Make A Difference
How To Use Micro Charity To Make A Macro Difference
We recently posted on the topic of micro-philanthropy and its large impact to make a difference in the life of someone in need. Today, this post will further expand on ways that you can make a difference (even if the “money bucket is dry”)!
But first let’s get something straight: “Charity” is NOT synonymous with writing a personal check. The greatest misunderstanding is the idea that one must give 10% of his or her income in order to be “charitable”. If you can afford 10%, then by all means whip out your check book!
However, for those who would like to make a difference, but struggle to make their own ends meet, here’s what you can do:
Make an 85 cent difference
The most powerful charity is when one displays a truly heartfelt act of kindness.
Recently one of our Recipient members made an 85 cent donation to another Recipient. This small act of kindness carried more value than its actual monetary worth. Our receiving Recipient said:
“85 cents changed my life because I knew someone cared enough to share with us what little they had. It touched me so deeply that it has left a lasting impression on not only my life, but my whole family.” -Michelle (michie)
The interesting dynamic is not so much the impact of the monetary donation itself, but rather the profundity of realizing that someone else out their recognizes your struggle and cares enough about you to give and make a difference in a little way.
Thank you Becky!
Make a more “personal” difference
You can make a difference on a more personal level by taking the time to identify struggling people with specific needs and meeting those needs where possible. For example, one of our members recounted a time when she struggled to buy clothes for her children for the upcoming school year. An observant neighbor identified her need through observation – collected a bag of clothes her own children had outgrown – and dropped them at the doorstep of the struggling mother.
It brought tears to her eyes to think that someone else paid enough attention to her needs and was kind enough to take initiative and meet those needs.
It’s easy to quickly dump off our old clothes at the Salvation Army, but let’s slow down our chaotic pace of life and observe the people close to us who we can help and make a difference.
Make the opportunity to make a difference
Life can easily fly by if you don’t slow down your pace of life for a moment to consider opportunities to help others. It’s easy to get sucked up in your own world of problems and forget that there are other people out there who are hurting.
One of our team members recounted one of her greatest regrets was not reaching out to an elderly lady during a time of emotional distress. After the passing of her husband, Elaine Kellar’s health quickly deteriorated.
Our team member wished she had slowed down her busy schedule for a just a moment and offered companionship – a mere few visits to show someone cared would have made a world of difference to an elderly woman who felt alone and forgotten.
Nothing is more discouraging than the feeling of being alone. The most effective way to make a difference is to be physically there for someone.
Keep your eyes and ears peeled for people with needs. Slow down your pace for just a moment and consider the opportunities to make a difference in the lives of people in your community. As our Recipient member MJ beautifully said:
” I will be giving where ever I can” – “this time with more focus on what I can do for others to get my mind off of all the bills that keep coming in. Of course I will still pay them as I can, but in the middle of the storm I forgot to care for others”.
Make a difference by listening
We’ll keep this one short, sweet, and simple. There’s absolutely nothing that compares to having the emotional support of someone to talk to. Make a difference by listening to someone who needs an ear.
We’d love to hear from you…
- Has someone made a difference in your life?
- Have you ever done something to make a difference in life of someone else?
- What are some other ways that you can make a difference?
Tags: act of kindness
17. May 2009 at 1:54 am :
I have to thank the entire MicroGiving team. And all the marvelous recipients i have been in touch with since 2009 and lets not forget all these gracious donors who take some precious time to support all our causes when they have their share of problems in this hard financial crisis the entire world is going through.
I will say this to you all with great pride. ( You all made a difference in my life)
Because this is my involvement and experience in charity funraiser organization, I never knew what it was like before. Today i am overwhelm with joy and happiness for this experience i have gain so far.
I knew on January 12, 2008 i made a difference in my dad life on the night of my accident when i told him in exact words. (Dad i dont want to die please dont let me die) He told me he will never forget those words, He think about that night regularly.
I would like a full recovery in the future, And continue my education of being a doctor some day because after all i went through i have learnt to realized that one of the greatest gift one can ever achieved in life is to be saving lives. I would also love to be a strong advocate for charity organizations and people in needs. All i do these days is share my experience with people i meet on a daily basis commuting from home to therapy or in my community.
