ON SELFISHNESS

I recently did my taxes for the year 2008. And as I went through the process - income, medicare, all that jazz - I got to the box for "charitable deductions." Now, smug me likes to believe that I am a generous person. When I am at a fast food restaurant (which is sadly often), I put my change into whatever charity container they have at the register. I buy the paper sneakers, roses, balloons, shamrocks - whatever - at the grocery or drug store (Walgreens!). And, as I have mentioned numerous times via this blog, I do support two charities through donations.

Well, I totaled up my charitable giving for the year, and it came to a scant 2.5% of my pre-tax income (and about 4 percent of my take-home pay). That seems remarkably low to me. Maybe it's liberal guilt telling me that I can give more, maybe it's a testament to tricky math that makes me look at this in a new way. But short of sponsoring another child through CCF, how can I help people more? I list three options below:

1) Kiva.org - Kiva lets you loan people in developing nations money. These people are starting their own businesses and just need some startup capital. You can choose whom you give money to, and something like 97% of "investors" get their money back, at which point it can be re-loaned to someone else. The only money you really lose is the interest you would earn if the money were in your savings account here. I am very interested to see how this works, and once my self-imposed spending lockdown ends, will probably invest in one of these businesses.

2) Heifer.org - When I graduated from Arkansas, one of the commencement speakers was one of the founders of heifer.org. (At least, I think that was the case. I was talking to the person next to me through the entire thing.) But it seems like such a worthwhile thing - to give some agricultural assistance to people who need it. I know that I'm not cut out for farm life, but that doesn't mean I don't realize how important raising livestock is, right? I have ALMOST given this as a gift to people in the past - but don't feel right saying "I bought a chicken for a family in Africa in your name. Congratulations on your wedding." In addition, I am squeamish and unrealistic about life on the farm - what if they name the chicken? They're going to have to kill it for food!"

3) To Write Love On Her Arms - We have dealt with a lot of depression and suicide issues on campus this year. And I have learned a surprising amount about addiction from watching "Celebrity Rehab" and "Sober House." Maybe this charity, which raises awareness and treatment funds for people with depression (often related to drug abuse), has come to the forefront of my mind because of it. Maybe I just like the charity's name. Maybe I read about it on a pretty girl's facebook page and wanted to support it because of that.

I'll probably support these charities in some way or another as the year proceeds, to be honest. I can do better than 2.5% for this coming year. 3 percent or bust!