Tell Your Story and Donate To A Charity

I mentioned in my previous post that I'd direct you to a way of helping others without it costing you a thing.  So here you go.

I write at a site called "Squidoo" where I write about many things that interest me and a recent page - or lens as they are called - was about my adopted shelter cats. The money generated from that page (from ads) will all be given to the ASPCA or the Humane Society. The page may never make hundreds of dollars, but anything it does make, month by month, will go as a donation by others because of me.

You can write there too.  If you don't have a favorite charity, Squidoo lists a bunch for you to choose from and they encourage lens writers to be generous and donate at least a portion of the earnings. Each lens you write can be set up as you choose and if you want all the money yourself that is fine too. It's your hard work (the writing) after all.
I don't have many "total donation" lenses, but I choose to donate to some local organizations and part of the money I make goes to them.

How much money are we talking here?
Well, to be honest I don't make a whole lot, at the present time I average $40-$50 a month combined for my 39 lenses. But that is money I wouldn't have had if I hadn't written, and the new cats lens is too new to have had a payout yet.

How do you earn money? The ads placed on the page and any additional Amazon ads will generate money.

Squidoo will also set up a lens for a local charity, but the charity has to contact them directly - you can read more here. You could work with local organizations and help them get a lens up and running where all the money earned would be theirs. A few dollars here and there is better than nothing and they literally don't have to do thing except provide information.

Instead of pouting and feeling sorry for yourself because you are alone this holiday season, put that quiet time to good use and build a lens or two and help a worthwhile charity.

What will I write about? The answer is anything you want - within the Squidoo TOS (terms of service). You can write about your favorite football player or your daughters dance recital, but the more well-written and interesting the page is, the more views it will tend to get. Check out a partial list of what people are writing about at Squidoo's front page. Whatever you choose to write about doesn't have to be related to the charity for you to give the money to one.

The best thing about Squidoo is that there is lots of help for you if questions arise. And building the lens (your page) is very easy because you do it one section at a time with the modules provided. Basically you will write and upload a picture to go with the subject.

Pick a title and separate it with hyphens for the URL and the rest is self explanatory. Save your draft as you go and spend the lonely holiday creating something worthwhile.
Don't let life get you down.  The world won't win.  We have not been given a spirit of timidity. Are you ready to begin?

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12 NIV)