May 19, 2007
Help the working poor, win a prize
I’ve been through some pretty rough times in my life, financially speaking. I think most single moms can relate to just how difficult it is to stretch a budget to include all of your child’s needs. My former husband chose not to contribute to our son’s support and even managed to block us from getting dependent benefits that should have been available to us through the Army. I’ve always worked, but there were many years when even three simultanious jobs didn’t bring in enough to cover the basic neccessities. I got through the most difficult of those times by relying on family, and will be forever grateful that they were willing and able to help. Still, the thing I wanted most was to be able to provide a home of our own and to support my son. We finally moved permanently out of my parent’s homes when he was twelve. We still had to scrimp, save and do without, but I was proud of finally being able to provide for us.
I understand the burning need to achieve self-sufficiency. My experiences have given me a special appreciation of people and organizations that are willing to invest in those still trying to navigate the same obstacles that I once faced. A few months ago I learned about Kiva.org, a group that encourages one and all to make a small investment that can bring a huge improvement in someone’s life. Rather than providing a handout, Kiva.org provides a leg up by making loans that can be used to start small businesses. For the price of a sewing machine and a small supply of fabrics, a mother can begin to provide for herself and her children. A goat and the means to use her milk to make cheese might be the key for someone else. I like this method of helping people help themselves. I have no regrets about the life I’ve lived, but the idea of making the path easier from someone else is one that makes my spirits soar.
My friend Investorblogger also supports Kiva.org and wants you to know more about them. He’s putting his money where his heart is and is offering a $25.00 incentive for you to get involved. He’d like you to write a post about handling financial difficulties and provide a link to back to his blog. You’ll help him publicize the good works of Kiva.org and you and he will be helping each other improve blog traffic and ranking when you participate in his contest. Since he did me a good turn recently, I’ve decided to pay it forward by telling you about his contest without entering it myself. Go learn about Kiva.org from him, then spend a little time reading his recent posts. You’ll learn about a nifty tool for orgnizing your archives and how he recently threw down the gauntlet to another blogger who critiqued his blog. There’s something to learn on every page, so be prepared to spend a little time with Investorblogger. Just make sure you read about Kiva.org and the contest before you get distracted by all of the other good stuff!
[tags]blogs, charity, contests, social responsibility[/tags]
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May 19th, 2007 at 6:14 am, Investorblogger Says:
That’s a wonderful story. Very encouraging!
It’s a loan that helped me get started. A very small loan, not even $300 at today’s prices… But it made a lot of things possible.
Kenneth
May 20th, 2007 at 8:45 pm, My Lil Venture Says:
I’m gonna hop over there and check the contest out. Btw, I also have a Father’s Day Contest on my blog. Check it out or join for fun. I’d love you if you could help me spread the word
Here’s the link : http://www.mylilventure.com/?p=127
Thanks!