Every year I urge everyone I know to consider those brothers and sisters that are not so fortunate. This year is no different. Dig deep in your hearts and try to make a difference in someone's life this Holiday Season. While talking with folks about what it takes to "make a difference" I've discovered something that I think is interesting and would like to share it here...
I've asked several people what they think it would take to "make a difference" in someone's life, be it a child, adult or senior. Amazingly, almost everybody gauged their answer on what it would take to make a difference in their own life, not others. I guess as humans we unconsciously project what we know about ourselves onto others.
I'm a wealthy man. I have a wonderful family, a good business, money in the bank and a good roof over my head. Making a difference in my life with one simple gesture would probably be difficult. But I don't NEED anything. We have to put ourselves in the shoes of folks that have real NEEDS.
There's parents out there that can't even think about Christmas for their children...the electricity gets shut off on the 15th. There are children probably not more than a mile from you right now that will go to bed tonight dirty, cold and hungry. The streets have plenty of decrepit souls that hunker down out of the wind next to dumpsters at night, maybe without so much as a blanket or good coat. One really doesn't have to look far to find needy folks in this great nation, they are everywhere.
In our land we have a lot of social services and hand-out organizations that TRY to help folks out. Although every little bit helps, it will never be enough unless we take the folks that are in a bad place into our hearts. Charity truly begins at home. And I'm here to tell you that throwing pocket change in a red pot in front of Kohl's is a far cry (And I do mean CRY) from handing an old wino a warm burger and fries. Or placing cash in struggling young mother's hands at the grocery store. I want everyone I know to try it. Afterwards, you will truly know what I mean.
And yes, a good deal of these people are victims of their own decisions and vices. Dammit, put all your holier-than-thou away for the rest of December. Most of the folks that are "on the skids" will eventually do better. Your one unconditional gift or act of kindness may actually be the one thing that restores their faith in mankind inside their broken souls.
I write huge checks every month to the U.S. Treasury and I hate it. One evening in a grocery store years ago changed the way I look at my "wealth". There was a young mother in front of me at the register. It was near Christmas and she three dirty-faced young'uns in the cart and on the hip. I could tell by what was in her cart she was trying to stretch her dollars. I had just stopped by the bank and cashed a check for $1000 so I would have plenty of "pocket money" over the holidays..you never know when that bank will be closed. Something came over me. I really didn't feel guilty because I had plenty and she didn't. I just thought about the fact that by January 1 I would only probably have half that money in my pocket and wouldn't have really much to show, except for taking a few relatives to dinner and picking up egg-nog and batteries at 7-11; and by January 1, she would have run out of the milk and oatmeal she was buying. I gave her $300.
At first she was actually fearful of me. Then as she stood up straight and ran her fingers through her hair, I think she was a little angry that I might think she was needy..or a bad mom, or something. I finally insisted, smiled, extended the cash and told her Merry Christmas. She gave me a quick half smile and snatched the cash. After I checked out and was heading to the truck I heard someone holler out in the parking lot, "Hey mister, THANK YOU and MERRY CHRISTMAS!" I'm sure it was her.
She could've taken all the money and gone out and bought crack for all I know, but I don't think so. Where my charity goes isn't really the point. The satisfaction of helping someone out was worth every penny. And every year I try and make a difference, on a person level, in someone's life. And if I can get at least one other person to put away their disgust for a wino, or their animosity for a homeless family, and do a kind deed, JUST ONE FOR CHRISTMAS, it will all be worth it.
Try it guys. One man's ceiling is another man's floor. Give your heart a gift this Christmas and share your good fortune. B-)
Great post. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
I understand quite well what you are saying. The best gift is the one you give away.
One very simple thing that Mrs. Cow did this year for her students was to take the darndest collection of miscellaneous stuff you ever saw with her to school one day and made it available to the kids on the condition that anything they took would become a present for someone else in their family. Everything she took was taken by someone. Everything. And, there was some mighty strange stuff available. They had a ball.