17. May 2009 at 2:23 am :
I love this entry! I do believe everyone can make a difference in the life of someone else. We don’t all have $10 to give to an donation account, but we can give a little of something. We can always help another person raise funds they need even if we need funds too. We can take time to listen, we can’t always fix a problem but listening and understanding go a long way.
Most recently a group of buddies came together and built a deck and mobility ramp out of 20 year old lumber salvaged from a deck that was also donated to the ramp building project. Because I ran into some financial issues with legalizing our new truck that died before it was even legal, then having to run our poorly running car…then replace tires and fix a radiator hose I had to tap into the ramp building funds that were raised by the organization. I told my chapter leader what I needed to do and he and the team all understood as these people are local and know my situation. These guys used lots of creativity to build everything that was needed without using any cash…They gave their time and free labor. That meant much much more than anything and that ramp build was the first time I had anyone build anything for me. Me, Amy and my sons were the ones who always did our own DIY projects. There was a time when I could do things, I wasn’t always reliant on people and it’s very hard for me to come to terms with needing help. These guys all included my boys and Amy and they included me too. I was pulling nails out of boards. They didn’t treat me like I was a “charity case” it was a community project where everyone including me had a part in making it all happen.
They are going to help me with opening up the whole land plot so I can access all areas of the land and use that area as more living space. Once I raise enough funds to at least get a supply of netting since that can’t be salvaged and some treated lumber for fence posts to make 2 new fence lines to staple the netting to we are going to make a fully accessible back yard for me and Amy.
We recently realized that the modifications will cost too much and we are never going to be able to raise that kind of money so we are just going to adapt my bathroom and forget about modifying anything else inside the home. My sons will turn the rest of the house into apartments for themselves since they have no mobility issues, yet are not able to live alone.
Since the back yard project needs more money than I can ever hope to raise these guys are willing to take their spare time and pick up trucks to drive all over creation looking for discarded materials so we can get this project done before summer ends.
LOL…like one guy said..It ain’t gonna look pretty…but we’ll git’er’done
The willingness of these guys to understand I just will not be able to get funds to do it right, they will try to help me do it with whatever we can piece together and I think that takes some real understanding. Rick, Richard, Karen, Robert, Tom and of course my own sons and partner have shown me something very special in the past few weeks.
17. May 2009 at 12:09 pm :
Jamel, I can really relate to your blog. I, too, almost had a close to death situation because a drunk ran a red light. I’m still paralized in my face and was model. This is Lakelands old news. It brings a whole new at look on life. You live life to the fullest because you never know what’s around the corner.
Becky, that was really neat that the people of your community helped you that way. Sometimes, don’t people just amaze you?
When I was trying to raise money for a van with a lift in it. The bikers had a cookout for Brooks. These people didn’t even know us. They just knew that I was unable to lift Brooks anymore. People came from everywhere and handed Brooks money. The bikers place the money in a savings account. One day we received a phone call, Brook’s friend died. The family sold us the van for $3800.00. Why heck, the lift is worth $5000.00. I sure did make out. God keeps a good eye on me.
My new community is microgiving friends. Thanks to John because he’s making a difference.
Rayhawk was my first donation. It wasn’t ten dollars; It was two. That two looked like a million to me. Then, Yanik donated. These people don’t really even know me. They just wanted to make a difference in the children lives. Isn’t that cool!
I personally help the community a lot. I know that I have made an impact because people come to me all the time to help them. I’m always doing beneifits to help with doctor bills, burial needs, and more. I have seen when people are down and out come straight to me. However, beware because there is always that person that isn’t true blue.
Now, here’s the gray story. I was kinda seeing this guy here in Lakeland. I was young and, he was older. You know how this works. I was playing the field. His name was Roscow, who was a radio announcer. The night before Thanksgiving, he called, and I acted really busy and blow him off. The next day he was supposed to do the grand opening for Denim Dem, which at the time I was manager. He never showed up. I kept saying all day, wheres Roscow? At the end of my shift, they took me outside and said, he kiiled himself. Oh my God, I might have been the last phone call he made. What if I picked up that phone? Would I have made a difference? To this day, I have that on my conscious and theres nothing I can do. I wish; I would have taken the time to make the difference.
