I don’t have amazing math skills.

But I do know my weekly clothes-shopping binges and my Starbucks and Skittles addictions are not good for my checking account. I’m not exactly breaking the bank, but I could put my money to better use.

This became even more evident last Friday when I went to a concert with some of my friends. The Promise Remains Tour came to Joplin as its second stop on tour, featuring Kimber Rising, Building 429 (I learned to pronounce it “four twenty-nine”) and Todd Agnew.

None of the artists play much of what I’m into, but I love going to concerts and had not been to one in a long time. My other plans were canceled, so I decided to give it a try.

As far as concerts go, the music was pretty good.

What really got my attention took place during intermission. Building 429’s front man, Jason Roy, told his story about a weeklong trip he took to Nicaragua. While he was there he met Michael, a young boy whose life was impacted by a program called World Vision. Before World Vision, Michael’s family could not afford to send him to school. Now Michael can go to school, and his father received acreage and pineapple plants to start his own pineapple farm because of the support from the organization.

For those who are not familiar with World Vision, it is an organization that provides kids and their families in third-world countries hope for a better life. Through donations, these kids are given opportunities that otherwise would have been impossible for them obtain.

Ready for the catch?

They use your money.

That’s right. For only $35 of your hard-earned cash each month, World Vision is changing the lives of countless children and their families worldwide.

I know, I know. As college students, most of us are stressed-out about money anyway. Some of us can’t make our phone bill each month, let alone take on another payment.

But if you break it up it’s not that bad. My friend Catherine and I decided to go in together and sponsor Jakaya Sungura, a four-year-old Hope Child from Tanzania. No problem for me, since I can spend more than that on hair products in a day.

However, I can understand those who are still reluctant to make the commitment.

But what if five people got together and split the cost? That would only be $7 a month. And 10 people would only pay $3.50 a month.

Think you could handle that?

As Roy said, “If you drink one Coke a day, then you can afford to help these children out.”

Maybe you are involved with a club or organization on campus that would team up with you; maybe even hold a bake sale or something like that to raise money.

The question is not if you can do something, but if you are willing to do anything. As Americans, most of us are better off financially than those kids will ever have the chance to be, even when we’re complaining about high gas prices and our $150 rec center fees.

But if you do decide to have a bake sale, let me know.

I make awesome cookies.

For more info check out www.worldvision.org.