Firstly welcome to everyone joining this group.  Each and every one of you are unique and special and show how much you care about this world by being here.

We can all "Make A Difference" if we try.  It doesn't matter if we're rich or poor, we can all make a difference in our own way.

"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have." - Margaret Mead 

This group is here to help us all find new and different ways of making that difference each and every day.  Some examples that immediately spring to mind are:

• Click to donate sites - completely free to you, all you have to do is click and sponsors of the website donate to different charities and good causes.
• Sign petitions that you believe in.  There are many petitions to be found at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/ .  Please make sure that you post petitions freely here.  I'm sure there are other petition sites out there also - please post as much information as you find.
• Buy a copy of "The Big Issue" a magazine which is sold by the homeless for the homeless.  This is a dignified way of earning money instead of begging; take a few moments to talk to these people too.  Help them help themselves.
• Sponsor a child.  There are many different organisations out there that sponsor children in the poorest countries.  See what you can do to help.
• Adopt an animal.  The same kind of thing as sponsoring a child except with animals.  Again there are many different organisations out there.
• Put a few coins in a tin for charity.  You won't miss a few coins but the charity will make good use of every penny/cent.
• Take part in a demonstration that you feel passionate about.  But don't go getting yourself arrested, you're no good to anyone if you're locked up!
• Remember charities at Christmas time.  Buy charity christmas cards.  Buy gifts from charity catalogues.  Donate gifts to charitable organisations.  Spread goodwill and make a difference.
• Do some charity work or fundraising.  Donate your time.

These are just a few ideas of the top of my head.  There are many, many more.  Please share your thoughts and ideas; help me and others continue to make a difference.

This is our world.  Let's all do our bit to "make a difference".

Thank you for being here.     

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Thank you for the invitation. What I like about some of the sites is that you can click and make a difference. I do not have the funds to donate money to every place that I would like to and these sites help me feel that I am making a difference. Yes, it is important to know exactly where your money is going - a lot of places the money first goes to administrative costs which are outrageously high. I work for a non profit and I know that our budget is very low on both administrative and support service sides for expenditures. We try to make sure that we help those who need our services. Just a few thoughts..

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Thank you Rain D for creating this useful group.

"Realisation" is very much essential for making a difference,if one can realise and feel the pain of either any individual or the entire planet,only then he/she considers and acts better for the welfare.

I,with my "Pilgrims of Peace Project" hope that one day will be able to provide a ray of hope to dull,hollow and hopeless eyes,doesn't matter the no: limits to "few" or "many".

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Firstly to all of you who are here to make a difference.

The idea for this group hit me the other week when I stopped to buy a copy of "Big Issue" from a homeless man outside the supermarket.  This man is there week in, week out.  I have bought from him before but not every time.  It made me stop and think.  A few years ago I became very close to being homeless, thankfully that didn't happen, but it made me realise how lucky I am and to give thanks for that.  This may sound a bit weird but at that moment I thought about how I could make more of a difference in the world.  I felt guilty about the times I had just walked past this man, who is a lovely friendly man, and ignored him.  After buying the magazine from him I should have stopped and had a chat.  Next time I will.

I felt that I had to create this group on care2, there was a strong pull to do so.

Like many of you I struggle financially.  I'm currently on disability benefit because of my illness, BIH (also known as PTC), although I'm confident that I will soon be well enough to return to work again.  I can't afford my own house and am living in a rented cottage in the country.  I thank my angels every day for the wonderful landlord I have, as John charges low rent compared to the average rent around here; if it was not for this man and his generosity I don't know where I would have ended up 3 years ago. 

But there is so much each and every one of us can do to make a difference which doesn't need to be all about how much money we can throw at a good cause.  This is why this group is here.

Ian & Judianne - YES I agree with you 100% when you say that it is important to know how much of money donated to charity actually goes to the charity involved and is not tied up with administration and staff costs.  Although we have to acknowledge that there will be some administration costs as buildings, electricity, paper, etc have to be paid for; unfortunately it is rare that a charity is given everything free of charge.  I will put money in a tin because the person holding the tin is a volunteer (to the best of my knowledge...please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong - I've certainly "shook" a tin before in a voluntary basis).  What I avoid are the people that sell charity scratch cards; the seller makes money on every card that is sold, leaving the charity with a very small percentage;  I do NOT agree with being paid to raise money for charity like that, and I won't buy a card.  I know that the person earns a good percentage on each card sold because I have been approached to sell charity scratchcards but I won't make money for myself in this way because I believe it to be very wrong.

