So excited for this month’s reveal for Comments for a Cause!!!  I had a great month for comments and met a lot of great folks associated with West Ohio Food Bank.  There are so many folks that are associated with them –either as employees or volunteers—and it was wonderful to be a small part of their world for a month!!!  During December I received 258 comments so I am donating $129 to West Ohio Food Bank. I decided as I wrote this to bump it up to $150 just because! They do a great job and hopefully this donation will help a little bit more.

In January I decided to use my Comments for a Cause to promote Kiva. I have donated to Kiva for several years and have made 104 loans to date.  That sounds like a lot but the beauty of Kiva is that once the money is repaid you can reloan it—so that is what I keep doing.   I have given Kiva gift cards and our family has a team that we donate through.  The neat thing is that once January is over and I have my donation made I can choose who I am donating to on your behalf and track the folks and give you updates!  How cool is that???  So join me and check Kiva out if you are unfamiliar with them.

Some facts from Kiva’s website:

We are a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world. Learn more about how it works.

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Why we do what we do

We envision a world where all people – even in the most remote areas of the globe – hold the power to create opportunity for themselves and others.

We believe providing safe, affordable access to capital to those in need helps people create better lives for themselves and their families.

How we do it

Making a loan on Kiva is so simple that you may not realize how much work goes on behind the scenes.

Kiva works with microfinance institutions on five continents to provide loans to people without access to traditional banking systems. One hundred percent of your loan is sent to these microfinance institutions, which we call Field Partners, who administer the loans in the field.

Kiva relies on a world wide network of over 450 volunteers who work with our Field Partners, edit and translate borrower stories, and ensure the smooth operation of countless other Kiva programs.

Learn more about how it works.

How we’re funded

100% of every dollar you lend on Kiva goes directly towards funding loans; Kiva does not take a cut. Furthermore, Kiva does not charge interest to our Field Partners, who administer the loans.

Kiva is primarily funded through the support of lenders making optional donations. We also raise funds through grants, corporate sponsors, and foundations.

We are incredibly thankful for the support that has enabled us to do the work that has touched the lives of so many people.