Giving Responsibly

Ever see someone standing at an intersection with a "Will work for food" sign or "Please help, God bless"? If you're like many, it touches your heart that someone would be so bad off as to need to do that, and so while you probably have no work for them, you stop and give what you can. Some change. More often a few dollars or a five or ten dollar bill. And you can drive off feeling you made a bit of difference.

But have you? Truth is, most on the street are on the street for a reason, and too often that reason is problems with alcohol and/or drugs. The money gave is not to be saved up for an apartment, or even for a hotel room for the night. And in a city of breadlines and food pantries it is sure not going to go to food.

It'll go - in far too many cases - to alcohol or drugs. The money they panhandle won't get them much drugs or drink, but it will be enough to get them high or drunk for one more day, and a day is as long as an alcoholic/addict cares to think about. How do you be a part of the solution then, instead of inadvertently enabling?

By giving responsibly. Donate only to actual churches and charities that are working to aid the unfortunates of our streets. Like to the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities or Contact Ministries. Or your own church if they have such an outreach. Donate to the Oxford House, or any other sober living house, including ours, the Liahona Home. Or, if you prefer to give personally to the individual, have care bags in your car to give out. These can contain toiletries, some bus tokens and a note card with information as to various programs available.

Any of those things are better than giving in a fashion that can be abused and that can aid the person in a continued pattern of destructive behavior. This way, if they truly wish help, the help is there for them, for too often programs must curtail their efforts or even close their doors for lack of funding. Don't let such programs and agencies go in want while enabling the very destructive behaviors that make such programs so essential!
Together, we can make a difference in Springfield!