We, too, have been blessed in many ways so have played Secret Santa to others who were at a different stage at the time. We didn't see the actual receipt of the gift and didn't need to. One great program is called Coats for Kids. I'm not sure on all the details but there have been quite a few young people wearing new coats that might not have been so lucky otherwise.
Some years back, I was telling a friend about refusing to give money to a homeless man outside a restaurant who said he was hungry. My reason was that he was just going to buy some wine. My friend asked so why did you not go back in the restaurant and buy him some food? I thanked him for exposing my self deception. Being a naturally cynical person, I appreciate being challenged to exercise humanity. Thanks I needed that.
Mr Cash, That was the most refreshing thing I have read, on the internet in a while. Thanks for sharing your heart.
Nate
paden cash, post: 348301, member: 20 wrote: Every year I urge everyone I know to consider those brothers and sisters that are not so fortunate. This year is no different. Dig deep in your hearts and try to make a difference in someone's life this Holiday Season. While talking with folks about what it takes to "make a difference" I've discovered something that I think is interesting and would like to share it here...
I've asked several people what they think it would take to "make a difference" in someone's life, be it a child, adult or senior. Amazingly, almost everybody gauged their answer on what it would take to make a difference in their own life, not others. I guess as humans we unconsciously project what we know about ourselves onto others.
I'm a wealthy man. I have a wonderful family, a good business, money in the bank and a good roof over my head. Making a difference in my life with one simple gesture would probably be difficult. But I don't NEED anything. We have to put ourselves in the shoes of folks that have real NEEDS.
There's parents out there that can't even think about Christmas for their children...the electricity gets shut off on the 15th. There are children probably not more than a mile from you right now that will go to bed tonight dirty, cold and hungry. The streets have plenty of decrepit souls that hunker down out of the wind next to dumpsters at night, maybe without so much as a blanket or good coat. One really doesn't have to look far to find needy folks in this great nation, they are everywhere.
In our land we have a lot of social services and hand-out organizations that TRY to help folks out. Although every little bit helps, it will never be enough unless we take the folks that are in a bad place into our hearts. Charity truly begins at home. And I'm here to tell you that throwing pocket change in a red pot in front of Kohl's is a far cry (And I do mean CRY) from handing an old wino a warm burger and fries. Or placing cash in struggling young mother's hands at the grocery store. I want everyone I know to try it. Afterwards, you will truly know what I mean.
And yes, a good deal of these people are victims of their own decisions and vices. Dammit, put all your holier-than-thou away for the rest of December. Most of the folks that are "on the skids" will eventually do better. Your one unconditional gift or act of kindness may actually be the one thing that restores their faith in mankind inside their broken souls.
I write huge checks every month to the U.S. Treasury and I hate it. One evening in a grocery store years ago changed the way I look at my "wealth". There was a young mother in front of me at the register. It was near Christmas and she three dirty-faced young'uns in the cart and on the hip. I could tell by what was in her cart she was trying to stretch her dollars. I had just stopped by the bank and cashed a check for $1000 so I would have plenty of "pocket money" over the holidays..you never know when that bank will be closed. Something came over me. I really didn't feel guilty because I had plenty and she didn't. I just thought about the fact that by January 1 I would only probably have half that money in my pocket and wouldn't have really much to show, except for taking a few relatives to dinner and picking up egg-nog and batteries at 7-11; and by January 1, she would have run out of the milk and oatmeal she was buying. I gave her $300.
At first she was actually fearful of me. Then as she stood up straight and ran her fingers through her hair, I think she was a little angry that I might think she was needy..or a bad mom, or something. I finally insisted, smiled, extended the cash and told her Merry Christmas. She gave me a quick half smile and snatched the cash. After I checked out and was heading to the truck I heard someone holler out in the parking lot, "Hey mister, THANK YOU and MERRY CHRISTMAS!" I'm sure it was her.
