Amanda at Simple Saving Savvy sent us a unique perspective on how to donate your stockpile
One of the questions I am asked most frequently is “where should I donate items from my stockpile?”.
This question continues to bless my heart. I love knowing that so many of you desire to give back to others out of the abundance God has blessed you with.
Sometimes this same question has been a personal burden for me. Considering all the different organizations, ministries and individuals that need help, I sometimes feel the weight of making the right decision. How do I choose? Do I concentrate on one entity or spread the bounty among many?
Over the last few years, I’ve formulated a game plan to keep me giving and keep me sane. I thought I’d share a few points with you:
Prayer
Be in constant prayer. Ask God to show you where to give, how much to give and how often. Ask Him to help you to see the opportunities HE wants you to see. His Word says that when we ask for wisdom, He will not turn us away (James 1:5). Stand on this promise and then let the Spirit lead.
Spread the Gospel
It is very important to me is that I am giving to advance the Kingdom. I want to know that the love of Christ will be shown and felt through my donations. And that ultimately spiritual needs (the most important of all) will be met as well. I choose the organizations/individuals I give to with this in mind.
Meeting Specific Needs
It is very important that we are not just giving so we can say we did. The Bible is very clear that we are to be intentional and purposeful givers (2 Corinthians 9:7). This is why I like to form relationships with the groups/individuals I give through or to. Since I am giving items, not money, I can call/email them at any given time to find out if there are any specific needs for the items I have to give. I can also keep an eye out for needed items as I’m shopping the deals.
For example, I just found out that a single mom of eight, who is affiliated with one of the non-profit organizations I work with, just lost her job. The kids and I are going to drop off a care package this next week along with a gift card for gas (the kids raised money on their own for this).
Where Your Heart Is
Our heart strings, yours and mine, are all tugged by different things. I happen to have a soft spot for single moms and low-income families, while you may feel urged to reach out to foster children or the homeless. Still others feel a yearning toward orphans in Africa or another country. Wherever your heart is, follow it. God gave you these heart tugs.
I hope this gives you an idea of how to determine where and how you will give to others. In the next several posts, I will concentrate on some different organizations you might consider sharing with as well as specific needs they might have