Why is it so hard to help out someone in need and how did we get to this point???

[Industrial Toys]

There is often a problem when rich meets poor. We know a guy who doesn't have much, and we try and help him. Although it's hard, because he doesn't help himself. If I have a bigger personal project I will hire him. But my issue, is that I dare not ask him for the occasional helping hand, like carrying a piece of furniture into the house, because I don't want that expense for a five minute job and feel in a way, he can help me too, once in a while without charge. But of course it's never discussed, so it is awkward.

 

[s219]

Y'all wouldn't believe what my mother-in-law did for a resident in her small town (less than 100 people) this Christmas. His name is Wayne, he's in his late 60s, and is what I'd call special-needs. Nicest, sweetest fellow you ever met. First time I met him, I was sawing up a fallen tree at the town church many years ago -- he came over to help and keep me company, and we had a grand old time.

Wayne doesn't have much, so my mother-in-law worked with a local printer to make a 2018 calendar with some of his artwork, which they are selling for $10 a pop. The first printing is almost gone and Wayne got $100 for Christmas. My mother-in-law plans to do a second printing and invest the money for Wayne. Not only is the calendar really heartwarming, it's got some wonderful folk art. I told her she needs to set up one of those online "fund me" pages and go big time with this. It's such a great way to do something for Wayne, and typical of my mother-in-law -- she can't go a minute without doing something good and meaningful for other folks.

 

[dmccarty]

There was an article on the local TV's website about how many people where going to Walmart, Target, etc and buying out people lay away accounts. Some stores only allow people to pay for the accounts with toys, which at first I thought was a good idea but then figured it was a bad idea. Some people need help and they don't have kids... Anyway, twas nice to hear about people paying off the lay away accounts.

A guy I knew had his house catch on fire just before Christmas. His father in law was visiting and he lives in an RV. The RV was parked behind the home and it caught fire which then spread to the house. Thankfully no one was hurt and the house was only damaged but they are not able to live at home.

Someone opened a Go Fund Me page and quite a bit of money has been raised to help the family. Now, they are not hurting for money per say and I am sure they have insurance but having some cash to count on to help them is a good thing. The man who lost the house is a good guy and said he would donate whatever money they did not need to the local VFD who saved their house from being a total loss.

One thing I have noticed when helping people face to face, is that the physical/financial help one provides, is sometimes is less important than the act of helping itself. Just having someone caring enough to provide a bit of money or a helping hand is a huge mental help/boost to those in need. The guy with the house fire is a police officer who has seen and done some things that most people would not believe. He wrote a very nice thank you note on the Go Fund Me site talking about how HE is usually the one who is there helping someone dealing with a major, life changing event. Now, it was his turn after watching his house burn. :shocked: One of the VFD members told him it would be ok. Other officers said they were there to help him and he would just have to accept the help. :laughing::laughing::laughing: Over 450 people, some complete strangers, have given his family some money. The simple act of giving a few dollars, making that little bit of effort, has been very helpful and humbling to him and his family.

Later,
Dan

 

[fried1765]

There was an article on the local TV's website about how many people where going to Walmart, Target, etc and buying out people lay away accounts. Some stores only allow people to pay for the accounts with toys, which at first I thought was a good idea but then figured it was a bad idea. Some people need help and they don't have kids... Anyway, twas nice to hear about people paying off the lay away accounts.

A guy I knew had his house catch on fire just before Christmas. His father in law was visiting and he lives in an RV. The RV was parked behind the home and it caught fire which then spread to the house. Thankfully no one was hurt and the house was only damaged but they are not able to live at home.

Someone opened a Go Fund Me page and quite a bit of money has been raised to help the family. Now, they are not hurting for money per say and I am sure they have insurance but having some cash to count on to help them is a good thing. The man who lost the house is a good guy and said he would donate whatever money they did not need to the local VFD who saved their house from being a total loss.

One thing I have noticed when helping people face to face, is that the physical/financial help one provides, is sometimes is less important than the act of helping itself. Just having someone caring enough to provide a bit of money or a helping hand is a huge mental help/boost to those in need. The guy with the house fire is a police officer who has seen and done some things that most people would not believe. He wrote a very nice thank you note on the Go Fund Me site talking about how HE is usually the one who is there helping someone dealing with a major, life changing event. Now, it was his turn after watching his house burn. :shocked: One of the VFD members told him it would be ok. Other officers said they were there to help him and he would just have to accept the help. :laughing::laughing::laughing: Over 450 people, some complete strangers, have given his family some money. The simple act of giving a few dollars, making that little bit of effort, has been very helpful and humbling to him and his family.

Later,
Dan

I have done the K-Mart layaway thing for a few years.
I do the accounts that PRIMARILY have toys.
My requirements are that each account must have at least one bicycle on the layaway, and the buyer must have already paid 1/2 or more of the total layaway amount.
I always do it on the 23rd, so that I am most likely to pay off layaways for account holders who are struggling to get the payoff done.

 

[dmccarty]

I have done the K-Mart layaway thing for a few years.
I do the accounts that PRIMARILY have toys.
My requirements are that each account must have at least one bicycle on the layaway, and the buyer must have already paid 1/2 or more of the total layaway amount.
I always do it on the 23rd, so that I am most likely to pay off layaways for account holders who are struggling to get the payoff done.

That is a good set of requirements. :thumbsup:

It really is good to hear about how many people help pay off the lay away accounts.

Later,
Dan

 

[buickanddeere]

Most people are where they are because that is where they want to be.

 

[Doofy]

Most people are where they are because that is where they want to be.

To a point, maybe. I don't think all poor people meant or intended to be poor. Circumstance can befall anyone at anytime...

 

[ultrarunner]

Probably as many reasons as people...

Had a High School Physics teachers that aspired to nothing materialistic... what he did have was more the influence of his wife.

He was very inspirational and all these years later is one of a few that really stand out... because he lived what he preached.

Early he was in the Peace Corp building rural water systems and to this day volunteers at the outreach centers...

I truly believe he would be totally content with very little... simply has no aspirations for wealth and gives most of what he has away...

Others I have heard look back and freely admit they made a series of bad choices... something akin to the old saying... "Too late smart"

 

[Tractor Seabee]

If all the big money people paid their 10% tithe, required by the bible and many other religions, to low overhead charities; the government would be out of the charity/welfare business and we then put all those drones doing productive tax paying real jobs.

Ron

 

[buickanddeere]

If all the big money people paid their 10% tithe, required by the bible and many other religions, to low overhead charities; the government would be out of the charity/welfare business and we then put all those drones doing productive tax paying real jobs.

Ron

Amen Brother