Trove Tuesday: Christmas is the Season for Giving

‘Tis the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse (or our cats). I’m not going to quote Christmas rhymes here, but I but it is Christmas Eve and all it quiet in our house at the moment. The cats are all sleeping, Mr Lonetester has gone to visit friends, so I’m home. And as there’s nothing decent on TV, I headed over to the Trove newspapers to see what I could find.

Now I think most of you would agree with me that commercialism is ruining Christmas. For the past month or two we’ve had to deal with the glitzy TV adverts and the glossy brochures that arrive in the letterbox, each wanting us to buy the latest electric toothbrush, blower vac, or set of $2000 earrings for your loved one. And don’t forget that you must have matching tablecloth and napkins! I mean … really?

Anyway while Troving I thought I’d see what is mentioned for Christmas in the tiny Adelaide Hills town of Cudlee Creek.

Why there? Well this is the town I first lived in, prior to moving to Gumeracha. It was the town that my Kelly ancestors first settled, and it’s the town my Hannaford reli’s still live in. So my family has a close connection to the area.

As always Trove comes up with the most remarkable articles, and I wanted to share one that highlights the generosity some people.

Now in case you’re wondering why Mr Redden was donating to the Food for Britain Fund, it seems that at that time Britain was still on rations, and in desperate need of food. You can find a long article about the Food for Britain Fund here. A quote from this article says …

“Indications are that the need tor extra food in Britain is as great as ever, and that the Australian people want to send parcels …”

Whether you are a giver or not, a meat lover or not, you certainly have to admire Mr Redden’s generosity.

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Now, while we’re on the subject of giving I want to make mention of Kiva. Some of you may have heard of it, others may not. But let me tell you just a little about it.

Do you like the idea of helping someone out with a loan. I’m not meaning a family member or friend here. I’m meaning someone who is in desperate need for money to help them build a house, to help them buy seeds for crops, help them buy stock for a small shop, or a cow so they have milk, or a scooter so they can get to work. These are people who REALLY need help. And they aren’t after a donation, but rather a loan they they’ll pay back.

That’s what Kiva is all about … microloans. Kiva is a place you can find thousands of people listed who are after your help. And all it takes is $25 of your money, which as mentioned before is a loan, and will be repaid, which then allows you to help someone else.

I’ve been loaning money to Kiva now for just over 2 years. And so far I have helped 14 people reach their goals, and 8 of these have been fully repaid. Loans are generally $25, which may not sound like a whole to lot us, but it is to someone is Peru, Ethiopia, the Philippines or Uganda, not to mention the hundreds of other countries around the world.

So this year, give a gift that inspires. And help someone out. Its tagline is “loans that change lives”, and it really does, and I’m proud to do my bit towards that.

And you know what, if you use this link to make a loan, not only do you get to help to change someone’s life, but Kiva also gives me $25 bonus to make another loan for free. So we’ll be helping two people instead of one.

www.kiva.org

Related posts:
Can you Spare $25?

2 Responses to “Trove Tuesday: Christmas is the Season for Giving”

1. Pauleen says:

   January 3, 2014 at 6:32 pm

   Couldn’t agree more Alona!

   Reply
   • Alona says:

     January 7, 2014 at 4:49 am

     Thanks Pauleen.

     Reply