Make a $500 donation to charity

I guess I have some extra money in my budget each month. I’m going to start setting aside a small amount (maybe just $25 a month for now) towards this goal.

I haven’t had more than a few dollars over the past few years once bills were accounted for. Still, it will be more than worth it once I do have enough.

If I keep doing that, I’ll never achieve this goal!

But still, I was glad to have some money saved up to wire to an extended family member who apparently is in dire financial crisis right now and was facing the prospect of a somewhat grim holiday. Several of us sent her money, and she responded that she was “speechless.” So glad I could help.

(But of course I reserve the right to change my mind as the time gets closer.)

Last weekend I heard a really exciting episode of the radio program This American Life.

From their site:
“Host Ira Glass introduces a story on the most ambitious and hopeful solution to urban poverty in the country—the Harlem Children’s Zone. The project’s goal is nothing less than changing the lives of thousands of children in Harlem, starting at birth and continuing until they go to college.”

And then I found a place to spend what I had saved (despite the fact that I had not yet saved up $500).

A few weeks ago stray/wild cat appeared at our doorstep in what we later learned were the final, painful stages of death by kidney failure. She didn’t appear to have had a home in a while, at least not with humans. Her fur was matted from head to toe. We took her to the vet to find out what was wrong with her, and in the end we decided to have her put to sleep. I had only saved $75 or so in my charity fund, which did not come close to covering this expense, but it certainly took the sting out of paying for it.

Until then, I won’t be able to start saving for this goal.

And of course choose the most worthy charitable cause. But I have plenty of time to figure that out: I still have to save up the money! It feels exciting to work towards making such a large contribution.

Many organizations make it easier for donors by accepting small automatic contributions every month. I contribute this way to the United Way through my employer, with a small amount deducted from each paycheck.

But saving it up myself and giving it in one big chunk seems more fun and exciting to me. So that’s what I’m going to do.