In May, many Americans will be receiving “economic stimulus” checks from the federal government in the hopes that the money will be spent to bolster the languishing economy. With a national debt of $9 trillion, the United States is arguably the most consumer-oriented society in the world. Far more goods than are needed, or that can be produced in an environmentally-sustainable manner, are purchased by people who already live lives of material plenty.

To highlight the global imbalance of wealth and to help direct the stimulus checks to people who can truly benefit from this money, Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation (EGR) launched the “Give it 4 Good” campaign http://www.giveit4good.org/ to encourage people to give all or part of the stimulus check (or a similar amount for those who don’t qualify) to an organization working to advance the Millennium Development Goals, a set of benchmarks established by the international community to cut rates of global poverty.

The “Give it 4 Good” campaign aims to redirect funds to organizations working to alleviate suffering while highlighting the unequal distribution of wealth in the world and the harmful environmental impacts of over-consumption and consumerism. Part of achieving Millennium Development Goal 7 -ensure environmental sustainability- begins with people who live in western countries limiting their consumption behavior.

“I am excited about Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation’s campaign to challenge the Church to raise it conscious regarding global distribution of wealth,” says Robert W. Radtke, President of Episcopal Relief and Development. “In the Prayers of the People, we pray that God would give us a ‘reverence for the earth’ and that ‘we may use its resources right in the service of others.’  The “Give It 4 Good” campaign is one way to put this prayer into action while allowing us to live in solidarity with those who are in want.” 

In partnership with Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation, Episcopal Relief and Development is encouraging the Church to pledge all or part of their “economic stimulus” checks to support the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Inspiration Fund, which was launched to promote health and fight disease by working to achieve MDGs 4, 5 and 6.

To support the Millennium Development Goals Inspiration Fund through this campaign, make a gift to Episcopal Relief and Development online at http://www.er-d.org/ , or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief and Development “Millennium Development Goals Inspiration Fund”, P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.

To record your gift with Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation, please visit http://www.e4gr.org/  and complete the form, indicating your pledge to Episcopal Relief and Development and the Millennium Development Goals Inspiration Fund.