On Charity in the US and other idiotic stuff

[Andras]

I went to Costco and the cashier as asked me if I wanted to donate a dollar for Japan. Sure, I said. Next day I go back to buy some juice and a different cashier asks me "would you like to give for Japan earthquake/Tsunami victims?" I say, OK...she asks me how much? Uhhh..I am spending here $7.50, how much do you think I should give? She, with a straight face, as much as you would like. I say, gee there are people in line behind me, yesterday I gave a dollar, how about the same today....

Then I hear this story about a friend of friend. He's Canadian, but he lives in the US. He called Feed the Children. "I want to sponsor a child"-

-"Oh, wonderful, sir! Where would you like to sponsor a child. We have several countries."-

-"I want to sponsor a child in the United States of America"-

-"B.. hum... sir, we don't sponsor children in America. There's no need."-

-"Really? there is no hungry children in the USA? how bout the Indians in the reservations, the Mississippi valley and the Deep Appalachians."-

-*Click*-

In Europe, where I am from, there's a proverb: if you look too far away, you fall really close.

Charity begins at home. Service and aide is right around the corner in each and every city. Mankind is one and the same, the gheto kids in Philly need as much help as the ones in Port-au-Prince.

[rei]

Charity begins at home, yes.

I think it's also fine if people want to help other places. Of course, I think it is appropriate to start local, with your own backyard, but not everyone else sees it that way - and not everyone else understands that there are local things that can use some help as well.

It's true that it's needed in the states as well. Except, if your focus is feeding the hungry locally, then I suggest hooking up with Feeding America. You can join the angel tree program with the Salvation Army if you want to sponsor a child or a family in your local community.

The thing is, there's lots of charities. If you don't like the purpose of one, then find one that resonates better for you.

What Japan is going through is awful.

While we're on the topic, folks who donate, please do not send donations via text. Phone companies can hold those donations up to 90 days. Japan (or other places that become an option for text donation) needs assistance faster than that.

[Brutha]

-"Really? there is no hungry children in the USA? how bout the Indians in the reservations, the Mississippi valley and the Deep Appalachians."-

It's much cheaper to bring an African child to a decent standard of living in Africa than it is in the US.