Thursday, April 28, 2011

What To Do

I am really not too sure why, but here lately I have been drawn to causes and people’s journey’s. 

Let me just say, this has always been the case for me.  As an example, back in 2000, there was a man that legally changed his name to “DotComGuy” and for a year he had to live in a house and had to order everything online, including his food and groceries.  That fascinated me.  Back in my bachelor days I would have been all over that! 

So my fascination with causes and journey’s really isn’t anything new, but the focus of those causes and journey’s is what has been intriguing me.  Since this was on my mind, I figured I would share a few of them with you.

The first one is charity : water.  (www.charitywater.org).  Now, I know I am probably late to the party on this one, but they are doing some amazing things.  For a $20 donation, they can provide water to a person.  To expand a bit on that, the average water project costs $5,000 and can serve 250 people…so $20.  There are some great videos on how water is tied to so many issues in the world.  I highly encourage you to check them out!!

The next one is TOMS shoes.  (www.toms.com)  Yep, shoes.  Now I know you are thinking “how is this special”?  But the genius isn’t in the shoes…it is in the concept.  For every pair of TOMS shoes you buy, they give a pair to someone without shoes.  One for One.  I have heard Blake (founder and chief shoe giver) talk several times about how this came about and it is a great story.  I highly encourage you reading about it and buying a pair of shoes!

The One for One concept has really taken off.  I was recently made aware of a charity that does the same thing for eyeglasses that TOMS does for shoes.  It is called Warby Parker.  (www.warbyparker.com).  So if you need a pair of designer glasses, you know where to go!

On top of that, TOMS has actually become the “One For One” company and they will be releasing their next project later this year, so stay tuned!

The last one isn’t a cause, but a journey.  And it is the journey of Steven, Emily and Eden Dilla.  (www.echoesofredemption.com)  Steven and Emily have decided with their one year old daughter Eden to leave D/FW and start a church in New York. 

I have honestly been fascinated with their journey since the day I found out about it.  Here are two people that both had great jobs at a large local church here (which is where we met them) and lived comfortable lives.  To quickly summarize, they quit their jobs at the church, got odd jobs to make ends meet, sold their house and moved to Annapolis, MD to start the process of planting a church in New York.  (Please note this was all calculated and it isn’t like they just woke up and moved the next day…lol.)

They stepped out of their comfortable lives and financial security to go live in an 800sqft apartment in Maryland with the goal of starting a church in the city of New York all the while depending on others for their expenses.   Heather and I wish them nothing but success and we highly encourage you to help them in their journey if you can.  Click HERE.

Heather and her friend Angie are always helping people find clothes for people in need.  Heck, she even rounded up bottles of laundry soap for The Ronald McDonald House not too long ago.   And even this week has helped another of our friends find clothes for foster children who had nothing.  What she has shown me is that people will give what and when they can.

So that brings this all back to me and what I want to do.  Truth is, I don’t know.

Do I want to donate my time and social media skills to churches and non-profits to help them spread the word about what they are doing?  Who knows?  I know there is something out there with my name on it; I just need to figure out what it is!!!

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