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11/05/2007: "A Time For Giving"
As we head into the holidays, opportunities for giving surround us. I think every religion asks their followers to give to those that are less fortunate. It is a big part of the Catholic Church and also one of the five pillars of Islam. Thanksgiving presents the chance to give to food banks and Christmas brings Toys For Tots and other programs. Our favorite radio station, KFOG, has been producing a CD with live music for the past 14 years now. The proceeds have raised over $3 million dollars for local food banks. It sells out every year and just went on sale at Peet’s Coffee and online at www.kfog.com.
I have thought about how cancer victims ask that donations be made in their names to some cancer organization. Unfortunately, most of these organizations are part of the “system” that just perpetuates the cycle of drug use and profits for drug companies. The exception is the Independent Cancer Research Foundation, www.new-cancer-treatments.org. This is a non-profit that develops successful alternative cancer treatments. 
Jeanette and I have discovered Heifer International, www.heifer.org. They have over 800 projects going on in 50 countries. Their mission is to, “To work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth.” Instead of handing out food, they run an education program and give livestock and seeds. You can actually give a cow or pig to a village in Africa. If you click or receive their gift catalog, you can see that there are a variety of animals and price levels. From chicks to llamas, it is impressive what is possible.
I look around my life and realize that my material collection is substantial. And when I look at world statistics I realize that our family ranks in the top one or two percentile for wealth. So this is the season to share some of our good fortune with those who are less fortunate.