Since it's the season for giving and most of us seem to be in a giving mood, I thought I might bring up the subject of those less fortunate.
My wife worked for 36 years as a nurse at a county hospital that served everyone, including those that had little or even no money. Some of the things she saw would be unbelieveable to many.
Now, I'm as much for people helping themselves as anyone. I have no use for free-loaders.
That said, I do have some sympathy for many of the people that don't have anything even though they are trying.
People come to the hospital having no health insurance even though they might be working 60 to 70 hours a week at three different jobs. Minimum wage, no benefits and it isn't because they are lazy. It's just the way the world works sometimes.
Anyway, we donate a lot of clothing, canned and non perishable food to an Outreach Project here and they do a great job of seeing that the stuff goes where it is needed.
My wife goes to the local Target, Wal*Mart, Kohl's stores at the end of the winter season and buys hundreds of pairs of gloves, mittens and caps when they go on clearance. The sale prices are usually 10 to 20 percent off, but clearance sales are often 75% off. $10 buys a lot of caps and mittens, $50 to $100 buys a whole bunch.
She takes these to the hospital the following winter and any youngster that shows up without gloves or a hat doesn't leave bare handed or bare headed. Remember, the kids didn't have much choice in where and how they live.
My daughter has good job that requires she wear pretty decent clothes. Her cast-offs go to a battered women home here in our area. Many of these women get out of a situation with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. Decent clothing makes them much more likely to find employment and also makes them feel better about themselves.
I guess what I'm trying to say is why not look for some of the local charities where your contributions can really make a difference. United Way, Red Cross, all the rest do a great job, but they probably won't miss the money you donate locally and it will really be appreciated by the local organizations.
As usual, I've written a book,
Sorry about that, but in case you haven't guessed, this is something I feel pretty strongly about.
Merry Christmas!
Charles
My wife worked for 36 years as a nurse at a county hospital that served everyone, including those that had little or even no money. Some of the things she saw would be unbelieveable to many.
Now, I'm as much for people helping themselves as anyone. I have no use for free-loaders.
That said, I do have some sympathy for many of the people that don't have anything even though they are trying.
People come to the hospital having no health insurance even though they might be working 60 to 70 hours a week at three different jobs. Minimum wage, no benefits and it isn't because they are lazy. It's just the way the world works sometimes.
Anyway, we donate a lot of clothing, canned and non perishable food to an Outreach Project here and they do a great job of seeing that the stuff goes where it is needed.
My wife goes to the local Target, Wal*Mart, Kohl's stores at the end of the winter season and buys hundreds of pairs of gloves, mittens and caps when they go on clearance. The sale prices are usually 10 to 20 percent off, but clearance sales are often 75% off. $10 buys a lot of caps and mittens, $50 to $100 buys a whole bunch.
She takes these to the hospital the following winter and any youngster that shows up without gloves or a hat doesn't leave bare handed or bare headed. Remember, the kids didn't have much choice in where and how they live.My daughter has good job that requires she wear pretty decent clothes. Her cast-offs go to a battered women home here in our area. Many of these women get out of a situation with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. Decent clothing makes them much more likely to find employment and also makes them feel better about themselves.
I guess what I'm trying to say is why not look for some of the local charities where your contributions can really make a difference. United Way, Red Cross, all the rest do a great job, but they probably won't miss the money you donate locally and it will really be appreciated by the local organizations.
As usual, I've written a book,
Sorry about that, but in case you haven't guessed, this is something I feel pretty strongly about.
Merry Christmas!
Charles
