Stickman
91 posts
Jan 18, 2010
6:02 AM
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As not to hijack another thread I started this one
My wife and I are believers in charity. Our favorite is Heifer International that gives livestock to people in 3rd world countries. As A teacher I sometimes see charity at work first hand. Occasionally I have a student who loses everything in a house fire or some other disaster. Its one thing to hear on the news someone's house burned down. Is hits home if you know that person. It's a Tyson punch to the face, when that person is You. Have you ever befited from the charity of others?
Its not as bad as others, but here is my story:
After we were first married Shauna (my wife) and I were put out of our home do to a tornado. It was a Sat morning and I had gone to visit my parents for an hour or so. The tornado hit our apartment complex just minutes after I dove away. Although I was right there, I neither heard it or saw it. When I returned the police and National guard had blocked off the whole area. There was debris and peoples stuff everywhere. I remember a 2x4 had impaled a Chevy Bronco and fiberglass insulation covered everything. The Guardsman at the gate wouldn't let me in and told me the whole area had been evacuated. He had no information about where my wife might be or if there were any injuries or (gulp) Fatalities. I can honestly say that at that moment I had never before or since been so completely terrified. I had to sneak around back and jump a fence to get in. Our 1st floor apartment was fine but the 3rd story was GONE! as were many buildings around ours. My wife was not there! I ran into and American Red Cross worker who directed me to a shelter they had set up in a church across the street. I was amazed at the organization of the Red Cross. In a matter of an hour or so they had turned the church into a "refugee" center. In all that chaos they were organized and helpful. They helped me find Shauna and assisted us and everybody else who had been displaced (including an elderly care facility) find a place to stay for the night. Our apartment had been condemned. During the evacuation Shauna had been out on the street in the pouring rain, frantically trying to figure out how to get in touch with me. A complete stranger allowed her to use their phone to call my parents (I had left by then) and they gave her their umbrella. It's not much but the charity of the Red Cross and that complete stranger was ALL we had in all that confusion and I am thankful for the support and charity of others in our time of need.
what's your story?
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The Art Teacher Formally Known As scstrickland
Last Edited by on Jan 18, 2010 6:07 AM
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Buzadero
272 posts
Jan 18, 2010
7:39 AM
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I'm currently on the road. So I don't have time for the big version. The answer is yes.
On 28Jun92, my wife, son and I lost our house in the combined and closely spaced 7.3 & 6.5 "Big Bear/Landers" earthquakes.
The Red Cross was my first experience with any effort like that and it was impressive. Up until that time, I had been a longtime cynic of the ineffeciencies of most "charities". I have an uncle that has closely watchdogged and audited the effectiveness of US charities and non-profits for the IRS since I was a little kid.
Having heard it first hand for many years, it has always disgusted me just how blatantly some of the most pious and self-righteous charities (most either founded by, or fronted by famous people playing off their celebrity) use them to fund lavish lifestyles while all the time using the "cause" and their recognition to soak money from people with good intentions.
It really pisses me off that these charities can operate with such overblown "administration" costs that essentially amount to personal checking accounts for the principals, many times while only a few cents from each donated dollar actually hits the streets.
The Red Cross was in that category until it was turned around in the earlay 90's. I benefitted from that efficiency and I donate to this day. I drop money into the holiday buckets for the Salvation Army (since they are one of the consistently most effective at getting almost all the money to the effort with the smallest overhead).
Those are the only people charities I give to. I have a few animal rescue organizations that we donate to.
I gotta get going. But, yes. The Red Cross.
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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rbeetsme
141 posts
Jan 18, 2010
8:11 AM
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My wife recently lost her job and some folks at church dropped off 2 bags of food for Christmas dinner, turkey and the works. Later we received a couple of restaurant gift cards and money in the mail. We weren't really hurting yet either. That's grassroots care from the church family. I agree that the Red Cross does an amazing job. I support Samaritans Purse, those folks get into hardest to help areas within hours!
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Kingley
625 posts
Jan 18, 2010
8:21 AM
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I once got stung by a Scorpion and the hospital said (I was in a foreign country at the time) that if I didn't have a certain drug then within a couple of days the poison would enter my brain and that would be the end of my life.
They then refused to give me the required drug because I had no money to buy it. Luckily the Medicine Sans Frontier gave me the drug I needed for free.
Really scary at the time, but now I look back at it and it's as funny as hell.
Also once when I was homeless I got back to my sleeping spot only to find all my things gone. I figured I had been robbed. Anyway an hour or so later a guy turns up with all my gear and some hot food and a flask of coffee. He said he had seen my gear and taken it all home to get his wife to wash and dry it all.
In a world full of greed and avarice. It's people like these that give me faith that all is not lost yet for the human race.
One thing I'd like to say is that if you see someone who is homeless, please don't give them money if they ask (as they invariably just spend it on alcohol or drugs). If you really want to do something to help give them a cup of coffee or a sandwich.
