Worried about world events? Choose your aid organization

By Larry Davies
Published: May 30, 2008

A cyclone in Myanmar, an earthquake in China and dozens of tornadoes across the U.S.

Aid officials predict more than 100,000 people dead in Myanmar alone, with many thousands more expected to die of disease and starvation due to the callous reaction of government authorities. At least 30,000 are dead in China and that number is expected to double or triple. There are also casualties and property damage from dozens of tornadoes across the U.S. More than two million people worldwide lost their homes and desperately need food, water and basic necessities.

The Bible says, “Suppose you see someone who needs food or clothing and you say, ‘Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well’ - but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?” (James 2:15-16)

God is commanding us as Christians to do something. For each of us the way we respond may be different, but we must respond.

Several years ago, I chose to respond through Gleaning for the World because of their amazing ability to ship food, water and other necessary supplies wherever needed. I am now a member of Gleaning’s board of directors.

Despite government interference, Gleaning has even found a way to provide aid directly to the people of Myanmar.

Here is what they had done as of mid-May: “Gleaning has worked with several other faith based organizations to place supplies in Myanmar. The Government of Myanmar has declined most aid but they have requested assistance from several Christian organizations to help with supplies and distribution. This is unheard of and could not happen without a miracle. The commitment we have made so far:
One shipment of Survival Kits, blankets, water and other supplies, one shipment of rice to feed 90,000 people this past weekend and we are managing two shipments of medical supplies from another nonprofit that could not get the supplies inside the country.”

Nestled within the hills of central Virginia in Concord, you expect to find, beautiful farmland. What you don’t expect to find one of the 200 largest U.S. charities, as recently rated by Forbes Magazine. Gleaning is ranked at 145 for assets, but when ranked for efficiency, Gleaning moves up to No. 12.

My first experience with Gleaning came shortly after the massive Tsunami swept the Indian Ocean in 2004. Like most churches, we raised money. But we found ourselves asking, “How could we become more directly involved?” Someone suggested we pay a visit to Gleaning for the World. There we met the CEO, the Rev. Ron Davidson, a former pastor of a large local church who gave up financial security to found an organization dedicated to helping others.

Ron has a way of getting you involved quickly. Within days, our church was packing thousands of linens to be shipped overseas and within weeks I was traveling with him to Sri Lanka to assess the tsunami damage where we established contact with Kalmunai, a fishing village on the coast where we would supply more than 30 fully equipped fishing boats to help Kalmunai rebuild.

Two words describe, Gleaning: action and efficiency. Gleaning quickly swings into action to move donated medical and other needed supplies where needed. Ron writes: “As I delved deeper into the challenge of poverty and homelessness, I saw that, while local organizations were doing all they could to help they lacked many simple, essential supplies.”

Imagine being able to send a tractor trailer load of provisions worth more than $100,000 at a cost of less than $5,000 and you begin to understand the miracle called Gleaning for the World.

God commands us to get involved and there is no better time than now. Everyone should have “hands-on” involvement with at least one aid organization.

For information, visit the Gleaning for the World Web site at http:www.gftw.org.