Ian's Messy Desk

A couple of weeks ago I linked to World Vision Canada’s gift catalogue and to Mike Todd’s suggestions for making a difference this Christmas. Yesterday I received the 05/06 Salvationist Publishing and Supplies Ltd. catalogue from England. In it are a range of gifts you can send that will benefit individuals and communities in countries where the need is great. Gifts range from something as simple as a fruit tree for as little as £1.50 (about $3.00 CAD) through to a water well for a whole community at £800.00 (about $1,616 CAD).

Unfortunately, you can’t yet order these gifts on-line and it is likely too late for folk outside of the U.K. to get a catalogue in time to place an order before Christmas. (I know these gifts would be welcomed any time of the year!) I have attached the catalogue pages as a pdf download —The Salvation Army International Development Catalogue (873 KB) and you can make contact with TSA International Development via email at mail_order@sp-s.co.uk.

While The Salvation Army in Canada does not have a similar program, there is child sponsorship opportunities available, costing about $25.00 per month. Click here for information and application.

From The Salvation Army International Development web-site:

GIFTS THAT KEEP ON GIVING

Have you ever given or received a present you know is not really wanted or needed? The embroidered handkerchief with your initials, the book they’ll never read, the kitchen appliance that’s too big for the cupboard. Why not ask for, or give a gift that keeps on giving and makes a real difference to people’s lives.

In a colourful catalogue, we have outlined for you a whole range of great gift ideas, that you can buy for friends and family, that are guaranteed to show you care. These presents will create livelihoods, better living conditions, education and work opportunities, and in some situations, freedom, for our neighbours in some of the neediest parts of our world.

You can choose from a range of 40 diverse gifts that cover innovative ways of giving in themed areas including Agriculture, Livestock, Water, Kids and People Needs.

The catalogue is ideal for Christmas, weddings, birthdays or any special occasions. For your free copy, CONTACT US . Alternatively you can download an e-advert or excerpt from our catalogue from the downloads section at the bottom of this page.

We regret we can’t offer online purchasing just yet but will be offering this service in the near future. We do accept all major credit cards and cheques which can be made out to “The Salvation Army”.

A bit about us:
We are committed to being good stewards in the sharing of resources for the work of the international Salvation Army in the developing world, within countries that look to us for support. We do this by raising awareness through advocacy, channelling resources to enable development, building bridges and redressing inequality in practical and financial ways.

Where the money goes:
The cost of your gift will almost always include some "extras" which means that it has an even more positive effect on the lives of the people it is given to. The cost of a water well for example, will usually include allowance for use of local labour, transport of supplies, training for maintenance of the well in addition to the supplies and installation costs of building the well. A small amount of the cost is sometimes used to help make people in developed countries aware of the needs of our neighbours in poorer countries.

How your money works to make a difference:
Every community is different and so occasionally, gifts may be substituted for other appropriate gifts that are needed in a particular context. For example, chickens may be substituted for pigs in some communities where that is a more viable means of livelihood. In these situations, we will endeavour to allocate your money to the same themed area as the gift you have chosen.

In the drive to make a better life, we find that people don't want a 'hand-out' but a 'hand-up'. Because we are a community-based organisation, we work alongside communities which means that communities can identify their needs to us and decide for themselves what the solutions are. In this way we work together to break the cycle of poverty by building local capacity and empowering people to make a difference to their own lives.