Helping Haiti

The Anchoress over at the FirstThings blog has assembled a lovely list of organizations that are helping victims of the deadly, destructive earthquake that recently struck Haiti. I recognize many of them, and will support one or two of them. I will NOT support the Red Cross, I like others better.

It is always good to look at the finances of any organization you might consider supporting; one that sends most of it's funds right to their work is a good bet. Organizations with high fund-raising costs are not organizations I will support. It is also important to me that an organization's financial information be easily accessible to donors and potential donors.

I would add a couple of organizations (see below) to the Anchoress' list. A heads-up for Baptist Haiti Mission, they are primarily a Christian Education mission but look like they will be accountable to use earthquake relief funds for earthquake relief and they are already there in Haiti. I have included links to the financial pages for these groups, all post detailed reports and some have links to their federal form 990 if you really want to look them over.

Medical Teams International (LOW overhead at only 2.66%)

Baptist Haiti Mission (programs 90%, operations 10%)

Samaritan's Purse (overhead/fundraising 11%)

I Thought I Hit The End...Then...

I was sitting in my chair this morning with the obligatory second cup of coffee. I love my morning coffee ritual; it is soothing and comforting, especially when my husband is out of town as he is today. I pondered the Internet and checked all my RSS feeds, nothing new. I looked at Google News, nothing new. I checked out Fox News, nada over there either.

Then my daughter sent me the most amazing link. I wondered how I had survived more than 15 years of Internet without seeing THIS IS WHY YOURE FAT. Be sure to go through all the pages, lots of creative stuff there.

If all that fatty, awful food grossed you out, get over it with a visit to CUTE OVERLOAD !

Young Mom Needs Help

Of the many blogs I read, one that has been especially fun for me is called Cooking 4 All Seasons . This blog by a young woman named Srivalli is about Indian cooking. My family has developed a love of Indian food prompted by my husband's close working relationship with some wonderful people from India, and I have learned so much reading Srivalli's blog!

I'm writing this little post to support Srivalli's effort to help the young mom who works in her home. What a blessing it would be to help this young mom get the heart surgery she so desperately needs. If anyone is actually reading here, please say a prayer for Lakshmi and her family, and if you are so moved maybe you can send a little help her way. Just click the link in the little box at the top left of my page.

(Edit added October 12, 2008: I've removed the link, the fundraiser now over. About half the needed funds were collected.)