Nothing But Nets

Ick! Mosquitoes! Their little buzzing sound always means that somebody’s about to be bitten. Boy am I glad I have a home that keeps those things out. But when one sneeks in I don’t rest until it is trash fodder, and then I can sleep in peace. Not everyone sleeps in peace though.

My posting this week is short as I want to point you to another site for information about the Nothing But Nets initiative. This initiative began after people read and responded to a Sports Illustrated column by Rick Reilly who wrote about the horrific malaria problem in Africa. He let out a call for readers to donate funds for the purchase of specially made malaria nets, covered in insecticide and created for families to sleep under and be protected from mosquitoes. His challenge evolved into a grassroots campaign to create a way for the nets to get to the people who desperately need them.

Since then quite a number of groups have come forward to support this effort, one of which is the United Methodist Church. To help raise funds, the Nothing But Nets website is now offering a way for you to learn and have a donation made on your behalf. At their site www.NothingButNets.net, you will find a game to play that has you delivering nets to people in the villages. After you play the game and give them your email (to keep you updated I imagine), and then confirm it, a donation of $10 will be made on your behalf. There is even a place there where you can make your own donation if you choose.

In any case, playing the game will cost you only a few minutes and not a single penny (again, you can donate in addition to that) and will make it possible for a family to sleep mosquito, and therefore malaria, free.