On a good note, I hope the community helps each and everyone of you.
17. May 2009 at 5:02 pm :
Making a difference, in a person life can be very easy, there are little things that a person can do. like listening to how a person may fell , most people just want some
one to lean on, we were not put hear on earth to be lonely.
There have been many people in my life that are making a difference in my life.
the people at the hospital they but me in contact with other’s like myself so I could see that life is still wroth living. My teacher help’s me so I could graduate in June 2009
I should have graduate in 2006 but I was in the hospital. She comes to my home
giving up her time.
Sometimes I go to the hospital to see other’s that have been hurt in a unexpected event resulting harm to them, just spending my time listening to there story and telling mind.
you can take my leg’s but you can’t take my spirt. Thanks to microgiving, I no you will make a difference in my life and other’s .
18. May 2009 at 3:00 am :
I like your spirit! I feel the same way. You can keep me from walking, but you can’t keep me down. My spirit is too strong to be limited by a mere body. As long as I’m aware of who I am I will always find a way to make a difference to the earth and all her living beings.
Christy, yeah it was great these guys helped me. I’m a member of Dixie Thunder, the motorcycle organization that these guys are all from and I know first hand the kind of help they give to people locally. I have been the tail runner (the car at the end of the bike pack) for many benefit runs and events and you will see most of my photos are taken at benefit events. There is nothing better than watching this group of people many who are low income come together to help someone in need. They all MicroGive, there is nobody in our group who could ever spare more than $50 in cash to offer someone, but when they all come together with spare change, offers of free services, spare parts (like lumber, auto parts etc) and free labor they get things done.
I have an annual fundraiser that one of the members set up for me. He’s in a lot of my pictures. His name is PR. They understand my needs are unique and don’t fit into the criteria for most government or big charity programs. The only way they would be met is with peer to peer sharing so once a year they hold what is called the Pawker Run to raise funds for my animal sanctuary. I live with the animals I care for…they don’t live with me. We all live together in a natural environment that we try to keep accessible for disabled animals and people. What helps the animals, also helps me. The “crippled critter ramp” as it was called was not just so I could get in and out of my home easier and safer, but it was also for two dogs with mobility issues, a dog who is partially blind and a cat who is totally blind. It helps them get into my bedroom and into the office just as much as it helps me.
Opening my yard is not going to be just a human need. The ramps now take up too much land space. The yard now must be opened, it’s no longer a desire, it’s a necessity for the health and safety of all living people here. Animals are creatures of nature and when they are closed in too tightly it becomes unsanitary and unhealthy. There are two options, re-home every one of the animals or enlarge the kennel. Re-homing is totally out of the questions. These are living beings, many of which came from bad environments to find the safety and love our home. You don’t just blow them off like they are nothing. So the only other option is to enlarge. The crew who came to do the ramp saw the need and wanted to know how soon we could get this worked on. To me that is the real show of wanting to help. They didn’t say….too bad YOU can’t enlarge the yard. They said…so when can WE get started.
18. May 2009 at 6:43 am :
My cousin Christopher was always misbehaving in school, I sit him down and told him what i went through since January 2008 and life is too precious to waste.
The very next day he call me and told me he is going to change is attitude towards people and stop acting up in school and start to do the wright things in life.
I was very pleased and satisfied to help him make a difference in his life, Today he is doing so good their no more phone calls from the school.
Some times you can do simple things, Like just giving a person some positive words of encouragement and uplift ment. And you would be surprised of the result one can achieved from simple things of this nature.
18. May 2009 at 11:03 am :
I know of a policmen who made a world of difference in a little girls life by simply doing what none of her parents did. After being raped and molested for years, she was finally able to break free and speak out. The little girl was treatened with a gun, and harm to her family, so feeling she had no choice she continued to go back again and again. She was terrified and felt she had the lives of her family in her hands. From the age of 10-14 she felt she had no choice being the man was a neighbor and could merely look over the fence to see what she was doing. She was tortured beyond what you can even imagine, broken arm from trying to get away, locked in a closet, tortured with dead rats and roaches. So finally after 4 years of unthinkable acts and this little girl being terriffied by this monster she told her mother almost by accident. She had been so upset, scared and was angry. The whole community was stunned but one police officer put his arms around her and told her she was safe that no one would ever hurt her again. Not even her own family had thought to tell her she was safe. The police officers words have stuck with the girl her entire life.
