A Woman's Work

With so many worthy and important causes to support - both locally and globally - I often find the opportunities to give of my time and money a bit overwhelming. Yet, when I hear of a group that is helping to improve the lives of others, my ears perk up and my heart takes note. One such organization in the Longmont area is called "A Woman's Work."

Research shows that social investment in women reduces poverty, raises productivity, and accelerates economic growth. With this in mind, a group of motivated women set out to help families and strengthen their community by providing for women in the St. Vrain Valley. They realized that by donating their time and coordinating efforts, they could help make a huge difference in those families' lives. So, they began raising funds and creating a network of people willing to donate services. Then they contacted the local social service organizations and began taking referrals.

Some of the women had simple needs: eyeglasses, in order to continue to work or go to school; money for a bus pass because they can't afford transportation to work; childcare while they recovered from an illness or accident; English lessons so they could become more productive and provide for their families. Others have had more costly needs, like life-saving surgery or payment of rent while they recover from a disastrous relationship. If you read their testimonials on the AWW website, you will be reminded of how fortunate we are to have our basic needs met on a daily basis.

Remarkably, A Woman's Work has been able to provide the necessary funds through individual donations and only two fundraisers per year. I just attended their Spring wine tasting and auction, where I am told they exceeded their monetary goal for this year and passed last year's totals by more than $5,000. That sum by itself could be what it takes to turn a woman's life around and help her family survive. These are not loans, mind you, but gifts. The recipients are not asked to payback AWW in any way, but to perform an act of kindness for someone else in need, when they are able.

In the end, we all have to listen to our hearts and decided where to focus our time and energies. May I suggest that you visit the website of A Women's Work (www.awomanswork.org) and decide if this is one of the places where your heart is calling you.