If only I could do ________________ to my house. I bet you could list a bunch of items on your punch list at home. Home projects often take a back seat to other things in life. When you make the time often you CAN take care of the “house maintenance” list. Imagine not only not having the time to compete simple home projects but also not having the money to do routine home maintenance.

I know what you are thinking. Time and money are the two things everyone is short on. No one has all the time or the money to do the things they want to do for their home. I am not talking about painting projects or refinishing furniture. I am not talking about home “improvement” projects. I am talking about projects to improve basic necessities around a home. Fixing plumbing problems, adding extra space so all 3 of your kids don’t have to share a room, patching holes in drywall that have been there for ages and adding insulation to walls to help cut down on out of control heating bills.

How did these houses get in this condition you might ask? The five houses I am describing have more than just their condition in common. They each shelter a family whose child is battling cancer. Chances are you don’t know a child with cancer. After all only 12,400 kids are diagnosed with cancer each year. Compared to the over 4 million babies born each year, 12,400 doesn’t seem like a huge number…until it is your child. Then you care less about statistics. All you care about is keeping your child alive. All of the sudden your “to do” list becomes how to manage chemo, a job, other children, medications, side effects and insurance. So many things in life get neglected when your child is fighting for his or her life during treatment. I would have to say that home maintenance projects drop to the bottom of the list of items getting attention. For obvious reasons these things are not a priority but how great would be it to have someone come and handle the repairs for you?

For five families this is going to happen. It is part of an amazing program called “Alternative Spring Break”. Students from University of Michigan are giving up their vacation to come to St. Louis and work on homes for families in the trenches of childhood cancer. Two local construction companies are donating the materials and supervision for this incredible project.
Imagine coming home from the hospital to find your house getting some much needed TLC? Check back soon for updates from the students and families as they both experience a life-changing week.

So many people love to give. Doesn’t it feel good to give your time, energy and money to good causes? I often wonder how people decide which organization to give to. According to the Foundation Center there are over 1.5 million non-profit organizations in the United States. With so many groups, how does one determine which one to donate to?
You may have a personal connection with a specific cause or organization and in that case it makes things a bit easier. Even with your connection, I suggest checking out Charity Navigator. It reports on the financial health of over 5,500 charities. Some of the results are staggering.

Here is a short list of items to ask or research a potential charity before making a donation.

1. How much of every dollar raised is actually given to the mission or cause? (aim for better than $0.70 cents on the dollar)

2. Do the administrative costs of the organization seem excessive?

3. Does their website list accessible information about the Board of Directors, Form 990, staff and audited financial info?

4. Is their mission statement clearly defined and is it something YOU can relate to?

5. Do they offer others ways to donate other than just money? (services, time, goods, materials)

Your hard earned money is a precious commodity. Choosing to give is a big deal; you want to make sure you are picking the right groups to support. The more information you have the better decisions you can make.

When was the last time you donated money? Have you ever gotten to “see” your money at work for a cause? We will be talking more about that in the coming weeks but feel free to share your experiences with us. We love to hear from you!