(this story is true and that policmen is a hero because he saw through everthing to know the little girl just needed to know that no one would hurt her again.)
18. May 2009 at 11:08 am :
I worked in the customer service for years before becoming diabled. I learned that just an ear to listen was why most of the elderly customers came into the store 5-6 times a day. They had stories to tell and no one to tell them to. So I listened and learned so much about so many of my customers. They loved to tell the stories of thier lives and have someone who actually cared enough to set aside a few minutes to listen to what they had to say. I have seen death, fires, loss of friends, loss of children, divorce, marriage, transfers to nursing homes, stories of war all through the eyes and words of customers that I had come to love through those years.
18. May 2009 at 12:46 pm :
Since my accident, I’ve been through fifty-two surgeries and fought paralysis for two years. It all made me a strong willed woman. I’ve climbed over a lot of hills in my life. I’m always going to school to better myself. I hold two degrees and working on my third.
For years I had a brother, who was an engineer, at Nassu. He got on crack concaine. I don’t know if your familiar with this drug, but it’s a nightmare of a life. My mother had two nursing homes and a resturant and pub. She lost the nursing homes because she couldn’t say “no” to my brother. She just kept giving him more money. He would threaten her and me. He would steal. It was one terrible life.
My mom must have been cut up with it all because she didn’t renew her license for her nursing home. The state came and closed it less then twenty-four hours. The people were placed in a day for a new home.
At this point I was a single mom with a , running her pub with a handicapped child. My husband ended up on drugs, so we got a divorce.My mom was really depressed. Now, the whole thing fell on my shoulders. I had the business to run, and the both of them to take care of.
I went to a paralegal, who put my mom in chapter thirteen in bankruptcy. I placed the resturant in corporation. Trying to hold on to what she had left.
Now were in 2006, my mom had a stroke. She came to live with me and my new husband.It was her house my brother was living in, and he wouldn’t let her live there. She was okay with this. Day to day, you could see him filling the car with her stuff to sell for drugs.
My brother became very ill, so I did the paperwork for him to get on disability. Before I gave him the check, I would pay the bills first and the grocery shopping for the month. He died on December 3, 2006. I told him to close his eyes because I had the check. I believe he was waiting for one more fix. My brother died of AIDS.
Time is moving on in my life, I and my husband are taking care of my mom, the business, my handicapped child, and it was hard. Together we did it. We did the medicine ,and diaper change, cut their food, bath both of them. Hey, it was hard. One wheelchair person is hard, much less two, because that is dead weight. My mother died on Oct. 29, 2008. Now, that was really hard. There is no one like a mom. Well, some of you already know that.
Well it was a long journey. Though all of it, I hope I made a difference in people lives.They watched me struggle;you just read about it,but hey never let people see you sweat. You can handle anything that comes your way with God. You can handle anything, be anything, to succeed in life. Trust me, you can!
18. May 2009 at 2:45 pm :
Have I made a differance? Yes, I have. In my previous life, I was in a relationship with a rather well-off man. He made my life very easy – too easy. But, he was also physically abusive. During that time, I met a marvelous women who had nothing, on disability, agoraphobic, kids that did love her but were to involved in their own lives to help her with ANYTHING. She treated me like the mother I never had – someone to talk to, vent to, never judged but advised… I always made sure that she had milk in the refridgerator, got to her doctors appts – things that she appreciated so much that she often told me that I was better than Family. She needed a JOB though, and my boyfriend needed a good housekeeper. He paid her very well, and I would pick her up, help her out a little around my own accounting work from home. Then – she was hospitalized with Cardiac Failure.. she was VERY sick for a LONG time, and the money struggles made it so much worse for her. I convinced my boyfriend that she was fine to clean the house and got her back in as his housekeeper – then insisted that she lie down and watch TV while I cleaned and scrubbed so that she could get paid. I made a differance in her life – as much as I could do for her I would and believe me, the look in her face when I would show up with groceries or pick up her mail was all the reward I needed. She has passed now and I miss her like crazy. She was the only person I knew that would be so touched just by bringing her a gallon of milk or a pack of cigarrettes (told her to quit, but she just couldn’t and I wasn’t going to allow her to suffer and have nicotine withdrawl) Doing for her made me feel good, and in return, I felt like I had a family. That alone made it an even trade – she helped me, and I helped her. It was the most rewarding thing I could do.
