Check out their track record!! Absolutely! I had a friend who worked at one of mother Theresa's hospices. They received millions of donations every year, not just money but supplies, and medications for pain and suffering. She sent it all to the vatican, My friend said there were stockpiles of computers, sheets/bedding, hospital equipment, food, that the patients never used because it was all sent back to the church. Instead, volunteers hosed down dirty sheets in court yards, and patients were told to meditate and pray away their suffering and pain.
Here is one of Michael's re-counting of working at one of Mother Theresa's centers in Calcutta. its not an easy read
OMG. But not the first time I heard it. Terribly sad and heartbreaking for those patients 💔
I know of a heart foundation which kept asking people for more money. But the owned the building where their head office was and the managing director made some $300k per year. Never sent a penny.
March of Dimes is called the March of Dimes because the impoverished recipient receives a dime out of every dollar donated to the organization. They operate the same way as most charities and some even worse. Little money ends up in the hands of the poor. At least the March of Dimes is upfront about their percentages.
This is a thought-provoking piece on the essence and impact of charity. The emphasis on responsible giving and the distinction between temporary relief and empowering self-reliance is powerful. Thank you for sharing this. 🙌
So many examples came up while reading this about charity.
Learning several languages should be a requirement starting in grade school. I have always thought once you know how to read... The world is yours to fully explore.. Unless you only know the language of one tiny corner of the world.
There is much truth in that, and I agree about teaching multiple languages; unfortunately, we barely teach our own. For example, in 2022 alone 21% of adults in the US were illiterate, with 54% having literacy below a sixth-grade level.
In a supposedly-developed country?, That is criminal, and I cannot help but think it is deliberate.
“Consider an adult who tends to the traumas of a child: a scraped knee, spilled milk, a broken toy. As adults, we know that kids have no idea as to what constitutes a genuine problem because inexperience greatly limits their childhood perspective. Children do not yet know that the world does not revolve around them.
As grownups, dare we admit to ourselves that we, too, have a collective immaturity of view? Dare we admit that our thoughts and behaviors spring from a belief that the world revolves around us?
Apparently not! Yet, evidence abounds. Part the curtains of society’s racial, ethnic, religious, national, and cultural conflicts and you will find the human ego turning the knobs and pulling the levers.
Now imagine a world in which everyone, but especially people with power and influence holds an expanded view of our place in the cosmos. With that perspective, our problems would shrink, or never appear at all- and we would celebrate our earthly differences while shunning the behavior of our predecessors who slaughtered one another because of them.” Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Being in the heart of Harm Reduction Country, I am inclined to read in those terms. Instead of just giving out “safer” drugs, we need more services and support (aftercare) for those wanting to clean up. They are taking personal responsibility and making the effort.
For those wanting to stay addicted, we need to let them. And let them take that personal responsibility for the consquences.
Wow, I love these pages. I keep a laminated page , a stack of them, in my truck. My step mom had me make them. They have lists of all the resources in town, where they are and a little google map of how to get there along with their phone number. When I hear people complain about having to give people money not knowing what they will be doing with it, I suggest they make laminated cards. I also wish we could have a plot of land every (fill in population size and measurement of distance) where people could work the land. There could be a shelter nearby for the homeless who are able and willing to work with the gardens and the harder cases go to other shelters until they are able to do the same, if that's possible (no drugging them down) . Dreaming. I like this post. Having the ability to do what is sensible, like keeping gardens for the public to care for and benefit from, is a part of that. Teach them to teach themselves and feed themselves. I wonder who is in the way of that? Also, who might be running amuck in large charities? Many. I have been working on grants. I have a file folder where I keep things that make me raise my eyebrows.
Start a business and employ them. Teach them how to start their own business and employ others. It's knowledge and experience. That's what I did. Indigenous who didn't have running water when I hired them were able to have utilities, pick up trucks and computers after a few years and half a dozen started their own companies with what they learned.
I couldn’t agree more. Charity is good in case people run into a difficulty beyond their capacity, as a one off.
If it concerns a group, it’s good to check out their track record. How do they spend, how much goes to overhead, etc.
As always, your sound judgement is a breathnof fresh air.
Exactly right, Joyce - know those who collect for others, because you never know where your money goes... until you know ;-)
Thank you, as always - appreciate you thoughts, and you gracious words <3
Check out their track record!! Absolutely! I had a friend who worked at one of mother Theresa's hospices. They received millions of donations every year, not just money but supplies, and medications for pain and suffering. She sent it all to the vatican, My friend said there were stockpiles of computers, sheets/bedding, hospital equipment, food, that the patients never used because it was all sent back to the church. Instead, volunteers hosed down dirty sheets in court yards, and patients were told to meditate and pray away their suffering and pain.
