part 1

Love Without Boundaries--As their website states, "Love Without Boundaries is a worldwide group of volunteers who have realized that people with a pure love for helping children can truly make a difference. We all donate our time and resources in an attempt to brighten the lives of orphaned children in China."

LWB has accomplished much in a few short years, sponsoring foster care, medical surgeries, nutrition programs, and education for orphans in China. I truly respect this organization, and when you give them money, the dollars truly do go to the children. All of the volunteers pay their own expenses when they travel to China to make a difference in the lives of these precious children. If China is close to your heart, please consider making a donation to them.


Angel Covers--Their website states, "Angel Covers Foundation was created by parents concerned about the plight of children around the world. Our goal is to enhance the lives of children who will likely spend their childhoods in orphanages. This will be accomplished by providing direct support to specific orphanages as well as working closely with other foundations and their existing programs."

Angel Covers works with programs in China, Africa and Russia, caring for children in orphanages. My family sponsors a deaf girl in Kenya--for a mere $20.00/month so that she might have the opportunity to go to school. Like Love without Boundaries, no one draws a salary...the people in this foundation are all volunteers.

You may purchase a gift card in someone's name in amounts as small as $5.00 that will buy either a can of formula or a bottle of vitamins for a baby or child in Russia. As little as $10.00 will buy a blanket for a child in China, or send a child to kindergarten for a month. It's the perfect gift for the teacher or parent who already has everything they need.

Heifer International--This organization has over 600 projects in 51 countries, and works to eliminate world hunger through gift animals, and agroecology, teaching people how to make best use of their land and animals to support themselves.

One of their philosophies is a "pay it forward" type belief called "Passing on the Gift". Recipients of gift animals must share the animal's offspring with another family in need, thus empowering them to assist in the eradication of world hunger. Depending on how much you want to spend, you can give the gift of a llama to a family in Peru, or the gift of a flock of chicks to a family in Zimbabwe. With the multitude of giving opportunities provided by Heifer International, you are sure to find one that you like. According to their 2006 Annual Report, approximately .06 of every dollar goes to management of the organization and approximately .18 goes to fundraising. The rest is all donated to their programs. They even have many programs for assisting needy families right here in the United States.

These organizations are only three of my favorites. There are probably thousands out there worthy of your donations, but please investigate before you give, how much of your money actually goes to their programs, rather than their overhead.

Please consider making the gift of feeding a child or a family this Valentine's Day. Do it in honor of someone you truly care about. After all, what better way is there to show a little love?