As we approach the holiday season and are overwhelmed with messages telling us about the hottest gifts and “must have” gadgets, I’d like to recognize the work of a remarkable organization that works with the world’s most vulnerable people.
 
For nearly 70 years, Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) has been actively working to alleviate and eliminate global poverty. Today, they are a dynamic organization partnering with ecumenical agencies and local organizations around the world in an effort to achieve long-term solutions to some of the world’s most difficult issues.
 
One of the biggest challenges in discussing the reality of global poverty is avoiding a crippling sense of helplessness. While it’s certainly true that the challenges we face are huge, I’m absolutely convinced of every one’s ability to positively influence the world through the choices we make with our money.  That’s true whether you’re Bill and Melinda Gates or a recent college grad. Take a moment to digest this statistic on global poverty.
 
One billion people in the world live on less than $1 a day. It’s a daunting number by any measure. ERD is dedicated to reducing in half the number of people living in poverty by the year 2015 and is proactively collaborating with organizations around the world to make this a reality.
 
Tackling an issue like global poverty can seem overwhelming, but when we follow the lead of organizations like ERD we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of the world’s poorest people. Visit the ERD website to find meaningful ways to get involved.