What? You don't believe me? Your kids haven't even gone Trick-or Treating yet?
Well, don't let the beautiful 80 degree weather here in Houston fool you because Target has their Christmas decorations out! And if Target has their Christmas paraphernalia out then obviously it's time to shop.
As for shopping - there is no reason to get trampled on at the stores when there are some wonderful organizations offering fabulous gifts and you can shop from the comfort of your own home. Better yet? Each gift is a gift that matters. Each item is made by someone working their way into a better life or created by an organization helping those less fortunate.
Why buy a gift from a mass retailer that only lines the executives pockets when you can buy a gift that can change a life?
You don't know where to start? Well, I am here to help! Each Wednesday from now until Christmas Our Journey Home will feature one or two (or three) ways to buy a loved one a creative Christmas gift and make a difference in the lives of others. Win-win, right?e
This week? Meet Blood:Water Mission and Charity Water. It's all about the water this week!
Why water? Because 1 in 9 people world wide do not have access to clean water. That's approximately 1.1 billion people world wide.
Did you know 30,000 people die each week (1.56 billion people a year) because they have no access to clean water. 90 percent of those deaths are children under 5.
Did you know that the UN has declared 2005-2015 "Water for Life" as the Decade for Action and has set the world agenda on a greater focus on water-related issues.
Blood:Water Mission
Blood:Water Mission is a grassroots organization that empowers communities to work together against the HIV/AIDS and water crises in Africa. Providing clean drinking water and good sanitation to HIV/AIDS communities in Africa improves their life in ways people like us, people don't have to think about the safety of their water, could never imagine. Dysentery, diarrhea and other water-born illnesses are even harder to fight when your immune system is already compromised. Clean water allows people living with HIV/AIDS a remarkably 'easy' way to stay healthy.
Blood:Water Mission has an online store filled with lots of unique gift ideas. You can guarantee you won't find any of this merchandise at Target!
Some ideas:
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| This book brings into focus the people behind the HIV/AIDS and water dilemma in Africa. |
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| Christmas ornaments made by African women affected by the AIDS/HIV crisis. |
Charity: Water
Charity: Water is another non-profit organization that brings clean, safe drinking water to people in developing countries. Just this past September Charity: Water started an initiative to bring safe drinking water to Rwanda and right now have 1,788 fundraising campaigns going on all over the world to help bring clean water to Rwandians.
One of the things I love about Charityy : Water is that 100% of their public donations go directly to fund water projects and different store items fund water projects, company overhead and other expenses.
You can donate to a Charity: Water to help fund clean water or buy something here and not only give a great gift but also give someone else the gift of water.
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| The Little Black Box - $20 provides clean water for one person. |
“The human right to water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses”
– General Comment No. 15 (2002): The Right to Water.
Charity: Water's store
Blood:Water Mission's store
3 comments:
I love this!
Great idea Meredith! Can't wait to tune in on Wednesdays! ;)
jen
I'm pretty excited about Wednesdays!
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