Meeting the Needs of the Poor

by Kate McElhinney

Want to sponsor a village but you don't have the resources? We're all on tight budgets these days due to the slumping economy. But it's important to remember that even though we are struggling, the poor feel the effects even more. For example, in Tanzania the main source of income for the entire region is tourism. Like most countries, locals depend on the influx of wealthy travelers to help cover the cost of feeding their families. For Tanzanians, guided tours of Mount Kilimanjaro bring in the base of their income. However as more and more Americans cut back on discretionary costs, the number of thrill seekers looking to climb the mountain is dwindling. This consequence trickles down to the poor, effecting their livelihood tremendously. If you're looking for a way to contribute but you're on a tight budget, consider talking to your Bible study, your school club, your book group, or friends and family to see if they would be interested in sponsoring a village together. My Bible study is sponsoring Panasawan in Thailand and it's been incredible to see how our contribution is making a difference. Villagers are able to meet the basic needs of their families by feeding their children, and trees are being planted to help restore the land and provide clean water. If you are interested in sponsoring a village, please click here to see our Grow a Village web page. Once there, you will see pictures of various villages we work with. Please click on the green donate button at the left to read more about each community. Thanks so much for your support!