Would you like to meet someone fabulous? This is Chanduru.
Chanduru lives in India and attends a school that is run by a charitable organization called Rising Star Outreach. Rising Star works with the children of India that come from families that are Leprosy affected. This is an organization that does so much good and deserves so much support.
I'm told that Chanduru is quick to smile and is kind to everyone. While he is happy playing on his own, he is also happy to include others in whatever he happens to be doing. Sounds a lot like my little Henry.
Here's the thing about Rising Star. When Becky Douglas, the organization's founder visited North Carolina to speak to a group of women about her efforts, she was offered as a token of gratitude, a beautiful vase... that she wouldn't accept. She wasn't in this for her, she said. It was all for the children, for the people of India that need help. I know that when I sponsor little Chanduru, he is the one that benefits. My money isn't used to mail out solicitations asking for more money from other people. My money doesn't pay for administrative costs. My money goes directly to India - to Chanduru.
Rising Star Outreach has a three fold mission. They work to educate the children of the leprosy affected in India, those that until Rising Star's inception, were denied the opportunity to receive a quality education because of the stigma associated with leprosy. In addition to educating and helping the children, Rising Star also facilitates lending to establish microbusinesses so that those who are leprosy affected have the means to provide for their families without having to beg. And it's working. Finally, Rising Star works to provide medical care to the leprosy affected through traveling medical clinics that work to improve the health and overall quality of life for entire families.
I realize there are needs all over the world, even within our own country and that we all must choose wisely where we can give, and where we cannot. But this? This is a good cause. I like to involve my children. I read them the updates that come from Rising Star every month and show them the pictures of the children. I hope, in some small way, it will remind them to be grateful for all that they have. Truly, those that have the very least in this country, have far more than so many in other countries around the world.
Rising Star doesn't ever ask me to say any of this to any of you. It's simply something I care about a great deal, something I choose to support, and so, I tell you so. If you'd like to sponsor your own child, it's $30 a month to do so. But guess what? If you can't swing 30 bucks, you are more than welcome to help sponsor Chanduru. How is that, you might ask?
Well, technically speaking, Mommy Snark, not me, is Chanduru's sponsor. While I am the voice of Mommy Snark, so many of you are a part of it too. One person giving thirty dollars is just the same as thirty people giving one dollar... except if thirty people give, then thirty people get to feel awesome.
If you feel inclined to give, there is a link in my sidebar that will take you directly to Mommy Snark's personal donation page. Simply click on "Add to cart" and then specify how many $1 donations you'd like to make. It's perfectly safe and secure. I use it every single month and can assure you... it's easy as all get out. You can also click on this link, right here:
Rising Star Outreach Donation Page for Mommy Snark
If you'd like to read up about Rising Star Outreach, please visit their site. It's wonderful, and so very inspiring.
And also, if you were interested in partnering with Mommy Snark for a giveaway to benefit Rising Star Outreach, I'd love to hear from you.I was happy to see Rising Star receive $75 extra dollars one month via "extra entry" donations for a dress giveaway here on the blog. Every dollar counts, yes?
Here's the thing about blogging. It's wonderful and lovely and it fosters amazing friendships and makes us feel good and makes us laugh and lifts us up and inspires... but sometimes, it can also be utterly and completely pointless. It can waste our time and narrow our sphere of "real life" influence and feed an inflated notion of self importance. But only if we let it.
So this is me, trying to think bigger than just myself, and blog with a little more purpose. Join me, will you?
