For Marc Gold, it's a natural reaction to want to help those in need.

That pursuit brought him to Great Falls on Friday, where he spoke to about 20 people at the Bethel Lutheran Church to raise money for the 100 Friends Project, a nonprofit organization he founded.

The funds will be used to help families in Myanmar, Afghanistan and other troubled regions in the world.

"If you were to see what I've seen with my own eyes, you'd probably do the same," Gold said.

Gold, of San Francisco, also is set to be at a booth at the Great Falls Farmers Market between 7:45 a.m. and noon today. The booth will be in the Civic Center parking lot, next to the pony rides.

Gold teaches for half of the year, then travels the world as part of the 100 Friends Project.

The name came from a letter Gold sent to 100 people in 1992 asking for donations to support people in poverty. Expecting about $300, he received more than $2,100. He has since given away nearly $400,000.

His work has taken him to places such as Afghanistan, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, the Philippines and India.

There he pays for medicine and education for locals, and hires unemployed people to care for elders in their community.

"I do it because I enjoy it. It's very practical, very meaningful," Gold said.

He first visited Montana last year, then used the $7,000 in donations he received from Helena residents to provide food and medicine to children in Iraq, and to fund other projects in countries such as Cambodia, Pakistan and Vietnam.

Gold's journeys are paid for by small donations from friends.

Corb Browne and his wife, Jeri, of Great Falls, came to the presentation to find out how Gold is able to travel on a shoestring budget.

"It's nice to hear something positive that's happening," Jeri Browne said.

Gold said he hopes his stories inspire Great Falls residents to get involved.

"I just want to let people get more educated to what's happening to people in Third World countries," Gold said.