Read a Book. Give a Book.

Reading with my kids is one of life's pleasures. Today I discovered the most fantastic website that lets my kids and I read together online for free - and for every book we read, a book is donated to a leading literacy group on our behalf.

We Give Books is an easy and fun way to spread literacy around the world by supporting such organisations such as World Vision in Haiti, Room to Read or United Through Reading.  And the books they have online are great.  They even have Corduroy by Don Freeman - a book I remember fondly from my childhood and haven't seen in ages.

What better way to help your own kids enjoy the world of books  - and teach them about philanthropy.  So grab a kid . . . and get reading!!

Snags for Change

The good old down-under Sausage Sizzle goes digital!

World Vision Australia is holding a Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser online! You can build yourself a digital snag for only $3.00 and the money goes to help families in Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda who are facing starvation.

According to the World Vision 'Snags for Change' website:

Malnutrition rates are rising while poverty and destitution are accelerating in communities across the world due to increased food prices and the impact of climate change. World Vision has launched an emergency appeal for the growing Global Food Crisis, focusing particularly on the urgent need for food in Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Uganda (the Horn of Africa). This is a true crisis, it doesn't get much worse.

More than 12 million people across this region are affected, with 3 million children at risk of dying from starvation. There is a rising fear of famine if help doesn't reach those who need it now.

World Vision is actively working across these countries to provide: emergency food aid; supplementary feeding for malnourished children; water and sanitation facilities; seeds, tools and livestock for agricultural recovery. Your donation will help fund these vital projects.

To find out more about the Global Food Crisis and what World Vision is doing to help alleviate it click here.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Nearly 17 million lacking food in Horn of Africa: UN
• E Africa needs $700m aid, says UN
• Soaring food costs force Ethiopian children out of school
• Bleak scenes as Ethiopia puts war before famine

Spread the word for Charity

Image via WikipediaHotelsCombined are donating $20 to charity if you take the time to spread the word about their service on your blog!

You can choose to donate to WWF, Make a Wish or World Vision.

And all you have to do is give HotelsCombined a quick write up!

Don't have a blog? Become a fan of their Facebook Page and they will donate $5.

In September they donated $155 . . . How nice is that?

HotelsCombined is a unique search engine that consumers can use to find hotel availability and rates, and to compare prices and offers from multiple merchants. Using their service, you don't have to search websites one by one to find the best deals and lowest rates. HotelsCombined does that all for you!!

Once you find the supplier suitable for your needs, they link you through to the supplier website to book directly.

What's more, they aren't paid for your booking - so you get the full picture about each hotel before you book.

So, help them spread the word - and raise some funds for your favourite Charity!

I recommend Hotels Combined and sent $20 to WWF!