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For the last three or four years, it has been part of my routine to visit six web pages the first time I log onto the internet each day. The pages are all connected, so it only takes a few seconds of my time. Recently a seventh page was added, which is fine with me since all the pages feature charitable endeavors I am happy to support.

It begins with the The Hunger Site. I visit this page and click on the button that says “Click Here to Give – Its free.” Each time I do, the Hunger Site’s sponsors donate the equivalent of 1.1 cups of food to the hungry. I then move on to the next page, which is in support of Breast Cancer, and click to support free mammograms. And so it goes. It costs me nothing but a few seconds of my time each day, which I am more than happy to give.

Like just about everyone these days, charities including The Hunger Site and its affiliates have recently discovered facebook, so one can now click on the like button to show the world one’s support for your favourite cause. Recently I began to notice a peculiarity about this, and finally took time to check out my observations. What I discovered is a large discrepancy between the number of people who have publicly declared their support for each page. The numbers are listed below.

The Hunger Site 86,736 people like this site.
Breast Cancer 313,393 people like this site.
Animal Rescue 325,645 people like this site.
Veterans (new) 39,589 people like this site.
Child Health 12,985 people like this site.
Literacy 11,251 people like this site.
Rainforest 46,538 people like this site.

Now, I understand about the power of marketing, and that the folks who work in support of breast cancer have done a great job in getting the word out. I also know that the thought of animals being abused pulls at people’s heart strings. I certainly do not mean to suggest that any of these causes is more or less important than any other, but isn’t it odd that 25 times as many people like animal rescue compared to those who like child health or literacy? Does it not seem peculiar that nearly 4 times as many people befriend the breast cancer site compared to those who support the hunger site?

Whether or not these numbers really mean anything, I cannot say. I do know, however, that hunger means something as does breast cancer, animal rescue, child health, literacy or any of the other causes. The point is not just about the numbers of people who “like this site” or that. The point is that there is an easy, low cost way to help.

Can I invite you to adopt my little routine, and click on each of these buttons every day? To make it easy, you can click Here.

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Posted by Carman