Disclosure: I received a trio of ornaments to facilitate my review. My opinion is honest and my own and not influenced by compensation.
During the holiday season, and throughout the year, we all try to donate to good causes, whether it be the bell ringer outside of a store or giving household goods and clothes to charities, always hoping and thinking this will help somebody in need. Sometimes I wonder if my donation is really going to a good cause, or what percentage is actually making it to the needy.
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| Photo Credit: World Vision |
World Vision is a unique Christian organization that is trying to help break the cycle of poverty in many different countries around the world and in the United States with clean water, food, education, job training, and even saving children from exploitation. By giving a gift through their catalog you can directly impact lives by providing essential things like a chicken to a hungry family in another country. This would not only give them fresh eggs to eat, but also an income by selling the eggs and the chance to breed chickens for even more food. There are so many options in the World Vision catalog. Take a look and see for yourself what even a small donation can do to change someones life. Every item you purchase has the potential of changing a life forever.
The World Vision catalog also has many beautiful handcrafted gifts that you can receive by making general monetary donations of $35 to $150. These range anywhere from a Ugandan bead bracelet to coffee to gorgeous wire and bead ornaments from Nairobi. And, of course there is the option of just giving to the Maximum Impact Fund without receiving a gift and just having the satisfaction of helping those in need, or even sponsoring a child.
With your gift of $150 or more to the Maximum Impact Fund — which provides for the unique needs of children and families worldwide — you will receive this beautiful set of handmade Zakale wire & bead ornaments from Nairobi. Zakale crafts are made from recycled materials by Kenyan artisans, who received a loan from World Vision to grow their business and lift themselves out of poverty. I received a three pack of handmade, bead ornaments and I am just amazed at the quality. They are heavy, well-made ornaments and will be perfect to give as gifts this Christmas.
Ornament sizes vary by animal (giraffe 4″ x 1½”, elephant 2½” x 3″ & water buffalo 2 7/10 ” x 2½”).
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| Photo Credit: World Vision
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Please visit www.worldvision.org to watch the video on how World Vision benefits the worlds’ communities in need, and also see the gift catalog to see how even a smallest donation can really help.
Philippines Disaster Relief
While every Thanksgiving is an opportunity to spend time with loved ones and reflect on our bountiful blessings, this holiday season is a distinctly special time to give thanks for all we have in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, the storm that devastated Cebu Island in the Philippines earlier this month.
As we approach this season of thanks and giving, World Vision is making it easy to give back this year through the Philippines Disaster Response Fund, created to provide emergency food, water, and hygiene kits to survivors of the typhoon. World Vision relief workers distributed the first round of supplies – weighing in at 25 tons – to nearly 780 families on November 14, 2013, and plan to continue distributions in the coming days.
To give, you can visit the Philippines Disaster Response Fund HERE. This year, World Vision also has emergency aid as an option in their annual Gift Catalog, providing you the opportunity to make your charitable donation in the name of a loved one this holiday season. A card describing the impact of their gift can then be mailed or printed online.
“We serve the world’s poor, regardless of a person’s religion, race, ethnicity or gender.”
