$4

[Snoutport]

Four dollars would feed a starving African kid this week.

Please consider skipping lunch today and donate the money for famine victims. I know many of us are stretched financially but the cost of an latte has become the cost of life and death for so many.

My partner and I can't afford much (we already sponsor two kids through PLAN) but we scraped up $20 and sent it to Mercy Corp. I am hoping some of you will consider doing the same.

Here are the addies for Mercy Corp and The Red Cross. (I'm doing my best to make it easier for ya) Have a great day everyone.

http://www.mercycorps.org/

http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main&s_src=RSG000000000&s_subsrc=RCO_BigRedButton

[gratuitous]

1. Mercy Corps does a terrific job

I temped there for several weeks, and was highly impressed by the positive attitude from the top down. They make every dollar count.

[renate]

7. that's good to know--thanks!

I always liked them, but it's really nice to know that you were impressed when you saw them from the inside--that says a lot. Making every dollar count is important to me, and the work they do is amazing.

[Oceansaway]

2. thanks...n/t

[Maraya1969]

3. I wish these programs would use paypal. I think they'd get a lot more donations.

With your credit card you have to fish it out and write all the tiny letters and date and such. With pay pal you click it, put your password in and click "pay".

It is so much easier. Maybe they would lose a tiny amount going through paypal but I bet they would make up for it in amounts donated.

[Kali]

4. that's us

wanting every single thing we do be for our convenience

wow

[Snoutport]

5. remember the days of checks and...shudder...money orders

I must say though, it is a little bit sickening that the big banks probably do get a cut of the online donations being given to starving kids.

Like a big fat bully stealing half of a starving orphan's gruel.

[AndyTiedye]

11. More Than That. Paypal Makes It Available to Those Who Don't Have Credit Cards

I think there might be some people who would want to donate but don't have
credit cards. You only need a bank account to get Paypal.

Perhaps Paypal could be persuaded to waive its usual fees for a charity like this.
They'd get to write the waived fees off, of course.

My only question is who sells lunch for under $4 these days?

Nutritionally, it would be better to skip supper than lunch.

[Snoutport]

12. That would work too :0)

[Maraya1969]

27. Oh for the love of fuck. They would get a lot more donations!

[Kali]

30. you are probably right

I was just temporarily shaken by the contrast of a credit card wielding Westerner complaining about typing some numbers on a keyboard and the actual physical hardship endured by the people that your efforts will help. Thankyou.

[Snoutport]

6. Thank you!

Since you know they don't take pay pal I'm kind of assuming that you went to the website. :0) I was really hoping my post would inspire someone else to give. You made my day. :0)

[Lifelong Protester]

8. Gave it a K and R and will donate when I get home

No cards with me here.

[Snoutport]

13. merci!

[Lifelong Protester]

19. Just to let you know, I did follow through on a donation

and posted to facebook.

It helps to think about and help others, even while we are in trying times here.

[Snoutport]

25. Yay! A couple people have--DU has...fed a family this week.

Maybe by the time this post dies down we can feed a village?

[Cleita]

9. Or you can use a gallon less of gasoline a week.

That would have a two-fold effect. Feed the starving and starve the greedy oil commodity speculators.

[Snoutport]

10. OR BOTH! If you aren't driving to go out to lunch you'd save lunch money and gas money

[Shagbark Hickory]

14. I always wondered how (insert small $ figure here) can feed a starving person in Africa but not here

What does $4 buy in Africa? Rice?

Just curious. I mean. The food obviously doesn't come from Africa. It's gotta be more expensive than it would be here.

[AndyTiedye]

15. I Think Transportation and Distribution Costs Might Add a Bit to That Figure

like the gasoline our military uses in Afghanistan that costs us $400 per gallon due to the cost of transporting it there. :grr:

[Shagbark Hickory]

16. And also security and distribution. That's exactly why I ask.

I can't even send an empty can of beans down the street for $4, how does $4 buy an entire day's worth of food in africa considering all the other costs involved? And assuming it does, what's on the menu.
I think this is a fair question for a potential donor to ask.

[Snoutport]

28. Here is how:

a metric ton of beans at this website costs $200-350. Rice is $475 a ton. So, on a good day, $675 would buy you a ton of rice and a ton of beans.

$675 divided by $4 per person would be feeding 169 people. These people would get 23.69 pounds of food per person.

You just gotta buy in bulk :0)

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/256585181/Rice_Long_Grain.html

[Kali]

17. bulk cereal, dry milk or other protien and calorie-dense oil - yes

not as tasty as a fancy sandwich but better than no food at all

bought, shipped and provided in bulk - you could eat the same for equivalent $$$

[Snoutport]

26. beans....tons and tons of beans....

[Snoutport]

23. rice, beans, peanuts, oil, baby food...$4 ads up when you aren't paying the grocery CEO 10 mil

[sabrina 1]

18. Kick!

Thanks for this thread, Snoutport!

[southernyankeebelle]

20. I will never support the red cross. When we went to them for help they wouldn't help us.

[southernyankeebelle]

21. We have many children in this country hurting. I will help my community first. I live in a rural

area.

[Snoutport]

22. I put in a few raised beds just to grow veggies for the local teen shelter

and we volunteer and send money to them as well--I'm trying to be hands-on at home where I can actually help and then I try to do something to support people in the bigger picture. Help being the key word--regardless of who is the beneficiary. :0)

I hoped you pulled through ok despite the red cross failing to help.

[Glimmer of Hope]

24. I wish Mercy Corps had a text donation option.

Here are two that do:

Text "FOOD" to UNICEF (864233) to donate $10.

Text "AID" to World Food Programme (27722) to donate $10.

It so easy and catch on if circulated widely.

[Snoutport]

29. bravo! thank you for those