A few weeks ago when I was in Florida visiting my mother we were talking about charities and which ones to support or now. She was telling me which one is her favorite and it happens to be World Habitat because she knows that it is going to be helping other. After Hurricane Katrina, even though she didn’t live in New Orleans she saw Habitat for Humanity help in her community living on the gulf coast. I think she even said she makes a donation once a month give or take because where she lives they actually come by and pick up the donations. I’m trying to teach my children to have the same giving heart that I have, my mother has and that even my grandmother has, but since I have a voice on-line, why stop with my children?
We can all help! That’s right even you, my readers can help, here are three suggestions:
Advocate
In addition to building homes in partnership with people in need, Habitat advocates to address the causes of poverty housing. Advocacy activities always include a specific request, such as asking supporters to sign a petition, send a message to an elected official or take part in a rally.
Fundraise
World Habitat Day is a great way to raise funds for Habitat in your area. A fundraiser can help educate the public and generate publicity for nonprofit organizations like Habitat for Humanity.
Educate
Organize a public awareness event for World Habitat Day 2010 that not only highlights the need for affordable housing in your own community, but also discusses the need for improved shelter for billions of people around the world.
Look for ways to celebrate World Habitat Day:
In the United States, Habitat for Humanity will also focus on neighborhood revitalization. In a broad effort to help communities fulfill their aspirations, Habitat will expand its housing programs to include repairing more homes, rehabbing more vacant homes, and improving the energy-efficiency of homes. Habitat will work with partners to provide holistic improvements in a community. Habitat’s World Habitat Day efforts will focus on the link between housing and health, for example, through the release of the 2011 Shelter Report, which focuses on the need for more research on the connections between healthy homes and healthy families around the world.
Around the World:
Around the world, many Habitat for Humanity local offices have organized World Habitat Day events. Habitat for Humanity’s 27th annual Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project is a World Habitat Day event this year. It will be held Oct. 4 – 8 in six cities in the United States. Held in a different location each year, Habitat’s Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project is an annual, internationally-recognized week of building that brings attention to the need for simple, decent and affordable housing. This year, the Carters will work alongside volunteers in Washington, D.C.; Baltimore and Annapolis, Md.; Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.; and Birmingham, Ala. to build, rehabilitate and improve 86 homes.
- To see a list of other Habitat World Habitat Day events, click here.
- To view online resources available for download, click here.
- To join Habitat’s World Habitat Day Photo Wall, click here.
This is not a paid post, I have a passion for charity and much of this content was provided to me by Habitat for Humanity. I hope that you can find a way to help in your own community or place in the world!