In these tough economic times, the concept of reaching those in need has touched many on a more personal level. During prosperous times, spare income spent on non-essentials such as gym memberships, premium cable, and recreational vehicles were simply an enjoyable allocation of funds. Unfortunately, charitable contributions are often grouped into this category.
So, when the worldwide recession came along and suddenly motorcycles, boats and golf clubs started flooding the for sale listings on Craigslist, another negative indicator of present economics came to light: the fact that all charities from the Red Cross to Goodwill, both nationally and abroad, no longer had the income and funds to do the same level of work as before.
For those that are able to still make some kind of financial sacrifice and contribute, World Vision provides an opportunity to make a significant impact on the life of a specific person in a harmful environment so severe that even our tough economic times in the United States still pale in comparison. It’s no secret that mostly everyone’s funds are limited nowadays, which makes all of us more responsible with our money. So it’s comforting to know that World Vision has received the status of Trustworthy Organization by Charity Navigator, an organization that reviews the financial responsibility of non-profit organizations. In their most recent report, World Vision demonstrated that nearly 90% of funds went directly to helping the recipients of the aid.
While there are many charities that provide aid to those impoverished and in need all over the world, such as OXFAM, CARE and Children International, World Vision provides assistance from the Christian perspective based on Christ’s words in Matthew 25:40, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
While World Vision provides its resources from a Christian purpose, it is clear that its intent is to help all. By contributing to World Vision one helps groups of believers that come from many different backgrounds like those in the Catholic, Evangelical, Protestant and Orthodox faiths. Workers sign a Statement of Faith confirming their core values of charity in the Christian tradition, but they must also abide by World Vision’s Code of Conduct, which clearly forbids proselytizing while providing aid. This allows World Vision opportunities to work and provide help in non-Christian areas while also living out its Vision Statement, which is:
Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness;
Our prayer for every heart, the will to make it so.
What World Vision offers is not simply a donation to a charitable organization, but an actual investment in a person’s life. By contributing to the sponsorship of a child, you can see first hand the development and growth that you have helped to make possible.
When thinking of those areas where people are in chronic need of basic necessities such as clean water, adequate food and comfortable shelter, we often think exclusively of third world countries of sub-Saharan Africa, the overpopulated region of southern Asia or the disaster prone island countries of the Caribbean. What makes World Vision unique is that it not only supplies aid to these regions but it also recognizes that help is needed all over the world. World Vision helps in almost 100 different countries providing help to the poor.
In addition to supplying direct aid in the form of food, building supplies, and learning materials, World Vision works in industrialized nations such as France, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands as an advocacy group for the impoverished and exploited.
With all that is wrong with the world that causes people to suffer, such as war, poverty, disease, and prejudice, it can be overwhelming. We all know that there is so much work to be done, we often don’t know where to start. Donating to World Vision helps make a difference in the lives of individuals, impacting their lives in the most direct way possible.
Learn more at worldvision.org
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