Dollar Philanthropy

'Cause No Baby Should Go Hungry: Infant Crisis Services

Its 5:57 am.  I'm funneling in coffee after a long night of being 'on call' every 2 hours for the delivery of food and soothing to my sweet Baby Bird.  As I gradually come to awareness, I realize that this morning the news is discussing the sad discovery of a newborn infant in a garbage bag on the side of the road.
Please understand that my state (GA) does have a provision for mothers to turn over their infants-- supposedly, no questions asked-- if they deliver them and for some reason cannot keep them.  However, this provision is rarely publicized and in all honesty, I've never seen it proactively publicized anywhere.  Instead, I've just heard about it when something like this happens... and then-- its a little too late.

Now, I'm not so stupid as to not know that having a child completely change one's life.  However, it is not until one actually experiences it that you become fully versed in all the many changes, big and small.  As a person who does fine with change that I can predict, I must admit that I have had times of feeling overwhelmed when looking forward to all the many 'potential" changes that are ahead. However , the story this morning on the news caused me to pause, step back and thank my lucky stars that I have 1. a wonderful spouse that is delighted to fully share in this wonderful change in our lives, 2. the luxury of being able to take time away from work to be at Natalie's beck and call, 3. a wonderful support system of family and friends, 4. the financial stability to be able to provide for my child.

Many women and families do not have the luxuries that I have-- namely any sort of support.  And I know there are many circumstances besides lack of support that put babies at risk. Single parenthood, abject poverty, working poverty, job loss, car trouble, or illness can happen to anyone and can strain a family financially. I'm sure just one of these can  make an already overwhelming situation seem absolutely hopeless and heartbreaking. While I don't know the circumstances that led to the tragic end of life spoken about this morning on the news, I'm sure that the mother of that infant must have felt (and continues to feel) excruciating hopelessness and immense distress upon the birth of her child. So... in an effort to allay some of my deep sadness that such suffering exists in the presence of such a precious gift, I wanted to highlight a good cause that helps provide for a basic need for infants.

Infant Crisis Services

Based in Oklahoma, Infant Crisis Services is an organization that provides food, formula, diapers, clothes and other basic necessities for over 900 infants and children a month--- 65% of those served were single parent homes.  They bridge the gap in government programs that don’t provide diapers or certain medically prescribed formulas and sometimes require waiting periods during a critical time in a baby’s development.  Amazingly, the organization relies solely on the generosity of the community and private donors, as they receive no state, federal or United Way funding.

Send Your Dollar

Via Mail: 

Mail check or money order to:
Infant Crisis Services, Inc.
1933 N.W. 39th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73118

Via Just Give ($5 minimum):  Click here

Via Network for Good ($10 minimum):  Click Here

She's Here!

It is always an exciting time to turn the page and start a new chapter in one's life.  Oftentimes, in my experience these life transitions are initiated by heartache or tribulation.  However, I'm happy to announce that our new bundle, Natalie Layne, made her arrival on January 16th. 

While most of my friends are working on their New Year's resolutions to modify their lifestyles in one way or another, I find that my resolution to have this baby has resulted in a huge, wonderful lifestyle change too.  Much less sleep... but that won't last forever--- the changes are mostly in perspective... more depth, more singleness in purpose, more intentional. 

Anyway... We're quite delighted to have our little girl and all of us are greeting each day with newly opened eyes and a fresh new perspective.  Good thing... looking back to things before becoming pregnant--- things were kinda boring and perhaps I was too. 

Excitement in the Inbox!

As part of my 2007 Resolution, I loaned three people money through Kiva.  All year I've been following their progress as much as possible through Kiva.  I have also made a point to keep the people in my thoughts and hoping that they were doing well-- I've never been sure that such things make a real difference, but in the year of throwing aside cynicism, I figured "what the heck?--- lets go all out!"

This morning I waddled to the desk to check my e-mail expecting a full spam folder and a good number of crap emails for diet pills that eeked their way into my inbox.  Well-- I found plenty of spam ---but all the annoyances were washed away when I saw an email from Kiva that told me that one of the people I loaned money to had paid it back.  I was so excited!

The joy grew when I realized that the person had a good 2007 and was able to pay her loan back sooner than expected.  However, I was a little disappointed when I couldn't really find an update on her file and/or another opportunity to loan to her again.   I also couldn't reloan the money to some other person.  RATS!!!

I know that Oprah and Bill Clinton have brought attention to Kiva-- and that is great.  Big voices like that really do have an opportunity to get more Americans involved in helping the poor in all corners of the world.  I understand that such attention has caused a drain on Kiva's resources and that is a good problem to have.  However, my selfish desire to continue to be a little person doing my own little things that make a difference has been squelched a bit.

Stepping back from my disappointment (cause honestly, it is just a selfish desire to massage my own ego at this time when I am feeling at odds -- a nice way of saying 38 weeks pregnant, fat, hormonal and self absorbed with getting this baby here), I had a couple of thoughts about this new trend (I'm hoping it eventually becomes a societal value) of giving.

• First, I dream of a day when giving (in whatever form) is part of each person's life--- much like brushing your teeth, paying your rent, or eating a meal.
• Life's hassles and cynicism are often the biggest obstacles to making giving a practice and discipline in one's life. 
• Personal cynicism can be reduced and I'm hoping that my 2008 experiences prove that it can be eliminated without me becoming naive, stupid, gullible, and airheaded.
• Along with promotion and drawing attention to causes, celebrities can also help by making it possible for causes to grow/improve their infrastructure to handle the demands of all the new people coming to give/contribute/learn.
• Giving is not often a discipline/practice for most people.  However, it is a practice that is easily developed by providing an ample supply of genuine, feel-good feedback to reward the people who take the risk of letting go of cynicism and putting forth the effort to navigate the obstacles to giving.
• Subsequently, those of us who dream of a society that is more compassionate and giving, need to understand that it should always be easy for a person to give when the spirit moves them. I will return to the Kiva website in a few weeks, but I wonder about the busy gal or guy who just read Bill Clinton's Giving and is looking for someone to help.  Will he or she go back to the website?

I'm not trying to vilify Kiva.  I'm just aware, as a director of a nonprofit org, that sometimes it is easy to get overwhelmed by the operation of an organization.  People either fit in, find a place, find a way to help or they don't.  And sometimes it needs to be that way for organizational growth. 

I also think that organizations need to mourn the missed opportunities too.  Afterall, we never know how one missed opportunity could have changed us for the good.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts as well.