Save stamps.....

This past weekend I participated in a fundraiser for our church. Good old inventory counting at Kent (for those of you that have no idea what Kent is it's very similar to Home Depot). I'm actually an odd species that seems to enjoy it, shows you what kind of life I have :) Actually though, this simple task of counting inventory this weekend to help out a great cause got me thinking of ways that I can pass on to some of you some simple ways to help out great causes. So I'm going to try to give you some things over the next little bit that really take no time at all but can make a huge difference in the lives of others.

You may or may not be familiar with Oxfam Canada. I encourage you to check out their website it's www.oxfam.ca. Oxfam Canada's mission is to "build lasting solutions to global poverty and injustice". They "work with allies in Canada and around the world to change the policies and practices that perpetuate human suffering. We support oraganizations in poor communities overseas in their struggle to secure basic rights." Sounds like a great organization huh? Who wouldn't want to help them out? By helping them out I don't mean that you need to donate money either. I mean you can certianly do this if you wish. However for those of you that just aren't able to do that Oxfam has a simple program that they offer for people like you and me who want to make a difference but just don't always have the financial means or time commitment necessary.

Oxfam has a program called "Stamp out Hunger". The money is raised by everyday folks like you and I saving stamps from envelopes that we receive in the mail. You know the ones that you just throw into the garbage anyways? You can just take two seconds and rip off the corner of the envelope where the stamp is (without ripping the stamp of course) and put them into a larger envelope with your collection. How simple is that?

Through this simple project Oxfam raises about $10 000 annually by sorting the stamps collected and selling them to collectors. This program started in 1980 and has raised over $130 000 since. How great is that?

So I'm asking you to please save all stamps from your envelopes (foreign ones, Canadian ones, commerative ones). However if the envelope that the stamp is attached to has a clearly identifiable town/village postmarks or registered/special delivery postmarks then please keep the entire envelope wth the stamp attached.

Great now I have this envelope full of stamps and envelopes, what do I do now? Well when you've got a full envelope you can simply give them to me. I'll be collecting these from you throughout the year. So if you're getting frustrated with having them laying around and you're someone that lives by me (k no ones lives by me where I live), um I mean if you're someone that I see in my life then just give them to me. I'll be forwarding all stamps collected this year at the end of the year to the Oxfam office in Ontario. For those of you that are away and would like to still do this please do! The address to forward the stamps to as well as a list of projects that this project supports can be found at http://www.oxfam.ca/what-you-can-do/fundraise-for-oxfam/stamp-out-hunger.

Please run wild with this project! I am the one who opens all the mail at my work so I have an envelope sitting on my desk at work where I put the stamps. Perhaps get some co-workers involved, family members, friends, etc. This is so simple. Something that we're throwing out everyday can make a difference to so many other people all over the world. If anyone has any others suggestions on how to make this project a success please post a comment. As always I'd love to hear what you think and how you're doing with the project. Thanks for caring!