- Here is a link to donate via the Red Cross. I recommend the 'International Relief Fund' or 'Where the Need is Greatest' options.
- Here's the Peace Corps's donation index link. The Peace Corps does let you put your money exactly where you want to, by country, by relief project (drinking water, HIV/AIDS, etc) or by growth/maintenance project (sustaining volunteers and facilities). Here's the direct link to donate to Peace Corps efforts in Africa. Everything is itemized - you pick a specific reason your money will be spent, when you donate, so, that list of Africa-based projects contains a mix of projects like water purification and chicken farming, along with mending fences and schools, and building computer centers.
I'm not saying people shouldn't buy a Starbucks coffee that particular day just because the donation level is shallow. I'm saying, I hope people will think about that and repeat what I'm screamin' -- "Five cents? Are you fucking kidding me?" -- and will then go donate at least the price of a cup of friggin coffee directly to an international workhorse charity.
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6 comments:
Scream on, Nathan.
5 cents a cup is not impressive, to put it more calmly. I give more to charities than that percentage-wise and I'm a nearly starving artist. I'll drink my Starbuck's or not, nevermind the nickel a cup.
Nathan~ I started a Starbucks habit, after the Wawa (Philly convenient store chain) across from my therapist closed.
I loved the monster lattes, a throw back to the milky coffee I drank as a young child.
I got a bit pissy in my mind, when I would add a buck to their tip jar, with nary a nod. Hell's Bells, I spent almost a decade in the service industry and my mum taught me how to smile and say thanks.
They lost their original marketing "message" some years back. My understanding is that they are closing around six hundred stores.
The five cents might have been put toward their employees who have been let go. I'm with Immi. I'm on SSDI, yet every time I see the Salvation Army, I give at least a buck. And that's the charity that is most recognized...Many more accept.
I'm with you. I prefer to donate to charities that allow me to dedicate my money for a specific cause of my choosing. Still, I will allow Starbuck's many, many 5 cents because I can't live without or at least prefer not to live without my coffee.
I just noticed a similar thing on my favorite radio station today. The Salvation Army wants donations. The homeless shelter wants donations. And if you buy a new car, we'll save you the trouble of actually putting thought into your donation, we'll automatically donate $250 to the Red Cross.
I guess with the economy in shambles, they must figure that if they don't advertise, they won't get anything???
I just noticed a similar thing on my favorite radio station today. The Salvation Army wants donations. The homeless shelter wants donations. And if you buy a new car, we'll save you the trouble of actually putting thought into your donation, we'll automatically donate $250 to the Red Cross.
I guess with the economy in shambles, they must figure that if they don't advertise, they won't get anything???
5Cents is nothing, of course - but Starbucks likemost huge corporations just want to be SEEN as doing the right thing. They don't really care about anything beyond their price profits.
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