18. May 2009 at 3:33 pm :
“85 cents changed my life because I knew someone cared enough to share with us what little they had. It touched me so deeply that it has left a lasting impression on not only my life, but my whole family.” -Michelle (michie)
This donation as you know will be burned in my heart and my memory for my entire life. I am looking to follow in Becky’s footsteps and share the little I have so that someone will get a meaningful message when they need it the most. I can’t think of anything more perfect or more fitting than someone giving their last few cents to help another person.
HUGS BECKY for all you do.
19. May 2009 at 4:07 am :
My mom and dad also made huge difference in my life during my entire stay in the hospital they rotate shift and stay with me round the clock, I was never left alone i recall all the times they use to make my bed feed me shower they did every single thing for me. ( My dad even learnt how to make hospital bed )
I admired and appreciate them so much, I hope i can do the same for them one day to let them know how much i thank them. ( That real Love)
I just want people in all walk of life to know that if they can show or tell one person in each day that some one care and love them, Help them obtain a daily meal a shirt pants or a pair of shoe these are some of the small token that will and also can brighten that person daily life.
19. May 2009 at 6:21 am :
Ah thank you, but, I’m not the only one on MicroGiving worthy of such praise.
I know of another person who would do the same. Recently someone on MG who is also in another forum with me knew I that I am in some rough shape again. I have had breathing room now and then but haven’t actually climbed out of the ongoing situation I have been in for the past few years.
Though this person has a need that also has a time limit she donated $10 to my donation button on my home page. Her kindness meant so much because I know that like my small change gift it came from the heart. I couldn’t accept the whole donation though. I refunded all but a dollar and explained that I kept the dollar because I know how it feels to want so much to help and to be a part of a team making something great happen. Her dollar will make a huge difference financially, but the thought and feeling that were a part of the whole gift will do far much more. I’ll reach my next goal and she is a part of the team we all move forward together. She will also help me a great deal by putting that $9 back into her own need and let me be a part of that team. My greatest hope is that we will BOTH reach our goals and always remember the friendship that grew out of struggling moms trying to help each other…not compete against each other to reach the goal faster, but simply to help each other get there.
20. May 2009 at 2:03 pm :
Oh wow I have distributed my donor dollars around. The ones I won from the contest and I have to say the only way to really know why microgiving is important and so worth while is well to try it. I made me feel so wonderful and like I was actually helping someone. Microgiving is the bomb its awesome and its fun. It makes you feel like you have done the greatest thing ever. Today I feel so good about myself I could come out of my skin. Its not the amount its that it came from the heart. I put a lot of thought into who I donated to and I think I did a good job at it. Thank you microgiving for giving me the opportunity to feel this feeling.
20. May 2009 at 2:04 pm :
Michie Said>>>I can’t think of anything more perfect or more fitting than someone giving their last few cents to help another person.
Ah thank you, but, I’m not the only one on MicroGiving worthy of such praise.
I know of another person who would do the same. Recently someone on MG who is also in another forum with me knew I that I am in some rough shape again. I have had breathing room now and then but haven’t actually climbed out of the ongoing situation I have been in for the past few years.
Though this person has a need that also has a time limit she donated $10 to my donation button on my home page. Her kindness meant so much because I know that like my small change gift it came from the heart. I couldn’t accept the whole donation though. I refunded all but a dollar and explained that I kept the dollar because I know how it feels to want so much to help and to be a part of a team making something great happen. Her dollar will make a huge difference financially, but the thought and feeling that were a part of the whole gift will do far much more. I’ll reach my next goal and she is a part of the team we all move forward together. She will also help me a great deal by putting that $9 back into her own need and let me be a part of that team. My greatest hope is that we will BOTH reach our goals and always remember the friendship that grew out of struggling moms trying to help each other…not compete against each other to reach the goal faster, but simply to help each other get there
Hush up Becky and learn to take a compliment. LOL! Jeesh!
