The state of the economy is the top priority in the 2012 presidential election. Just today, the news comes from the U.S. Department of Labor that although the U.S. added 163,000 jobs in July, the unemployment rate still went up to 8.3 percent. People are concerned about the lack of economic recovery, the dismal unemployment numbers, and are worried about making ends meet if something unexpected should happen. The Dollar Per Month voting in July reflected this general feeling of unease about the economy. All three charities were in a very tight race all month long, but Modest Needs emerged as the top vote-getter.
Modest Needs focuses on granting a short-term helping hand to the working poor, the often forgotten segment of our country. By offering grants to “low-income but generally self-sufficient households, displaced workers struggling to return to the workforce, permanently disadvantaged persons struggling to afford medical care, and small non-profit organizations”, Modest Needs is the only organization of its kind serving the United States and Canada.
So many people in our country feel disconnected because although they are working, they are struggling to stay above the poverty line. What if the car that takes them to work suddenly doesn’t work? Can they afford to fix it and still pay all the bills? What if the medication they take for their medical condition becomes so expensive that they have to choose between paying for that or paying for food? These are the decisions people make everyday in our country. We were so pleased to feature an organization like Modest Needs that addresses these needs with their self-sufficiency grants program. Modest Needs allows you to read the stories of those struggling and to donate to what you can to the grant you choose. A dollar means so much to someone when they are struggling. What does a dollar mean for you when you donate?
All of July’s charities are amazing and are all winners to us. Congratulations to Modest Needs as our top vote getter and also to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Wildlife Conservation Network for turning out the vote and making our July voting the closest race yet!
Each month we serve up three new charities for your consideration, check in and see August’s featured charities.