Join us in Helping Haiti

A Plan for Helping Haiti

Hello Everyone,

Zac posting here. I've been struggling with how to provide support to Haiti given the horrific toll the earthquake has taken. As you may know, I'm a planner, and I've felt we've struck a good balance between what we give and what we save. However, I've felt convicted on my own behalf, and on behalf of my family for not doing anything specific to assist those who have been devastated by this tragedy.

Here's our plan: We are going to give a material amount today to Compassion International to help the Haiti relief effort. However, we are considering this a loan that we will pay back. We'll do this by sacrificing things we would have otherwise purchased between now and June. Attached to my refrigerator is a piece of paper with the amount written at the top. Each time we find a way to save specifically with those in Haiti in mind, we'll write it down, and pay down the balance. When it shows zero, we are done. This will cause us to think and pray for the people of Haiti, and to move more in the direction of sacrificial giving. It also will provide a good teaching opportunity for our children.

Will you join us in this effort? The amount may be more or less for your family, but the principle can be the same. Give up some things for those in desperate need.

10 ideas on how to get there:

1. Tax Deduction-30% done right out of the gate.

2. Take lunches to work ($5/day savings).

3. Skip Starbucks for a month ($4/day)

4. Get competitive quotes on auto insurance. You'd be amazed how much this can save.

5. Call your cable/phone company and tell them you need to reduce your bill. See what options are out there. Or get rid of it for a few months.

6. Make your spouse a romantic dinner rather than going out on Valentine's day.

7. For your birthday, ask for money that will be used for Haiti.

8. Clip coupons for a weekend.

9. Drink tap water for a month rather than the bottled stuff (it's healthier anyway).

10. Cancel eating out 1x/week until the balance is gone.

I'm going to donate through http://www.compassion.com/, an organization we've supported for years who already actively supports 65,000 children in Haiti, has a local organization, has flown volunteers in from the Dominican Republic and is a good steward of funds. The red cross is obviously another great place to donate http://www.redcross.org/

Will you join us?

Zac