I’m a single mom working part-time for an organization I truly believe in—AFJM. In 2019, my family chose to divest from big banks and credit systems so we could live in alignment with our values, banking only with a local credit union. Because of that choice, I no longer have the credit history the current system relies on, which means I—and others like me—have limited access to new money as it enters circulation. Monetary reform would change that by creating public money that flows into our communities for the public good—so everyone, not just the wealthy, has access to the resources they need to live, work, and build meaningful lives.

Over the past year, my son and I have been downsizing—shedding much of what we’ve accumulated over the past 12 years and starting fresh. It’s a new chapter for us, one focused on living more simply, more sustainably, and closer to what truly matters.

We don’t have much, and what we do have, we owe in part to AFJM for giving me the opportunity to do work that matters. This work lets me teach my son important lessons about life. I want him to understand the root problems and solutions in the world—to notice injustice, act with courage and integrity, and live a good life that brings meaning not just to himself, but to others.

So this year, as the holiday season begins, we’ve cleaned out an old applesauce jar and labeled it “Change for Change.” We may not be wealthy, but we believe in using our money for what counts. Every coin we add will support AFJM and its work toward a Just Money system. By giving, participating, and witnessing the impact of even small contributions, my son can learn the joy of generosity and the power of standing up for causes we believe in.

Every dollar—and every penny—that gathers in our pockets and purses over the next month will be donated to AFJM. It’s a small way for us to give back to the movement that gives my work meaning—what Buddhism calls “right livelihood” or good work—for my son and for future generations to come.

Little things can have a big impact, and this jar is our way of putting that into practice. If this inspires you, start your own “Change for Change” jar this holiday season—place it somewhere you’ll see it every day and fill it with whatever you can spare. Over time, those small contributions can grow into something truly meaningful, and together we can support AFJM’s work toward a Just Money system that benefits everyone.

We’ll check in once midway through the season and again at the end of December to celebrate the small acts of generosity that have added up across our community. If you start a jar, feel free to leave a comment below or share your experience—what you’ve learned, how it feels, or simply say hello during one of the check-ins. At the end of the season, whatever your jar has collected can be donated to AFJM in the way that works best for you, either by check or online. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps keep this work alive and is a meaningful way to show your values in action.

Online donations can be made here, and checks can be made out to Alliance For Just Money and mailed to PO Box 964, Bloomington, IL 61702-0694. Donations are tax-deductible (AFJM’s EIN: 83-1267866).

Our check-in: We dumped out our change jar, and my son counted all of our change. So far, we have $18.13 collect- just from pocket change! We hope to save $30 by the end of the year.

Our end-of-year donation: We finally took our change jar to the local credit union and dumped it into the change counting machine. My son loved that part! We managed to collect $31.67 from our pocket change alone! It took us a little longer than I had hoped, but we were amazed at how much we could save up and donate to AFJM’s work in a relatively short time!