeless women that came into our access center this week were sick, one with a cold and one with the flu. How awful to feel terrible--exhausted, full of snot, feverish--and have to sit for hours, fill out paperwork, and talk to various people to apply for help. How awful to not have a place of one's own to stay home in and a bed of one's own to curl up in. :(
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Beautiful Feet
When I hear songs like this one, it reminds me of why I am in L.A. Why I signed on for two years with Servant Partners to live in the city and why I spend my Monday nights with at-risk junior high Latinas. Why learning about Jesus's passion for the poor and oppressed has permanently warped the direction of my life.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Myths about Giving
After working in financial development at the American Red Cross and as an intake case manager at a homeless access center, I have discovered that there are several common myths about giving to nonprofits that may seem true, but are actually quite unhelpful. These come up SO frequently that I felt compelled to address them!
Myth #1: If I give $5, $1, or 50 cents to a nonprofit, it's all good because it doesn't cost me much and it still adds up to benefit them.
False! If you give that little to an agency, it will cost them MORE to process the donation, cross-check the information, and send you a thank you than your donation is actually worth. Think about it: the stamp alone is 42 cents! You are actually causing your beloved nonprofit to LOSE money processing your donation. The bigger chunks of $ you give, the more money actually goes to the cause that you believe in, because each donation takes relatively the same amount of time (and therefore money) to process. Since working in the donations section of the Red Cross, I no longer give less than $20 at a time. My coworker, who has been working there longer, doesn't give in smaller increments than $50. Can't afford to give that much? Pool your money with friends or family members, do the work of combining the money on your end, and send the donation with one check or credit card. Holding a penny drive for an organization? Do the work of taking all those pennies to the bank yourself to get a cashier's check that you can take to the agency, instead of wasting some staff member's time making them count ridiculous numbers of pennies (oh yes, I have had to do this). If you give tiny amounts of money, the only one that will benefit is you, because you will feel good but nothing will actually be accomplished with your gift.
Myth #2: I hate to throw away my stained & ripped clothes or my broken appliances, so if I donate them, someone can make use of them.
False! Homeless shelters are NOT your local trash removal service! If your clothes are stained or ripped, throw them away or use them as rags around your house. I also used to hate to throw anything away that could possibly be useful, but honestly, staff at homeless shelters do not have time to mend your stuff. Same goes for broken TVs, breadmakers, computer monitors, etc. Trash those items yourself, because if you donate them, they are going to go into the trash anyway. Or find businesses that specialize in rebuilding old computers, for example, and take your applicable items directly to them. Give away your nice clothes, your homemade scarves, your coats, and remember to make sure they are CLEAN. Remember, homeless men and women need to go to job interviews and such too, and wearing your ripped tshirt is not going to help them out.
Myth #3: But I LOVE your organization! Why are you rejecting my [clothes, broken TV, insert whatever item you like]? I don't want to give to any other organization; I want to support YOU!
False! Umm, allow me to point out that if you truly want to support an organization, you will find out what is actually helpful to them instead of imposing what you think is helpful. A particular homeless shelter may not happen to accept clothing donations, but perhaps they need help with a new sock drive for their clients, or they need a new microwave, or they could use sugar for their shelter, or they have homeless children that could use tutoring or a game night. Ask what needs they have, and then try to address those needs. Of course it is worth trying to find a second home for the items that you have and no longer need--that's practicing sustainability and generousity--but if a place turns you down, stop harassing them to accept your stuff and find someone or someplace that it will actually be useful for! Or call various agencies to find out what kind of donations they accept so that when something does come along that you want to give away, you know who it will actually benefit.
Anyone have more myths about giving that they want to address?
Many nonprofits could not survive without the kindness and generousity of their doners, but if you really want to be a giver who makes a difference--who TRULY makes a difference instead of just making yourself feel good--try to remember the truth about these three myths. And good luck with your giving!! :)
Myth #1: If I give $5, $1, or 50 cents to a nonprofit, it's all good because it doesn't cost me much and it still adds up to benefit them.
False! If you give that little to an agency, it will cost them MORE to process the donation, cross-check the information, and send you a thank you than your donation is actually worth. Think about it: the stamp alone is 42 cents! You are actually causing your beloved nonprofit to LOSE money processing your donation. The bigger chunks of $ you give, the more money actually goes to the cause that you believe in, because each donation takes relatively the same amount of time (and therefore money) to process. Since working in the donations section of the Red Cross, I no longer give less than $20 at a time. My coworker, who has been working there longer, doesn't give in smaller increments than $50. Can't afford to give that much? Pool your money with friends or family members, do the work of combining the money on your end, and send the donation with one check or credit card. Holding a penny drive for an organization? Do the work of taking all those pennies to the bank yourself to get a cashier's check that you can take to the agency, instead of wasting some staff member's time making them count ridiculous numbers of pennies (oh yes, I have had to do this). If you give tiny amounts of money, the only one that will benefit is you, because you will feel good but nothing will actually be accomplished with your gift.