With regards to charity Christmas cards.  Not all of them state how much money goes to charity.  However, as I buy Christmas cards anyway I chose to buy charity ones over non-charity ones.  Just buying one box can make a difference, however small.

M Alam M - the work that you do I admire greatly.  Please feel free to post a link to your group in a new message thread.

Arlene - Thank you for your comments.  As you can see from reading what I have written above, I understand fully that you cannot afford to give money to charity, I am the same.  Hence the reason why this group is here, to find other ways that do not involve money, ways of making a difference.

* please note that my experience of charities etc is experience of charity work in the UK (which is where I am from originally) and Ireland.  Having not lived in America or other countries represented by members here, I cannot claim to know how the charity system works there.

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I Always like to find out more ways that I can make a difference.If more People just did what they "can" do and not put too much time and negativity into what they "can't" do, "This is what will make a difference".

 Hugs Debby Divine.

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Paola - Great to see you here!  And a big to Simon for inviting you!

Debby - I'm so pleased you've joined us.  There is so much truth in your words. If more People just did what they "can" do and not put too much time and negativity into what they "can't" do, "This is what will make a difference". for sharing them, they are very powerful!

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to accept your invitation, thank you Rain.

I've had cause to be on both sides of charity, and homelessness.

Bless your dear heart for doing this.

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Good to see you here!  I'm sure you will have a lot of heartfelt understanding and will open our eyes even more.  I'm glad things have worked out ok for you. 

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Thank you for inviting me to join this group, i'm sure we can make a difference if we all try.

Peace and happiness to all.

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Good to meet you Peace and a warm welcome to our group.  We are all here to make a difference in whatever way we can.  for being here.

also to Mary for inviting you.

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Thank you much Jacquline for the invite .  This looks like a very cool group -- and I much agree Rain... there are many forms of giving.... does not matter if you are rich or poor -- some of the best things often do not cost a dime .      a Hug, a kind word, helpng someone find a solution, volunteering, and many others .

Saying hi to all here !

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 Kimberly, so glad that you have found us. Please feel "welcome" to join in any of the discussions anytime.

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  Danny.....

It is so good to see you.  Hoping that you will make yourself at home here.  See you have already made a difference in someone's life....... 

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Thankyou, Jaqueline M, for the invitation.

And hello to everyone!

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  Yvonne!  So glad that you have joined us here at Make a Difference.  Please make yourself at home here.

Blessings...

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Welcome Kimberley!  It's good to meet you and have you join us in making a difference.  I felt it important to highlight it's not about how much money you donate, it's about giving from the heart.  I love your ideas of how you can "make a difference", it is sooo true.  A hug and a smile can make so much of a difference.  Thank you for being a part of this group.

Welcome Danny!  Delighted to meet you also and have you on board!  You joined care2 for exactly the same reason that I joined, to show you care and to make a difference in some way.  Care2 is a wonderful community full of some very wonderful people (and I'm fortunate to have met many of them along my way) that are united in showing that they care.  This group is here to help us focus on what we CAN do to "make a difference" rather than what we CAN'T do.  Thank you for being a part of this group.

Welcome Judson!  Good to see you here.  Money isn't what it's all about, I think you sum it up nicely when you say you give of your time and energy in order to "make a difference".  Nothing trite about it.  And as you say, we never know when we might need help of some kind.  Thank you for all you do and for being a part of this group. 

Welcome Nancy!  I apologise if you got confused because the group names are very similar - I didn't know of the other groups existance when I created this one.  I presume it operates very much the same way as this one.  And it doesn't matter which group any of us belongs to, or if we are members of both groups,what does matter is that we all do our best to "make a difference".  Thank you for being here.

Welcome Yvonne!  Good to meet you!  I know that together we CAN "make a difference".  Thank you for being here. 

