Low Cost Ways to Help Orphans

November is Adoption Awareness Month which is a great time to remember the 210 million orphans worldwide, according to UNICEF estimates. There are 86 million orphans in India alone, 44 million in Africa and 10 million in Mexico. While 35,000 children die daily from hunger and malnutrition there are low cost ways we can help these boys and girls.

Feed a Child for a Week According to Friends of the Orphans, a $20 donation can feed a child in El Salvador nutritious meals for a week. A ten dollar gift will give a child in Mexico a blanket. Take 30 seconds and give a small amount to make a difference.

Hold a “Shoes for Orphan Souls” Birthday Bash
Change the lives of children by forgoing birthday presents at your next party. Instead print out free invitations at ShoesforOrphanSouls.com and ask guests to bring a pair of shoes to donate. The shoes will be sent to needy orphans in one of the 74 countries the organization serves.

Buy a T-Shirt
Buy a t-shirt from Commonthreadz.org and you’ll feed a child in need for a month. The shirts are designed by African orphans and each order includes the profile of an orphan who benefits from your purchase. They’ll also post your name on the organization’s Honor Wall in Africa.

Write a Review
Write a review at Greatnonprofits.org, a website offering unbiased opinions of thousands of non-profits. Tell the world how you feel about various non-profits serving orphans and get the word out about their cause.

Stock Up on Coffee
Coffee drinkers can rejoice—there’s a way for you to get your caffeine and help the world’s orphans. Purchase coffee from Gobena Coffee, named for a 71-year-old Ethiopian man who rescued a baby later adopted by an American couple who founded the coffee company. All of the profits are reinvested into the lives of orphan children through various charity programs.

Give While You Search
Give Google a rest. Instead Search the Internet with the engine GoodSearch.com. Designate a charity serving orphans like Forgotten Voices to receive your funds. They’ll get a penny every time you peruse the web and when it comes to helping millions of orphans every little bit helps.

By Alison Storm

Want to learn more ways you can give back this holiday season? Be sure to read How to Use Your Facebook and Twitter Accounts to Support Charities!