Myth #2: I hate to throw away my stained & ripped clothes or my broken appliances, so if I donate them, someone can make use of them.
False! Homeless shelters are NOT your local trash removal service! If your clothes are stained or ripped, throw them away or use them as rags around your house. I also used to hate to throw anything away that could possibly be useful, but honestly, staff at homeless shelters do not have time to mend your stuff. Same goes for broken TVs, breadmakers, computer monitors, etc. Trash those items yourself, because if you donate them, they are going to go into the trash anyway. Or find businesses that specialize in rebuilding old computers, for example, and take your applicable items directly to them. Give away your nice clothes, your homemade scarves, your coats, and remember to make sure they are CLEAN. Remember, homeless men and women need to go to job interviews and such too, and wearing your ripped tshirt is not going to help them out.
Myth #3: But I LOVE your organization! Why are you rejecting my [clothes, broken TV, insert whatever item you like]? I don't want to give to any other organization; I want to support YOU!
False! Umm, allow me to point out that if you truly want to support an organization, you will find out what is actually helpful to them instead of imposing what you think is helpful. A particular homeless shelter may not happen to accept clothing donations, but perhaps they need help with a new sock drive for their clients, or they need a new microwave, or they could use sugar for their shelter, or they have homeless children that could use tutoring or a game night. Ask what needs they have, and then try to address those needs. Of course it is worth trying to find a second home for the items that you have and no longer need--that's practicing sustainability and generousity--but if a place turns you down, stop harassing them to accept your stuff and find someone or someplace that it will actually be useful for! Or call various agencies to find out what kind of donations they accept so that when something does come along that you want to give away, you know who it will actually benefit.
Anyone have more myths about giving that they want to address?
Many nonprofits could not survive without the kindness and generousity of their doners, but if you really want to be a giver who makes a difference--who TRULY makes a difference instead of just making yourself feel good--try to remember the truth about these three myths. And good luck with your giving!! :)
Thursday, January 22, 2009
my life: the story of God's faithfulness
When I look back over 2008, one of the defining phrases that comes to mind is God’s faithfulness. 2008 had some very difficult patches. Working at the Red Cross was draining because it didn’t connect with any of my interests, and depressing because I had been job searching for so long for a permanent position and couldn’t find one. Adjusting to my new job at the homeless access center has been emotionally exhausting and even still seven months into the job, I sometimes hit very rough patches. Added onto that all of the relational difficulties that strained my living situation during the start of winter, and there were times when I felt literally sick with worry every moment I was awake.
But I don’t mean for this to be a depressing litany of woes. Rather, when I look back at the year, what stands out as even brighter than the dark times is God’s persistent faithfulness through it all. When I couldn’t find a permanent job, he was faithfully teaching me that my worth isn’t from my work, but from my identity as his beloved daughter. When I went through periods of feeling very attacked at work, he provided me with friends to pray with me and comfort me and gave them verses from his Word to encourage me. When I hit the lowest point at all with one of my closest friendships in L.A., and it looked like in human terms that the ship was on fire and sinking, he gave me the story about Jesus calming the storm as a promise to cling onto. I am not a big fan of suffering, but I have truly found that when I come to the end of myself, God has never dropped me. It’s only when things have been outside my own control that I have learned more about God’s faithfulness and trustworthiness.
Our intern class is reading the book of Acts right now as well as The Heavenly Man, an autobiography of a leader in China’s house church movement. When I read their stories, I wonder how they could respond to the threat of death, to intense persecution and torture, and to terrifying situations by praising God. What? That makes no sense. But when I think about the many times this year that I have cried out to God in desperation and seen his faithfulness come through, even when it doesn’t necessarily look like I want it to or mean the removal of all suffering, I’m filled with thankfulness to God as well. I’m still wrestling with what it means to trust in God and in his promises of protection if great pain is not kept from us, but I am hopeful that as I continue to read the stories of those who have walked a much more difficult road, it will help me along the journey.
