Kiva loans

I was asked by a group on facebook to make a kiva loan to a widow from El Salvador with a grocery store.  I made 2 other loans to microlenders I hadn't lent to yet.

Respect and Dignity

I had a conversation with a homeless man today.  He was sitting outside a book store and said hi to me so I stopped and chatted with him when I came out. Just about what I was doing and small talk stuff. Nothing about him being homeless or wanting food or money.  Just treated him like he was a person. Which of course he is. But when you're homeless that gets taken away from you.

I've sat with homeless people on a few occasion (sometimes I'll buy food and eat with them). As soon as you are with them, people stop noticing you.  They walk by and advert their eyes. Everyone just happens to be looking the other way. They clutch bags and act afraid.   I can tell they don't see me, I am just getting judged by the company i'm with. I don't get that reaction when I sit alone, lots of people make eye contact.

So today I gave a homeless person some respect and dignity.

Kiva loans

I just made 9 Kiva loans of $25 each, to use up my Kiva credit.

I need to blog more.  I do things but don't have time to write about them.

Musical Instruments

Whoot, finally got a loan filling one of the last 3 'activities' on KIVA (out of 149). Kiva tallies several lending statistics. Obsessive people like me try to get at least one in each category/group. This one fulfilled 'Musical Instruments'.

Helped Bail out Greece

Made a small donation to help bail out Greece.  It's a fundraiser and they are trying to raise all 1.6 billion.  Hope it goes through. I really like the idea of the people raising so much money to help people.
 http://time.com/3942118/british-man-indiegogo-greece/

buy products to amass more stock.

Made a kiva loan to Silvio in Brazil.  First time lending in Brazil. I think his summary really summarizes a lot of Kiva need:

A loan of $1,475 helps Silvio to buy products to amass more stock.

As a small business person building up inventory I can totally relate.

!0 loans

Made 10 Kiva loans.
Been busy with house renovations and the business and my work. Not necessarily in that order.
And going through some personal issues (break up) which makes me lethargic and not wanting to blog. But I"m crawling out of it.

Back to lending to Julia's

I could not find any loans in the lender statistics, I've leant to all the microlenders, in all fields, etc.  Or as many as I could.
So I'm back to lending to Julia's. Made 2 loans today. One may not get funded, it's only at 1% and has 4 days left.

I haven't been posting here 'cause I've had some personal issues and it's made me not want to do too much. Life gets in the way. I got hurt and wanted to crawl into my shell for a bit.

I hope I'm back.

Kiva zip - loans to California

I made 3 loans today to people in California through the kiva zip program.

Kiva

I made 10 Kiva loans today to use up credit that acculated over the holidays. One was to a new industry, the others to new microlenders. I'm still trying to get one in each category. I like completing things. And data.

www.kiva.org

I want to go fly my Kiva plane. Wonder if I still have it.

Dinner for one

I bought a meal today for a street person who was sitting outside Whole Foods. I got him something hot - a chicken bowl with veggies. And a drink.  Made his world a bit better today.

Christmas presents from local artisans

My co-op (that just opened this year) had a crafts fair with local artisans. I decided to do all my christmas shopping there. I usually try to do it all in one place, supporting one thing. I've adopted Gorillas and given Kiva gift certificates and shopped at 10,000 villages.

This year everyone is getting items from co-op members.  I had a necklace for my mom elongated and the artisan stopped by my house to deliver. How's that for personal service!

11 Kiva loans

I have lots of kiva credit so made 11 kiva loans to lenders I haven't lent to, to finish those stats.

Made food for Thanksgiving for homeless/needy folk

I helped make food today at a local restaurant to feed the homeless for Thanksgiving. Got to work in the kitchen.

Gorillas

I made a donation to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund

.  I like to support her.

Tree people - trees in Los Angeles

I made my yearly donation to Tree people.  They plant trees in the Los Angeles area. I've planted trees with them. It's a lot of fun, better then when I was trying to do it as a living.

After we plant each tree we hold hands around and say a prayer chant and name it. And go back and water it to help it survive.  Very different than the commercial enterprises I was part of where we planted many poorly and hoped a few survived.

Planned Parenthood.

Made my yearly donation to Planned parenthood. Everyone deserves access to birth control.

Oxfam

Made a donation to Oxfam America

"Oxfam America is a global organization working to right the wrongs of poverty, hunger, and injustice. As one of 17 members of the international Oxfam confederation, we work with people in more than 90 countries to create lasting solutions. Oxfam saves lives, develops long-term solutions to poverty, and campaigns for social change."

Habit for Humanity. International.

Made my yearly donation to Habitat for Humanity.

Humane Society & SPCA

Made a donation to the Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA.  I am so glad they are there to take care of stray animals.
  I donate to this shelter at least once a year.