A World of Good

by Christine Grumm

Ending poverty and climate change is not beyond our reach.

The low-lying South Asian nation of Bangladesh is a perfect example of the one-two punch of poverty and climate change. This small country northeast of India is frequently flooded as cyclones whirl across the Bay of Bengal. These cyclones will only grow worse as polar ice caps melt and ocean levels rise. The result of these fierce storms? Shrinking natural resources. And with fewer resources, the country’s struggling people fall deeper into poverty.

Our news media seldom pay attention to Bangladesh’s bellwether cycle of climate change and poverty. Too far away, too depressing. But in August 2005, we were forced to confront the realities of climate change on our own doorstep when Hurricane Katrina brought a flood of destruction to New Orleans — hitting the poor especially hard.

Hurricane Katrina forced us to see that America, too, is realizing climate changes and that we also have our share of poor people.

When I think about the 1.3 billion people around the world who live on less than $1 a day, I am reminded of Matthew 25:35–36, where Jesus says: for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.

I, like you, am a busy person. It is difficult to find the time to feed, clothe, and care for those in my community, much less the world, who are living in poverty. I often wonder how, realistically, I can make a difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate. But I know I must because Jesus is calling all of us to do something, and I cannot ignore his call.

But there is a way busy women can help. Each and every one of us can participate. Together we can take a significant step toward dismantling poverty and addressing climate change in the United States and around the world.

Did you know that women make almost 80 percent of all consumer decisions in a household? We can use our financial power to change the world. Just the simple act of recycling a cell phone or buying a light bulb can raise money that can fund programs that tackle climate change and poverty.

The Women’s Funding Network
The Women’s Funding Network is made up of 126 women’s foundations, and Women of the ELCA is one of them. The organizations in the network give away millions of dollars each year to programs that work to eradicate poverty suffered by women and girls around the world. More than 80 percent of the grants from the foundations in the Women’s Funding Network go to women and children affected by poverty, homelessness, human rights abuses, and violence. WFN’s strategy focuses on involving women who are most affected. Our network knows that women with first-hand knowledge of poverty and other problems are the women most likely to help find solutions. When solutions are found, they affect not only the lives of the women who experience poverty and all it brings, but also the community in which they live. When a woman can realize economic security, health, and education, then her family and her whole community benefit.

How you can help
The Good Deed Foundation is one program that partners with the Women’s Funding Network. The mission of Good Deed is addressing poverty and climate change. You can participate in three ways: by recycling old cell phones, by buying energy-saving light bulbs from Good Deed, and by purchasing products at your local grocery with the Good Deed logo. Nearly two thirds of Good Deed profits go to the Women’s Funding Network Foundation and poverty reduction projects, and almost one-third goes toward preventing climate change. Take these actions to help lift women and girls out of poverty.

• Visit www.gooddeedfoundation.org and order a postage-paid envelope you can use to recycle a used cell phone.

• Go to Good Deed Foundation’s Web site and order energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs.

• Check Good Deed Foundation’s Web site for a list of stores in your area that sell Good Deed branded products. Manufacturers of products with the Good Deed logo donate a portion of their proceeds to eradicating poverty and addressing climate change. This project is in the beginning stages now, and as more stores carry these products, more money will be donated to the cause. Find out on the Web site how your local grocery can become a Good Deed store.

Answering the call
As women of faith, we are compelled to answer our neighbors’ cries for help, no matter if they are in New Orleans or Bangladesh. Your used cell phone is the easiest tool you have to answer those calls. Donating your phone to Good Deed Foundation is easy and fast. About 60 percent of the cell phones recycled through the initiative can be refurbished and resold to help generate revenue for programs supporting women and girls in poverty.

Another portion of the phones collected will be donated to victims of domestic violence for use as emergency 911 phones. As for the rest, their parts are 100 percent recyclable into new electronic equipment. Just think of the positive effects your donation will have!

Why you should help
Why is it important for women of faith to visit the Good Deed Foundation Web site and learn how to help?

Consider these facts:
• Women and children make up 70 percent of the 1.3 billion people — both in the United States and around the world — who live on less than $1 a day;

• American women control $7 trillion in consumer and business spending and are the lead decision-makers in 76 percent of consumer purchases;

• Women grow half the world’s food, but own less than 1 percent of the world’s farm land;

• It has been estimated that more than half of the personal wealth in the United States is in the hands of women and this is only expected to grow.

To learn more
If you want to learn more about the work of the Women’s Funding Network, visit www.wfnet.org. A first step you can take to end poverty is to go to Good Deed Foundation’s Web site at www.GoodDeedFoundation.org to learn more about their climate change solutions and request a postage-paid envelope so you can donate your cell phone for recycling.

Martha E. Stortz is professor of historical theology and ethics at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. She was the author of LWT’s 2007–2008 Bible study, "Blessed to Follow."