I Can Live Without
Today I stopped at Starbucks after a morning of errands. Just the other day I got a massage and met a friend for lunch. This weekend, our family will likely go out to dinner and catch the latest release at our local movie theatre.
Can I live without my daily coffee and the latest fad in jeans? Will I survive without having my feet massaged and my food served to me at a restaurant? Is it possible to go on one more day without seeing the latest, just released movie?
The answer is of course, YES. Life will go on without all these things. They are not necessities…they are in fact, luxuries…and these luxuries add up over time.
But the fact is, no one can live without water.
Right now, almost 1 billion people are currently living without clean, safe drinking water and basic sanitation. 4500 children die each day from the lack of clean drinking water. This is unacceptable.
The average American spends around $500 each year on coffee. That’s over $40 per month! But did you know that just $40 can provide clean, life-saving water to 2 people for an estimated 20+ years?
So what if I gave up my coffee (a luxury) and in turn gave that money to help give someone clean water (a necessity). Really not a big sacrifice for me, but life changing for someone else. Now, imagine if we all join together and give up our coffee? Maybe we can help provide clean water to an entire village!
So today, on the first day of Lent, we ask you to join us as we prepare our hearts and minds for a challenge. A challenge to live without....so others don’t have to.
Here’s how the 6 month giving challenge will work:
Starting in April we will join together; challenging one other, each month, to give up something...something we can easily live without.
We will kick it all off by giving up coffee. If you don’t drink coffee, live without your daily soda, bottled waters etc. At the end of April, please calculate the amount of money you would have spent on coffee (or other drinks), and make your donation here.*
Your donation each month may be $5 or $100…either way, it’s each of us giving up something we can live without, so someone who can’t live without clean water, can live.
Today I stopped at Starbucks after a morning of errands. Just the other day I got a massage and met a friend for lunch. This weekend, our family will likely go out to dinner and catch the latest release at our local movie theatre.
Can I live without my daily coffee and the latest fad in jeans? Will I survive without having my feet massaged and my food served to me at a restaurant? Is it possible to go on one more day without seeing the latest, just released movie?
The answer is of course, YES. Life will go on without all these things. They are not necessities…they are in fact, luxuries…and these luxuries add up over time.
But the fact is, no one can live without water.
Right now, almost 1 billion people are currently living without clean, safe drinking water and basic sanitation. 4500 children die each day from the lack of clean drinking water. This is unacceptable.
The average American spends around $500 each year on coffee. That’s over $40 per month! But did you know that just $40 can provide clean, life-saving water to 2 people for an estimated 20+ years?
So what if I gave up my coffee (a luxury) and in turn gave that money to help give someone clean water (a necessity). Really not a big sacrifice for me, but life changing for someone else. Now, imagine if we all join together and give up our coffee? Maybe we can help provide clean water to an entire village!
So today, on the first day of Lent, we ask you to join us as we prepare our hearts and minds for a challenge. A challenge to live without....so others don’t have to.
Here’s how the 6 month giving challenge will work:
Starting in April we will join together; challenging one other, each month, to give up something...something we can easily live without.
We will kick it all off by giving up coffee. If you don’t drink coffee, live without your daily soda, bottled waters etc. At the end of April, please calculate the amount of money you would have spent on coffee (or other drinks), and make your donation here.*
Your donation each month may be $5 or $100…either way, it’s each of us giving up something we can live without, so someone who can’t live without clean water, can live.
The monthly breakdown will be as follows:
April: Coffee (soda, bottled water, unnecessary drinks, in general)
May: Lunch (eat out for lunch? ‘brown bag it’ instead)
June: Entertainment (movies, music etc.)
July: Pampering services (massages, mani/pedi, hair services, etc.)
July: Shopping (pass up new clothes, shoes, purses etc.)
August: Dining Out (eat at home instead)
Here’s how you can help:
Learn more about the water crisis
Invest in this cause. make a donation
Viral...post about this campaign on facebook, twitter, blogs etc.
Encourage your friends, family, co-workers etc. to get involved.
Please check back often as we will continue to provide tools and encouragement leading to the April 1st kick off.
Join us. Live without.
Learn more about the water crisis
Invest in this cause. make a donation
Viral...post about this campaign on facebook, twitter, blogs etc.
Encourage your friends, family, co-workers etc. to get involved.
Please check back often as we will continue to provide tools and encouragement leading to the April 1st kick off.
Join us. Live without.
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