Hardly a day goes by that don't we find out someone we know has lost a job causing desperation when the mortgage can't be paid. Yes, these are tough times. But a group of women in Genesee and Lookout Mountain believe that despite their own economic woes, there's no time like the present to tackle extreme poverty one micro credit loan at a time. These women belong to one of many nationwide circles that support Friendship Bridge, a micro credit organization, based in Evergreen. Its purpose is to provide small loans and education to women in Guatemala living on $2/day or less. The borrowers use the money to create their own solutions to poverty by funding businesses which may include handicrafts, agriculture, and other types of commerce. Friendship Bridge provides over 14,000 women with small loans, with 97% paying back what they owe.
Instead of scaling back contributions, the Genesee/Lookout Mountain Friendship Bridge Circle is accelerating its efforts to raise money for these micro credit loans by hosting a family barbeque with blue grass music and a live auction from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on June 7, at the privately owned Little Lone Star Ranch in Bergan Park.
For only $5000, a trust bank will generate enough loans to sponsor 25 to 30 women and then the positive ripple effect begins. When women gain economic success, everyone in the family benefits. Health and education improve, prompting the cycle of poverty to erode. Circle member Karen Barker says that "helping to solve poverty from the bottom up, makes us all feel enriched, and there's no time like the present to indulge in a win-win event like this one. We all believe that unless we give the poor tools to help themselves, people will turn desperate and that's when terrorism and lost opportunities prevail."
Barker encourages anyone who's interested in attending or for more information to contact www.friendshipbridge.org, click on Western Family Barbeque, then click
www.Blacktie-Colorado.com or call Robin Davey at the Friendship Bridge office: 303-674-0717.