She could've taken all the money and gone out and bought crack for all I know, but I don't think so. Where my charity goes isn't really the point. The satisfaction of helping someone out was worth every penny. And every year I try and make a difference, on a person level, in someone's life. And if I can get at least one other person to put away their disgust for a wino, or their animosity for a homeless family, and do a kind deed, JUST ONE FOR CHRISTMAS, it will all be worth it.
Try it guys. One man's ceiling is another man's floor. Give your heart a gift this Christmas and share your good fortune. B-)
Every so often I see some one in trouble needing some type of help, so I Perform what I call "Senseless acts of unmitigated Kindness" and help them.
Sometimes it is money and some times it is something else. It is usually nothing large or important to me, but it does have a real strong "Feel Good" sensation to know I have made some poor miscreant's(or not) day somewhat better. Been doing this for over 40 years. More often as I have gotten older and better able to help others.
Try it like Paden has. You might come to like it.
:love::good:
I have offered to do so to feed some one. I was taken up on the offer. If they are telling the truth your offer will be willingly accepted.
I've about given up donating to the big charities. I do give a bit to my alma maters, but usually to specific scholarships. I give monthly amounts to 3 creators via Patreon. One is fixing a roof leak while another one who lives in rural Maine installed a generator. I also sponsor book reviews from the third one separately. I give money to the Los Angeles Catholic Worker. They use the money to feed the homeless, provide shopping carts (that aren't store-branded), foot care, etc. They're um, wildly leftist (and I'm pretty liberal) so I don't hold with many of their political, social, nor religious views (reading their newsletter is...interesting) but they do good work. None of these except the universities are registered charities.
I personally feel like I haven't been giving enough, and have tried to step up to the plate in the last few years.
mkennedy, post: 348518, member: 7183 wrote: I've about given up donating to the big charities.....
I was appalled to discover several years ago there is no law regarding what percentage a "non-profit" organization has to actually turn over to their respective "need". All can, and several do, keep almost 98% (or more) of their donated millions as executive "costs". There's been several expos̩s on the TV magazines like 60 Minutes and Dateline. Non-profits ARE required to provide financial statements to the public upon request. If you are lucky enough to actually get a hold of one, it's a bunch of smoke and mirrors. But people still dump millions each year into these huge money mills.
I am acquainted with a few folks at a couple of local shelters and "soup kitchens". For me, they're a really safe bet. They run to the nub every month and at times, breakfast might just be toast and coffee. They always need blankets and clothes for folks, too. Like I said above, Charity starts at home. Your local community is a great place to start.
Start close to home. The closer the better.
Almost 20 years ago my daughter worked in one of those phone centers that bugs people at supper time. They were calling for a specific non-profit. As I remember it, the non-profit skimmed 69 percent off the top for administrative fees.
I like the Salvation Army for a lot of the reasons listed above. I know the people working for them aren't getting rich and I think they help people in need locally.
I agree with "staying local" with your charity dollars. If you are inclined to donate to a national or international charity, you might check out CharityNavigator.org, which rates charities and will hopefully make you feel more confident that your donation will reach the intended recipients.
And while you wallet is open, don't forget to support the folks in Oregon who make this community possible.
Yes charity feels good...more people should do it...and you don't have to be wealthy....your always better off than someone else.
Personally I usually donate to Jerry's Kids and St. Judes Hospital this time of year.
The young kids begging their way to a free trip across the country can get their money elsewhere.
In todays America, for the lower class people, it is glaringly apparent that it is more profitable to take advantage of subsidies than to struggle to work. The record umber of un-employed people that are not looking for work is the only evidence necessary to support that theory. There really is no reason other than metal illness that anybody could have to go without in America - there is simply too much free stuff available.
As someone that spent a year homeless on the streets of LA as a teen coming out of broken home, I can tell you straight up that many of those that get written off as 'takers' looking for handout, are just down on their luck. We live in a society the is quick to marginalize people and write them off. Rather than find people real help, to often the most convenient solution is to find them a jail cell and feed them into a self perpetuating system of destitution. The gap between the well off and the poor in this country gets wider and wider every year. In California, from my experience, people have grown quite inured to the plight of people in need and are quick to assume someone is out to take advantage of them, and in many cases, justly so and vica versa.