Finally a thank you to Jacqueline for inviting her lovely friends to join us here as we strive to "make a difference".  [ send green star]

Everyone. I like to make a difference in anyway I can. Money to donate is hard for me to do right now. But will first chance I can get though. I believe in doing what we are able to do. Great ideas. We must do what we can all the time. Great group you have started. Also Happy Holidays to everyone to. Hope all had a Merry Christmas and we also remember those who have suffered losses this year. God Bless them. Let's make a bigger difference in the up coming year. Bring on 2006!! Woo.

God Bless Everyone

Peace and Love,

Liz

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Welcome Elizabeth and Sharron. We are so glad that you have joined in the effort with us to "make a difference". We all have something to give in order to make a difference in each other's lives and the world around us.

Don't worry whether you actually have money itself to donate, the beauty here at Care2 is there are many links that you can make a donation simply making a few clicks each day which are free to you to use and help.  That is one way that I do it, and I know others do too.

Please make yourselves at home here among friends. Together we can reach out and make a difference.

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Welcome to all our new memebers!! The new year is here and there are soo many new ways we can help. Like Jacqueline and Rain said --it doesn't always require money. Click to donate is a free way we can help. Sending letters in for causes--volunteering in your community. Keep that positive attitude and I thank you all for your support!!!

Let's have a great New Year!!!

Love and Light, Mary   

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Brent, Elizabeth and Sharron. 

 all for being here.  Together we can make a difference!

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Just moving your introduction into here.  Good to see you here.  Welcome!

 
Susan P.
 January 19, 2006 2:49 PM

Clicked, and thanks for the invite Jacqueline!

Hugs,

Susan

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Introducing and welcoming Mels!

Mels W.
Rain D. Tuesday, 11:26 AM
Thank you for the invite!  [ send green star]  [ flag for review]

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   Susan and Mels to the group.  I apologize for my slow response in helping to welcome you into the group.  So glad that you are here!  Feel free to post often.    

**Hello and  for everyone here!! 

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no invitation but I wanted to join

hello everyone

hugs

Carla

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I am glad to be here.

I believe it only takes one sincere person to change the world. One person tells someone, then that person shares it, then they bothe share it, 1+1+2+3 etc.

YOU can make a differance.

Charles

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It's great to "meet and greet" you both and welcome you to our circle of friends who are each, in their own individual way, striving to make a difference.

An invitation to join isn't necessay Carla - glad you took the initiative to join us anyway and to introduce yourself as you arrived.  Looking forward to getting to know you.

Charles you are so right when you say: "I believe it only takes one sincere person to change the world. One person tells someone, then that person shares it, then they bothe share it, 1+1+2+3 etc."

Thank you both for joining and thank you for making a difference!

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Thank you kindly, Rain, for the invitation to this beautiful and worthwhile group!!!  I am very happy to be of help with petitions and to learn of other ways of helping.

~ Peace ~ Love ~ Light ~

Gail

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Thanks for the invite mish

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to each and everyone of you who have joined our group to "make a difference"!  It's fantastic to see you here and to warmly welcome you all.

Gail - wonderful to see you here my new and lovely friend!

Mary - pleased to see you take up my invitation.  You are welcome here my friend.

Joni - you're welcome here.  So glad you are already making a difference. 

Spencer - so glad to welcome you here. 

Ken - glad to welcome a new friend into the group.  Thanks to Mish for thinking to invite you into this wonderful place where we all strive to make a difference. 

Derek - again it is so wonderful to invite you into this group.  It is definately a postive care2 group and I'm sure you'll fit right in here.  Wonderful to meet you and another thank you to Mish for inviting you.

to you all for being here and making a difference.

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Good morning all I'm new here, what a great place to encourage one another! I hope everyone had a great Earth Day! I know it reminds me to renew my commitment to Momma Earth & all the things that we have been entrusted with. It's so good to know that others feel the  same way. I hope to get to know all of you better. Let's hold each other up, there is much to do!

Blessed Be! Kat     

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Mary, Joni, Spencer, Derek, Ken and Kat...... 

I too wanted to WELCOME you to the group.  So glad to see you here with us.....aready you have a made a difference just by being here!  Thank you, and for all you do in making a difference in other's lives.    

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