making a dent in poverty

Here are seven things you can do to help make a dent in poverty:

1. Find a charity you can support financially on an ongoing basis.


2. Volunteer at a homeless shelter or a soup kitchen.


3. Become a mentor to a child living in a broken home.


4. Commit to eating out fewer times per week or per month. Donate the money you save to your favorite charity.


5. At Christmas, make a donation in someone's name rather than giving him or her a gift.


6. Write your elected representatives about increasing aid to the world's poor nations.


7. Buy gift certificates to a fast food restaurant. When a homeless person asks you for money, give the certificates, which cannot be used to buy alcohol.

None of these will make a huge difference in themselves, but even small actions can help.

If you have any additional ideas, please share them.