Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier
Mother Teresa
Why September 5th?
September 5th was chosen to be the International Day of Charity to honour Mother Teresa, who received a Nobel Peace Prize for her charitable works in 1979 and who died on September 5th in 1997, at age 87. Mother Teresa – an internationally recognised symbol of selflessness and charitable work – was a nun who devoted her life to serving the needs of the poor around the world, working primarily in India.
In 2016 she was canonised by the Roman Catholic Church and became “Saint Maria”.
It’s not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing.
It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving
Mother Teresa
How can you get involved?
If you’re feeling inspired by the International Day of Charity and you’d like to give back to your community we have compiled a list of ways that you can contribute.
1. Donate to a charity
What social issues do you feel most passionate about? Are you into animal rights? Do you want to support women in crisis? Are you passionate about empowering the homeless? Think about what issues you’d like to support and then make a donation to a charity that works in that area.
2. Shop smart
There are many organisations that donate a percentage of their profits to charity organisations, so next time you’re doing some shopping consider supporting an organisation with a charitable mission.
3. Start a fundraiser
If there is an organisation, or even an individual that you would like to support you can consider starting a fundraiser in their honour. With pages like gofundme, organising fundraising events is easier than ever before. Share them across your social media profiles to create awareness and get more engagement.
4. Think local
There are so many big issues around the world that need our attention that sometimes we forget to look in our own backyard. Are there people in your local area that you could help out? Even something as simple as bringing a meal to a homeless person can make someone’s day.
5. Volunteer your time
If you don’t have the resources to donate money, you can always donate your time instead. Visit a local nursing home, volunteer at an Oxfam store in your town, or even pick up rubbish in your local park. Every action makes a difference.
If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one
Mother Teresa