Evidently, charities do—sometimes—faileth . . .

                  So it’s good to do some research.

                 I wrote about Three Cups of Tea and Greg Mortenson.  And then I mentioned Peace Fleece (which is not a charity).  I have been horribly remiss and stupid, though, because I forgot something.  I am actually related to one of the coolest Charity Projects ever:  Lalmba.

             Hugh is my dad’s cousin, and I don’t remember how I found out about this.  Maybe my dad told me about it after the family reunion decades ago.  Or maybe it was my beautiful aunt who told me. What Hugh does is run clinics in Africa.  He and Marty do tremendous work.  If you are looking for a place where you can be sure your money has a direct impact on the well-being of real children who are suffering at the very moment I am writing these words, and the very moment you are reading them: right now – then this is a beautiful place to put that money.  However little it may be.

                 I remembered this because G, reading the book mentioned above, found a site where charities are rated for effectiveness and fund use.  I wish I’d had a site like that about twenty three years ago when I gave a whopping fifty dollars of our non-existent monthly budget to a SIDs charity (give us money for research, and we will give you a roll of free plastic garbage bags); I had babies then, and SIDs was the monster under the bed.  A few weeks later, I found out that those people were liars and had just taken my money, along with a whole lot of other people’s.  The crowning pittiness?  The garbage bags were made out of recycled Kleenex.  Not really.  But close.

                 So G looked up Mortenson and found this.

                 We can note here that Greg is no longer languishing in poverty; he makes WAY more than I do.  But I wouldn’t deny him that, considering the nature of his work.

                 And then G remembered Hugh and found this.       

                 I have to admit that it is good, so good, to look behind the curtain and find out that the people who belong to you are honorable and true, and that you can be proud of them without even trying.  Especially when it’s your parents or children, of which Hugh is neither—but still  . . .

                 They do a great newsletter, Lalmba does, and they always find some wonderful craft that people in Africa do (one year, it was hand shaped and worked sterling silver crosses), collect it all year from the craftsmen and offer these things at Christmas when you give your donation.  We have TONS of cool stuff from them.

                 Anyway – I am pushing Lalmba today and every day.  They take volunteers, too, I believe.  I am only a contributor, but I am proud to be part of it.