Need does not end on January 1

[SoCalDem]

Every year around Thanksgiving time, the media goes all schmaltzy on us, and profiles all the thoughtful people who donate to poor people or offer suggestions for how we can "help".

A box of food, with "all the fixin's" for turkey-dinner, only lasts a little while.. the people who donated may feel great for having helped, but the people they gave to, will still need food in January, February, March, etc.

Beautifully wrapped toys from "Santa", may cheer up some poor kids on an otherwise-bleak Christmas day, but they will still need a coat in January, or gym shoes in March, or jeans in April.

We can ( and most of us DO) donate regularly to charity, and help when we can, but on a macro level, we often do not know what happens to our donations.

Just as the mirco-loans often do more to elevate poverty sticken people, than anything else, so does "micro-giving"..

My Newcomers' Club in Denver took an approach that I have continued, with friends..

We "adopted" a family every year.

There were about 50 of us (hardcore members), so it was not that difficult, but here's what we did.

Our board asked teachers & churches to recommend a needy family, and to give us a synopsis of the family & their needs. This is NOT hard to come by.. EVERY teacher knows kids in his/her class who are from struggling families, and the ones who would willingly accept help.. That's a crucial point.. Not every poor family may welcome outsiders helping them.

Once a family is located, each person in the group agrees on how much they can give monthly, and an account at a bank is opened...with 2 or 3 "signers" on the account..

EVERY month, something is done for the family.. It may be school supplies, or shoes for the kids, or a car repair, or a few bags of groceries, or a birthday party, or Easter baskets..

Our families became "extended family", so a Mother's Day lunch out with the kids was easy to arrange too ( one of our member's husband had a restaurant, and they paid for it)..She was so surprised, she cried.. she had NEVER gotten anything for Mother's Day, that had not come from her kids school projects)

Another member had a car place and fixed her car for her..and eventually hired her as a receptionist..

We only helped ONE family at a time, but it made an impact in the lives of her 3 kids...and at the end of the year, we had a new family, but the Mom & her kids remained "extended family"..

We gave time, food, support..but not money..

[babylonsister]

1. Rec'd. What a terrific idea! nt

[SoCalDem]

2. We had about $250 a month to "play with", so the amount is not that unreachable

and we took turns actually doing the shopping..We always asked Mom what she needed..actually a list of things, so we had some freedom..

If only 5 people participated @ $25 a month, it's still $125 a month ..and some months, that would be plenty for a kid's birthday party, or Easter stuff..or a pair of shoes..or a school field trip.. We paid for field trips because poor Moms never have extra money for those things.. Our school district also made parents BUY gym clothes..and I don't know why, but someone stole her son's , and his gym teacher ragged on him daily until we got him new ones..

[EFerrari]

3. January 1 leaves all those other days, no kidding.

We try to spot people in our neighborhood that need a hand -- just on an ad hoc basis and just what we can put together while shopping at our hood Mom n Pop or talking on the street ourselves.

It's not much but, a lot of us now know who is homeless, who is disabled and alone, who is single with kids and so on. When our schizophrenic neighbor has an episode, we have a friendly list to call for help. He lives alone.

It's not big but maybe the difference between living in housing and living in a neighborhood. We haven't lost anybody yet.

:hug:
:grouphug:

[maryf]

4. Thank you for remembering

That people are needy regardless the calendar. It seems you are allowing for dignity too, which is just as important as meeting needs...I do think providing a little money for needs you may not know about, might be considered?

[SoCalDem]

5. We decided that once we started giving cash, it changed us into

"something else".. We wanted to supplement..not support.. and friends "do" things for each other.. We also did not want to be in a position of having given cash, and then perhaps "judged" what the cash was used for.. We did not want to put ourselves in that position..

There were no gift cards back then, but if people wanted to, there are many options now to giving them these days..and that would stop the shopping..but we liked that part too:) We wanted a longtime relationship to develop..so that even after the year ended, the family could call on us individually..like a friend would:) Cash donations spoil that..

[maryf]

6. Thanks, sounds reasonable...

Not only can the recipients be judged, but the givers, seems you saved both dignity...

[EFerrari]

7. I give a few dollars when I can in cash.

Not often these days but it's never proved to be a problem. I'm thinking in particular of one of our homeless neighbors that may never go in doors because there is no infrastructure to help him to that. I've given him a few dollars just as often as a cup of coffee and a sandwich breakfast from our neighborhood cafe.

Five years later, we're friends and in for the long haul. At some point, it's not about the money at all.

Oh -- and I haven't updated. We helped one of our guys into rehab about three years ago. In and out a few times, he's today doing great as a house painter, having a streak of sobriety. He probably makes more than I do now.

Maybe I can hit him up for a loan!

lol

[SoCalDem]

8. Go Go Go.. get him while he's "dry"

:rofl:

You're right.. for some people that you arleady know..cash may be the only way..

[EFerrari]

9. LOL! I love, love the idea of this thread.

Thanks.

:loveya: