Special people
Today I once again received a very beautiful calender sent to me every year by "APBP".
This organization (English) promotes the reproductions of artists' original paintings on greeting cards. The Association of Mouth and Foot painting artists do not request charitable contributions but rather the chance to earn fair value income. Through the sales of the products that reproduce the original works painted with foot or hand, the Association gives all artists the opportunity to meet their financial needs and support themselves.
I think these guys are awesome, I sometimes draw something and even Jorgito says: hmmm, ¿eso qué es? 
Do you know any special people like these whom you help either with contributions or voluntary work? Please share with us
7 Answers
I support and volunteer in a local clinic called "Volunteers in Medicine". The local clinic website is here
This clinic is one of 63 (I believe; the count continues to grow) clinics across the US. We provide primary medical care for people who do not have health insurance and are not eligible for Medicare (the US government plan for healthcare of people 65 and over). We service patients with income below the accepted poverty level who live inside this county. We currently service about 4,500 patients.
We provide these services with no help from the government. All services are provided by churches, charitable organizations and local hospitals. We have four full time employees and about 70 active volunteers (doctors, nurses, technicians, clerical staff, etc.).
I understand members in countries outside the US will probably not understand the significance of this service, since many countries have government health care plans. But in the US, health care can be an unaffordable luxury for many people. We hope to bridge the gap for people in this difficult situation.
I also sponsor an organisation which gets little or no publicity and is not
something which one would even think exists or even worthwhile but
believe me they do incredible work , it is unglamorous and untrendy
but fulfilling an enormous need around the world it is called -
"British Prisoners Abroad" . link text
I support an organisation called Compassion UK which is part of a bigger organisation Compassion International which seeks to reach out to poor and disadvantaged children and their families throughout the world. One of my previous Youth pastors had given a talk about helping poor people many years ago when I first attended my church and the Lord placed a desire on my heart to sponsor a child which I did initially through Tear Fund until Compassion UK took over the work I still sponsor a girl in Bolivia.
Compassion UK does fantastic and invaluable work in God's Kingdom in reaching out to children and their families who are living in desperate poverty and offering them a lifeline which allows their child/children to attend a Day Centre where they can receive food, education, the whole family can receive medical care including immunisation and regular checkups and the parents can receive help to find work. It takes a very holistic approach. about meeting the need of the whole child physical, intellectual, emotional, and of course, last but not least, Spiritual The gospel is demonstrated in very practical ways as mentioned above and shared in a very sensitive and non obtrusive way. that respects their freewill.. . They use skilled natives who are living in the country to help run these centres and prayerfully choose the most needy families...which helps break the cycle of poverty and deprivation in these countries.
Compassion UK and International are always grateful for new sponsors who would like to sponsor a child and help their family. If you are interested please let me know No pressure ...honestly My purpose here is simply to share information related to the theme Heidi has mentioned above.
I also receive these same cards and calendar each year ,although I support them
I do not like their method of selling which forces one to take up the offer .
If one opens the package to read what it is and then decide not to take them one
must repackage and send them back , I find that there is too much emotional
pressure to buy . I like the product and the concept , but dislike this type of selling.
I have recently started supporting this organisation in Vietnam "Sozo " in their help of disadvantaged young people .
I also receive these same cards and calendar each year ,although I support them
I do not like their method of selling which forces one to take up the offer .
This does not happen here in Spain, you don't even have to pay them.it is voluntary to do so
Very interesting posts , I think we can do a lot of things helping others where not much money is involved.
One thing any person can do if they have a little bit of time and no criminal record is volunteer tutor at the local school. At least in the United States, there are elementary aged children who need to be read to or who need someone who will listen to them read. At the secondary level there are students who need homework help or help in organizing their books and papers. Most school districts welcome volunteers, although every volunteer needs to pass a criminal background check before helping out.
All of the posts have excellent suggestions, and I offer this "no money needed" one just as a reminder that there may be a child within walking distance of your home who would welcome your help.
I know loads of people who volunteer their time rescuing animals. Most of them run small private rescues in their own homes, spending their own money to house and feed these animals, they pay huge vets fees when animals are in pain, and they suffer alongside them when there is nothing that can be done and the animals have to be put to sleep.
None of them are rich, they hold down full time jobs and spend their spare time cleaning out, nursing sick animals and making sure the healthy ones get the attention they need to keep that way.
They see horrible things are verbally and sometimes physically abused by people who expect them to take on unwanted animals even when their cages are already full. People who want to rehome an animal behave as if they are doing them a favour and are horrified when they are asked to make a small financial contribution. Usually not enough to recover the cost of getting the animal neutered let alone paying towards all the other costs involved.
They do all this for the love of the animals, whether it be dogs, cats, ferrets or what ever, they get very little thanks but they have my admiration.
I nearly forgot my own small contribution. I take on boarders on behalf of our local ferret rescue. All ferrets that have been rehomed by them whose owners want a holiday where they cannot take the ferrets. All the money I get for this goes back to the rescue to help wth those bills. And at the moment I have a couple of foster ferrets. A boy and girl who need a permanet home but the rescue is full up.