22. May 2009 at 11:22 am :
Michelle! That is so GREAT to hear! Thanks for sharing your encouragement with us. Isn’t giving addictive?
25. May 2009 at 9:39 pm :
I think that charity no matter how small can make a huge impact.
Recently, I ran a wish to help my sister get her dog back. She had a vet bill she could not afford and they would not let her have her dog back, until payment was made in full. Some very generous people paid off the whole vet bill, and now Oreo is happy and safe at home with the family that loves her! It didn’t matter if someone contributed a $1, $5, or $10, “all of that love and generosity combined” brought OREO home and made a family happier then they’ve been in a long time!
We’d love to hear from you…
* Has someone made a difference in your life?
Oh wow, so many people have made huge differences in my life. I have the most awesome family, friends, internet friends, and internet angels that have blessed me in so many ways!
* Have you ever done something to make a difference in life of someone else? I have tried my best, and I hope that those people I am able to help here and there, realize that anything I give comes from my heart, and with a prayer that my gift no matter how small will become huge for them.
* What are some other ways that you can make a difference
-By listening to someone.
-Being a friend.
-Offering tips and advice whenever possible.
-Being kind, honest, generous, and caring to others.
-Donating my time whenever possible.
-Making contributions when I can.
-Overall, just doing my part to make this world a better place.
A true gift of giving comes from the heart, and when I am to give in whatever way I can, it’s from the heart, always!
I’ve cried many tears, when there have been times that I just could not help someone who needed it, the only thing I could do is pray. I’ve done that many times and hope it has also made a difference.
27. May 2009 at 5:42 pm :
Lois – thank you, great tips…
29. June 2009 at 8:02 pm :
i just want to say hello,i am new at this,still feeling my way around.and i wanted to agree with something i saw about just listening to someone,i am going through alot and it helps to know someone cares.i am having liver failure problems again.so cheers to a great site.
god bless you all for caring about others and their dilemas,as well as mine.
12. July 2009 at 8:41 pm :
Hey Nancy….I just said a prayer for you…. and we ALL care about you
HUG!!!
14. July 2009 at 9:49 pm :
* Has someone made a difference in your life?
Absolutely! It would take days to thank the individual people who have made some kind of difference/impact in my life. I would personally like to thank Microgiving for not only helping me when I needed it, but helping so many other people. Without organizations like MG, a lot of people would be homeless, more children would be hungry, more people would be dying due to lack of medical coverage, and animals would also be left to die. MG does so much for thousands of people, and I’m very proud of what they have been able to accomplish over the past couple of years. I am so proud of John and Michelle & the whole Microgiving team for thinking always about others. Our world would be so totally lost without them!
* Have you ever done something to make a difference in life of someone else?
I want to believe I have. I feel in my heart I have. For me, I give from heart, fully and faithfully. When I can’t give a lot, I pray over my gift and ask God to make it bigger then what it actually is. My goal is to make a difference, and I hope when I’m gone, that people will remember me for that, more than for any other reason.
21. July 2009 at 1:36 am :
It’s not just donations that really helps when your trying to raise donations, I love support too, an encouraging comment can really cheer you up, and volunteerism is great. I know exactly what Michelle meant though. Any donation no matter what its size, really touches me. Especially when I know that they are struggling too.
2. July 2010 at 2:40 pm :
I noticed that no one has wrote on this subject for a year and I want you to know this is a remarkable subject for each and everyone of us. Wow, can you imagine if each of us would take the time, a few minutes a day just to make a difference in someone’s life. It could be something so simple~ We have the power within us to share even in the midst of a storm. In the midst of all life has thrown at me I have learned that giving is so much more rewarding than receiving~ Many times I wish I could give more than I do~ Do you know how rewarding it is that when you see a person down and out to do something to make them smile~ Do you know what it is to reach out your hand and put it inside of another hand of one who is falling a part. Things we do and say can make a person prosper and want to keeping fighting or it can make a person give up and not want to try anymore.
Please today if there is someone you know that you can help in some form or another reach out and make a difference.