If someone calls or approaches me for a handout, my BS sirens blare. If I see a real need, they can have the shirt of my back. Everything I've ever given to someone in real need has come back to me ten fold.
paden cash, post: 348301, member: 20 wrote: ....And I'm here to tell you that throwing pocket change in a red pot in front of Kohl's is a far cry (And I do mean CRY) from handing an old wino a warm burger and fries. Or placing cash in struggling young mother's hands at the grocery store.
Message received loud and clear. I will try to practice what you preach and your point is very strong.
Just a quick note, giving to a salvation army red pot is much better than nearly every other charity organization out there from what I can see. I appreciate that some guy is standing out there ringing a bell in the freezing cold just for your spare change to be dropped in the pot. And I believe that the Salvation Army is using the money to help the needy and not lining their own pocket. I'd much rather give there than throw money in the collection plate at church or giving to one of those fat-cat organizations whose leaders are using the money to fly around the world.
I live along the interstate in California and see it all.
I see all types of people holding card board signs.
There are people who really cannot help themselves for one reason or another.
There are the professionals who park their new cars across the parking lot, assemble their props. and head to the corner.
There are the people who are taking advantage of people's compassion simply to avoid responsibilities.
If you sit in the parking lot long enough and just watch, it is easy to spot the difference. The ones that rile me up the worst are the college age kids that are clearly doing it as a life style choice. It sounds weird to say, but it's true. They bum their way to a concert or to a drug harvest "job".
I try to be discriminating when attempting to help somebody. Simply asking for something is just not good enough for me.
Seems like donating to a shelter, soup kitchen, or job program is much better than indiscriminately slipping a $20 bill out the window to who ever asks for it.
In my community, there is a large percentage of elderly people on fixed incomes that have a hard time getting through the month.
Occasionally I will see someone having a difficult time finding the cash to pay for a small amount of groceries. Rather than watch them have to put back a loaf of bread and some orange juice, I always offer to pay the difference. The reaction from people standing nearby always catches me off guard. Who wouldn't do that?
Large contrast between that and the younger people with $400 worth of groceries, who pay with welfare cards....and ring the beer and smokes up separately.
Tom Adams, post: 348705, member: 7285 wrote: .. giving to a salvation army red pot is much better than nearly every other charity organization out there from what I can see...
Tom, I agree. The Salvation Army is some of the first organized response to our continuing tornado havoc. I don't know anybody involved, but they seem to be a prominent presence in the core community here.
I didn't mean to imply that "throwing pocket change in a red pot" was necessarily a bad thing, it's not. But actually handing someone a gift personally and seeing their eyes is soooo much more rewarding for me. Some people might feel differently and enjoy the anonymity. God bless them all.
You want to talk about charitable giving....a local surveyor just dropped off two boxes of doughnuts.
Told me I had a thankless job.
One time I gave a few dollars to someone who marched across the street to the crack dealer. It was a mistake, I should have gotten her some food instead. But so what. It's better to take a risk and be a fool sometimes than withhold generosity. I need to do more. Thanks Paden and all for the reminder.
Here is a story that I found amusing. A friend was getting some groceries at the local shopping plaza. He jumped into his lifted Dodge diesel truck and drove up to the stop sign where a college age kid was begging for cash. The guy was holding a card board sign on which was written "hungry - god bless". As my friend drove by, the guy flipped the sign around and held it up for him to read...it said "or smoke me out dude" (I presume he was begging for some weed).
Well my buddy could not help but oblige him. He pulled up to the stop sign and floored the engine. At this point in time it might be good to mention that he had "chipped" his engine for additional power. In his rear view mirror, through the thick cloud of black diesel smoke, he could see the outline of the guy jumping up and down while giving him the middle finger.
Not quite in the Christmas spirit but really funny when you try and picture how it happened.
