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I know how you feel that terrible mudslide in CA was horrible and I am upset that nothing is being done for those poor people who lost family. We have alot going on here at home with this strange weather and many are in great need in several states right now!
I agree with too … I was quick to jump on that I need to help bandwagon and donated a large sum, but I overlooked helping my own first. The fact of the matter is so many people or helping overseas and most NEVER help here first!
I’ve been thinking about of the celebrity, normal folk, and state sponsored donated funds going toward the tsunami relief and its mind blowing – I started thinking someone is going to be getting rich because with that much money flowing in – millions if not hundreds of millions are bound to come up missing if you know what I mean. That’s sad but I can all but guarantee it will happen.
Just think how much we could help our own community with just a portion of whats been sent across that pond.
How awesome of you to start this thread, Captain! I totally agree that charity starts at home. Oddly enough I was thinking along those same lines. How about our troops in Iraq? Even if you are not for the war (which I am not,) those are our very own there. They do need things like razors, personal fans, etc. there are several stores that have drop off centers. You can buy stuff at that store and drop it in the chute. Not difficult. Also, if you see that guy in the street, all raggy looking, why not bring him a Big Mac or something? :p
I’m sorry, but I don’t agree at all.
I do agree that we should give at home, but don’t see how that should take precedence over what’s going on in Southern Asia.
Giving at home should be something we look at ongoing. Day in and day out there are people in need right here at home. These people need help, but this is different.
This isn’t a lot of hungry people, nor is it a tragic mudslide – this is the complete and total devastation of entire families, businesses, villages, towns, cities and very nearly nations. Well over 100,000 people are dead. The rest are faced with conditions we can’t even imagine. This will continue to impact the world’s economy for many years to come. This is a tragedy that goes above and beyond what we do locally. This tragedy needs us to do more.
I’m sorry for sounding preachy, but your neighbors need help. You can go by biggest need, or most likely to speak your language. It’s your call, but biggest need makes sense to me…
I am in no way saying all those in Asia do not need help, they do and I gave BUT I also give here at home too. My family sent a care package to the troops and I gave to some local charities as well.
All I am saying let’s not forgot those in need on the home front.Giving at home should be routine.
I give to local food banks, and especially so when it’s NOT the holidays, affordable housing and the women’s and children’s shelter. For some reason domestic violence against women and/or children is constantly on the rise and a safe house is needed in every town.
But when a huge disaster happens abroad, it too deserves attention. People are people. So it is not in the routine but I can give a little extra.
Dominique wrote:Giving at home should be routine.I give to local food banks, and especially so when it’s NOT the holidays, affordable housing and the women’s and children’s shelter. For some reason domestic violence against women and/or children is constantly on the rise and a safe house is needed in every town.
But when a huge disaster happens abroad, it too deserves attention. People are people. So it is not in the routine but I can give a little extra.
There is great wisdom in this post. I couldn’t have said it better. :thumbsup:
If you don’t think “home” is everyone on the planet, then you probably shouldn’t be in the business of trying to make money off the Internet.
Dominique,
Very well said!
Dominique’s post is definitley the one that hits the nail on the head the hardest. I think people may have misinterpreted the thread as taking away from the terrible disaster overseas, however, I took it as a reminder to also help out those closest to you. The two can go hand in hand ya know. And as I said in my previous post, even if you don’t have thousands to donate there are lots of other smaller ways to help out. I already donated to the red cross for the tsunami relief, I believe it was the day after it happened, but how good is that of me unless I have also helped my family, a friend or a homeless person here as well? If we are all on the same “planet” then of course it would make sense to do both. That’s all I mean to say :happy:
I think the reason a lot of people choose to help those overseas or causes that are overseas, is because it’s a lot easier to do good with less money. If you donate $40 a month to a cause based in africa, you can feed a child for a month, or restore someones eyesight. That same $40 where I am will buy food for a day. There’s also more support systems in place locally than poor countries where access to clean water or medicine is limited. I realize that the USA doesn’t have as many support systems for the impoverished as we do, so maybe my view is a little tilted in this regards. I just know that here if someone is hungry, they can run to the food bank, and for the most part the food there is of similar quality to what i buy at the grocery store.
I like to do a lot to help conservation efforts to protect ecosystems. One of my favorite charities is the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. If I donate $100 there, they will employ someone for a week with that money. That person will then have the funds to feed his family, all while protecting the natural habitat and saving a species in danger. If I attempt to donate that same money here, it will go to buying office supplies.
I’m not saying we should not help out locally, just that for the bang of the buck, more can be done on an international basis. Either way, I think that giving is important.
I just know that here if someone is hungry, they can run to the food bank,
Just out of curiosity, who funds the food bank?
Here, if it was not for constant local donations, there would be no food bank.
Grocery stores give left over food over… i think 1 or 2 volunteers run it.
There is some of that here too – but it is haphazard and only on overstocked items. It is not possible to gain nutrition from these scraps around here, they need a lot of adding to.
In season home growers do donate fresh produce to supplement the supermarket discards and it helps a lot. But most times donations are sorely needed by the local foodbanks here.
I know everyone may be totally tapped out with the tsunami and all, but last week I saw something that broke my heart. A guy named Jimmie Wallet lost his wife and 3 kids in a mudslide in La Conchita, CA. He went out to get ice cream for his kids and on his way back, had to run as he watched the mud wipe out his house with his family inside.
Here is the story in case you missed it:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6821292/I have 4 kids and cannot imagine the pain this guy must be going through. They obviously didn’t have alot of money, and since I have a soft spot in my heart for free-spirited freaky people, I had to try to help out a little. (This was a personal donation, and was not casino sponsored)
If you have anything left to give, here is the address for the fund set up for him and his only remaining daughter:
The Wallet Family Memorial Fund
Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, Ventura Mills Road Office
Attn: Branch Manager
250 South Mills Road
Ventura, CA 93003Thanks