"We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God" Acts 14:22b
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” II Corinthians 4:8-10
Ps. I want to share a story about God’s faithfulness that even happened these last couple weeks! It was my turn to lead the Bible study for the junior high girls, and it was two hours before the study and I had no idea what to talk about. I decided that before picking a random passage, perhaps it might be a good idea to actually ask God if there was anything that the girls particularly needed to hear. As I listened quietly, a very difficult week that I’d recently had at work came to mind, and I began to think about how my experience might be helpful to them. I opened up the Bible to the book of Luke and came to a passage about worry. Immediately, even though that wasn’t the major feature of my own hard week, I felt like that’s what we needed to talk about. So when study time came around, I shared what of my experience connected with worry, and then we read the part where Jesus talks about don’t worry, because your heavenly Daddy takes care of even the sparrows and how much more precious are you to him than birds. And we read the verse about not worrying, but talking to God about our troubles when they come. The girls are not usually super expressive about study, but they really engaged with the text, and afterwards one of the girls came up and hugged me twice. She told me “thank you” over and over and said that she had been having a lot of worry about her grades, because she is doing so poorly in school. I encouraged her that when she felt worried, she could talk to God about it anytime anywhere. But how amazing is that—that God knew exactly what was going on for her this week and wanted to speak to her about it?!! My own faith is so encouraged when I see God answer prayers and personally deal with us right where we are at.
But I don’t mean for this to be a depressing litany of woes. Rather, when I look back at the year, what stands out as even brighter than the dark times is God’s persistent faithfulness through it all. When I couldn’t find a permanent job, he was faithfully teaching me that my worth isn’t from my work, but from my identity as his beloved daughter. When I went through periods of feeling very attacked at work, he provided me with friends to pray with me and comfort me and gave them verses from his Word to encourage me. When I hit the lowest point at all with one of my closest friendships in L.A., and it looked like in human terms that the ship was on fire and sinking, he gave me the story about Jesus calming the storm as a promise to cling onto. I am not a big fan of suffering, but I have truly found that when I come to the end of myself, God has never dropped me. It’s only when things have been outside my own control that I have learned more about God’s faithfulness and trustworthiness.
Our intern class is reading the book of Acts right now as well as The Heavenly Man, an autobiography of a leader in China’s house church movement. When I read their stories, I wonder how they could respond to the threat of death, to intense persecution and torture, and to terrifying situations by praising God. What? That makes no sense. But when I think about the many times this year that I have cried out to God in desperation and seen his faithfulness come through, even when it doesn’t necessarily look like I want it to or mean the removal of all suffering, I’m filled with thankfulness to God as well. I’m still wrestling with what it means to trust in God and in his promises of protection if great pain is not kept from us, but I am hopeful that as I continue to read the stories of those who have walked a much more difficult road, it will help me along the journey.
"We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God" Acts 14:22b
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” II Corinthians 4:8-10
Ps. I want to share a story about God’s faithfulness that even happened these last couple weeks! It was my turn to lead the Bible study for the junior high girls, and it was two hours before the study and I had no idea what to talk about. I decided that before picking a random passage, perhaps it might be a good idea to actually ask God if there was anything that the girls particularly needed to hear. As I listened quietly, a very difficult week that I’d recently had at work came to mind, and I began to think about how my experience might be helpful to them. I opened up the Bible to the book of Luke and came to a passage about worry. Immediately, even though that wasn’t the major feature of my own hard week, I felt like that’s what we needed to talk about. So when study time came around, I shared what of my experience connected with worry, and then we read the part where Jesus talks about don’t worry, because your heavenly Daddy takes care of even the sparrows and how much more precious are you to him than birds. And we read the verse about not worrying, but talking to God about our troubles when they come. The girls are not usually super expressive about study, but they really engaged with the text, and afterwards one of the girls came up and hugged me twice. She told me “thank you” over and over and said that she had been having a lot of worry about her grades, because she is doing so poorly in school. I encouraged her that when she felt worried, she could talk to God about it anytime anywhere. But how amazing is that—that God knew exactly what was going on for her this week and wanted to speak to her about it?!! My own faith is so encouraged when I see God answer prayers and personally deal with us right where we are at.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Precarious positions for nonprofits
My work made the news! (although not for a great reason)
One of the awful things about a recession/depression is that at the same time as individuals and families are going through hard times and losing their jobs and shelter, state and federal budgets are also being slashed. So that means that for non-profits, not only are donations from individuals down, but the government aid they receives is drastically cut at the very time as more and more people need help. Demand skyrockets while supply is stuck at a stagnant level or even forced to decrease. :( Help your friends, help your neighbors, help your family--don't leave it to the systems to take care of them during these times.
One of the awful things about a recession/depression is that at the same time as individuals and families are going through hard times and losing their jobs and shelter, state and federal budgets are also being slashed. So that means that for non-profits, not only are donations from individuals down, but the government aid they receives is drastically cut at the very time as more and more people need help. Demand skyrockets while supply is stuck at a stagnant level or even forced to decrease. :( Help your friends, help your neighbors, help your family--don't leave it to the systems to take care of them during these times.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)