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Every day when the mail comes you probably sift through the bills, letters and cards, junk mail, and other assorted items, tossing the envelopes in the recycling. But did you know that collecting post-marked stamps and envelopes can help fight poverty?
Oxfam is just one of several organizations that collects stamps, which they sell to raise funds. Though Oxfam America doesn't have a stamp collection program, it's easy for Americans (and anyone around the world) to donate via Oxfam Canada's Stamp Program.
Oxfam Canada collects post-marked stamps, and volunteers sort the stamps so they can be sold to collectors. The program has raised nearly $250,000 since it began in the 1980s, and it currently raises about $10,000 each year. Funds have gone to programming in Ethiopia, Cuba, Mozambique, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Namibia, South Africa, and many more countries.
Any and all stamps are welcome, and even the original envelope can help. If the envelope has a clearly identifiable town or village post mark, or a registered or special post mark, you can send the whole envelope to Oxfam, as these are desirable to collectors (and help raise more money!).
So start collecting those stamps and envelopes in a large envelope, and pop it into the mail whenever it's full. It will only cost you an envelope and postage, but it could help someone learn a skill or help a community build a school.
Stamps can be sent to:
Stamp Programme Oxfam Canada 39 McArthur Ave Ottawa, Ontario K1L 8L7 Canada
If you live across the pond, you can also donate to Oxfam U.K. by dropping off stamps at charity shop locations across the country.