Last Edited by on Jan 18, 2010 8:22 AM
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nacoran
813 posts
Jan 18, 2010
9:47 AM
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Yes. And I'm probably alive because of it.
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phogi
195 posts
Jan 18, 2010
9:59 AM
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But aside from that, not really.
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toddlgreene
513 posts
Jan 18, 2010
10:01 AM
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Yes. During Katrina, I got activated with the National Guard 2 days before the storm hit and never left until December 31st, and my wife evacuated, who took with her two babies, a pre-teen and our dog. She carried enough clothes, diapers and dog food for a a week. Well, the storm hit and all the computers were down at the bank in NOLA we had our debit cards thru, and she didn't have any credit cards with her. She was able to stay a few days in Austin, TX with my sister, but had horrible allergic reactions to my sister's cats and almost had to have a tracheotomy. She packed up everyone and got in the car, and at this time had not tried to get any money out of the ATM. When she got the error messages, she promptly drove down to the Austin Red Cross, and told them her story, to see if she could at least get a loan for gas money so she could go to some good freinds of ours in Georgia. The woman she spoke to told her' well m'am, if your husband is in the military, it's their responsibility t help you, not ours'. She walked out, not being able to contact me, or get money. She got in the van and drove on to get some food, and realized she didn't have the cash for it before going in. She just sat in the van and cried. A car pulled up next to her, and had seen the Lousiana license plate, the kids and the dog, and her crying. Long story short, a good samaritan who has become our lifelong friend not only paid her gas for the trip, but booked a room in a bed and breakfast along the way, and bought groceries before the trip. Once in Georgia, there was an outpouring of support from a local church, who sent meals, food, etc. I am eternally grateful to these folks who helped, and I wish I knew the name of the Red Cross worker in Austin so I could personally pay her a visit and jog her memory a bit.
EDIT:Red Cross did eventually come thru for my family, but not because of that one nasty person.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
Last Edited by on Jan 18, 2010 10:11 AM
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ness
135 posts
Jan 18, 2010
10:07 AM
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I got about 21 years (my first 21) worth of charity from my parents. A little less towards the end. :^)
Seriously -- I've been pretty fortunate, and haven't needed to receive charity. But, the 'benefit' I get from charity is from the giving, not in the receiving. It's just plain good for the soul to *give* without the expectation of return or recognition. Just saying.
Interesting stories, and hope to see more.
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toddlgreene
514 posts
Jan 18, 2010
10:10 AM
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I give to the United Way, although i am somewhat skeptical, and also to the Red Cross.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
Last Edited by on Jan 18, 2010 10:12 AM
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Stickman
98 posts
Jan 18, 2010
2:42 PM
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Hey! If you give blood, I doubt the CEO and CFO skim 20% off the top
@kingly, your right, some of the best charity is not in the for of $. Food, Kind deeds or even volunteering your time can mean a lot.
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The Art Teacher Formally Known As scstrickland
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toddlgreene
522 posts
Jan 18, 2010
2:44 PM
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Good idea, stickman...I wonder if one of our local blood banks will let me deisgnate Haiti as the recipient.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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jonsparrow
1752 posts
Jan 18, 2010
3:48 PM
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kingly if that was me stung by a Scorpion an they told me that i would be freaking out like gimmie the antidote or ill take you to hell with me! thats some scary shit right there.
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Shredder
111 posts
Jan 18, 2010
5:59 PM
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I recived help after hurricanes Rita and Ike. I really didn't need the donation or the physical help.
I spoke with my preacher about it. He said a lot of people want to help but they don't have the time or physical strenght.He said if you don't accept the money or the labor they are offering I would be robbing them of the blessing of feeling like they did some thing to help some one in need.
I never thought of it like that. I took the money and accepted the labor. I now look at the world in a diffrent light. There are still a lot of good people in the world contrary to what you see on the news.I will be more helpfull to my neighbors in the future.
Mike
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nacoran
820 posts
Jan 18, 2010
6:13 PM
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Strick- Apparently you don't know about Dr. Acula.
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MakaInOz
2 posts
Jan 18, 2010
6:14 PM
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Our neighbourhood got pretty trashed in the Canberra fires of 18Jan03 (seven years ago yesterday) and we lost 11 out of 19 houses in our street and almost 500 in the area. The best help from charities was the real practical stuff – it was mid summer, really hot and lots of folks were trying to sort out what they could from damaged or destroyed houses.
The Salvation Army led the way, with a pickup truck with sandwiches and bottled water. It just drove slowly around and honked the horn, giving food and water to whoever showed up. The Police Community Unit came around with teddy bears for the young kids. The local 4wheel drive club came around with chainsaws and cut through fallen trees to provide access. Another organisation (no idea who) came around early in the mornings with urns of coffee and bacon and egg rolls for those that slept in what was left of their houses.
Real useful, practical help. But we had fully functioning infrastructure not far down the road to organise and manage those efforts – unlike those poor folks in Haiti.
Maka
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