Here is one of Michael's re-counting of working at one of Mother Theresa's centers in Calcutta. its not an easy read
https://www.counterpunch.org/2007/09/05/working-for-mother-teresa/
I oft get pushback for this, but I have said for years that 'Mother' Theresa was a vile woman... :-\
Well, it’s with good reason that people say ‘appearances can be deceptive’, and your perception has been right.
OMG. But not the first time I heard it. Terribly sad and heartbreaking for those patients 💔
I know of a heart foundation which kept asking people for more money. But the owned the building where their head office was and the managing director made some $300k per year. Never sent a penny.
sounds a bit like the susan b. coleman foundation.
March of Dimes is called the March of Dimes because the impoverished recipient receives a dime out of every dollar donated to the organization. They operate the same way as most charities and some even worse. Little money ends up in the hands of the poor. At least the March of Dimes is upfront about their percentages.
Based on my comment of your Note, you know how much I agree ;-) Thanks again, Charlotte!
💯💯💯
This is a thought-provoking piece on the essence and impact of charity. The emphasis on responsible giving and the distinction between temporary relief and empowering self-reliance is powerful. Thank you for sharing this. 🙌
Thank YOU, Nuezen, for the gracious comment - I appreciate it!
So many examples came up while reading this about charity.
Learning several languages should be a requirement starting in grade school. I have always thought once you know how to read... The world is yours to fully explore.. Unless you only know the language of one tiny corner of the world.
There is much truth in that, and I agree about teaching multiple languages; unfortunately, we barely teach our own. For example, in 2022 alone 21% of adults in the US were illiterate, with 54% having literacy below a sixth-grade level.
In a supposedly-developed country?, That is criminal, and I cannot help but think it is deliberate.
Colleges have to teach basic grammar over again. "remedial courses, because the students were not prepared in high school
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/colleges-enroll-students-arent-prepared-higher-education
Reading and writing is the the most important tool for navigating the world. Communication is key, and that is what they are controlling.
Love it Stone. It is a most powerful and useful gift. More than money for it enables self-reliance.
Thank you for the latest Page drop and your continued wisdom. 🙏
Glad you enjoyed it, brother - and thank YOU, for the continued support :-)
“Consider an adult who tends to the traumas of a child: a scraped knee, spilled milk, a broken toy. As adults, we know that kids have no idea as to what constitutes a genuine problem because inexperience greatly limits their childhood perspective. Children do not yet know that the world does not revolve around them.
As grownups, dare we admit to ourselves that we, too, have a collective immaturity of view? Dare we admit that our thoughts and behaviors spring from a belief that the world revolves around us?
Apparently not! Yet, evidence abounds. Part the curtains of society’s racial, ethnic, religious, national, and cultural conflicts and you will find the human ego turning the knobs and pulling the levers.
Now imagine a world in which everyone, but especially people with power and influence holds an expanded view of our place in the cosmos. With that perspective, our problems would shrink, or never appear at all- and we would celebrate our earthly differences while shunning the behavior of our predecessors who slaughtered one another because of them.” Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Being in the heart of Harm Reduction Country, I am inclined to read in those terms. Instead of just giving out “safer” drugs, we need more services and support (aftercare) for those wanting to clean up. They are taking personal responsibility and making the effort.
For those wanting to stay addicted, we need to let them. And let them take that personal responsibility for the consquences.
That is an excellent point, Freeq - and an unfortunate truth. Well said!
The age old maxim re-written:
Read to a man, educate him for a day. Teach him to read, educate him for a lifetime.
Oh, I like that! Well played, good sir... *salute
Wow, I love these pages. I keep a laminated page , a stack of them, in my truck. My step mom had me make them. They have lists of all the resources in town, where they are and a little google map of how to get there along with their phone number. When I hear people complain about having to give people money not knowing what they will be doing with it, I suggest they make laminated cards. I also wish we could have a plot of land every (fill in population size and measurement of distance) where people could work the land. There could be a shelter nearby for the homeless who are able and willing to work with the gardens and the harder cases go to other shelters until they are able to do the same, if that's possible (no drugging them down) . Dreaming. I like this post. Having the ability to do what is sensible, like keeping gardens for the public to care for and benefit from, is a part of that. Teach them to teach themselves and feed themselves. I wonder who is in the way of that? Also, who might be running amuck in large charities? Many. I have been working on grants. I have a file folder where I keep things that make me raise my eyebrows.
Start a business and employ them. Teach them how to start their own business and employ others. It's knowledge and experience. That's what I did. Indigenous who didn't have running water when I hired them were able to have utilities, pick up trucks and computers after a few years and half a dozen started their own companies with what they learned.
That works, too :-) It's great that you did that, for them and for yourself :-)