Get Free, Prank It Forward or... just help a little...?

A self-indulgent thread if you will but not for myself. Please, the next time that someone from a "boots-on-the-ground" charity in your area asks for a contribution for the foodbank, please help. Every little thing can help. A few old dinner-plates, some old but still perfectably wearable (no holes, no stains and preferably clean!) clothes, a few packets of various dried or jarred/canned foods, rice, pasta sauce, beans, etc, etc.

Small things make a LOT of difference, as per the following clip about an initiative in the U.S.



OK, Shameless plug. I work (non-paid volunteer) at my local food bank (a small town slightly to the west of Rotterdam, Holland). I'm not blowing my own trumpet here though, I'm blowing theirs, and others who are in need, so.... a little something from everyone, even if it's only once a year, helps a lot. No drug addicts, alcoholics or degenerates are clients at my foodbank as far as I can tell (and I can usually tell!), just people in need. Young, old, singles, couples, families, foreign, national.

Thank you for your time, now a little light music and a heavy video.



Peace

LightSpeedDriver

PS Success in life can somtimes be a very fine and tenuous line that is difficult to maintain for many, myself included in recent years although thankfully I personally do not "qualify" for a "food-pack" just yet. Knocks wood...

I get much more back from the people I "help" than I could ever give by a little simple volunteer work. A humbling but also happy experience it has been for me, and I'm sure it could be the same for some ATS members with a little free time to spare. Thanks for reading!



ETA: Gotta run for a coupla hours. Will be back to read your comments and responses later.

a reply to: LightSpeedDriver

Thanks for sharing that video! S&F

It brought some tears to my eyes, thinking about the potential we as human beings have, to make this world a better place for those less fortunate.

Seeing the look in their eyes was a gift that I hope stays with me for a long time.....

Imagine what we could do IF instead of "Campaign Contributions" money was actually spent in a way to better this corrupt world.......

I can only dream...

I will eventually give my time and aid to charity. I haven't had an easy life and im only just leveling out in my late 20's. My experiences have made me want to be involved and to help. When I have tried to help others myself, it's always been abused or they become reliant on my handouts or they lie and ask for money for drink or drugs or someone actually used it to go to a football game when i gave it in good faith.

Keep up your hard work people like you are far better than I can ever be!

Having been in that situation a few short years ago, I can vouch that kindness is a rare blessing to those in real need. Society judges harshly and cruelly as though hard times came upon people through their own fault.

How much effort does it take to make a regular donation to the food bank?

Even on a limited income, I donate food to food banks, clothing etc. Every little bit helps and you can easily make a difference in someone's life.

I help direct when see people in need.. charities all too often profit from misery and do very little to help those they claim to be fundraising for..

a reply to: seeker1963
Hehe, thank you for your reply, I've also been at rock bottom, but fortunately just for a short time. As for tears in the eyes, well, I leave that to every individual but some things are dear to my heart due to direct experiences, and I guess the same may be true for many people. You are what you (sometimes have been forced by "situations") to experience.

It is a simple economical fact, if we pumped as much money into happiness as we do in to war, this planet would shine like a diamond, instead of a blue marble. Then again, I'm just an old-fart, hippy-loving libertarian scumbag socialist, or something. But in any case, I am happy with who and what I am, eventually. Not always, but often!.

Peace

originally posted by: Scotscorps84
I will eventually give my time and aid to charity. I haven't had an easy life and im only just leveling out in my late 20's. My experiences have made me want to be involved and to help. When I have tried to help others myself, it's always been abused or they become reliant on my handouts or they lie and ask for money for drink or drugs or someone actually used it to go to a football game when i gave it in good faith.

Keep up your hard work people like you are far better than I can ever be!

My brother/sister, you are you, and beautiful. Do not put yourself down, and certainly not on the account of this thread. Helping others is helping yourself, we are all connected. I myself am 43, long-term unemployed, and desperate but a little goes a long way, especially when you are homeless and/or on the poverty line.

originally posted by: Expat888
I help direct when see people in need.. charities all too often profit from misery and do very little to help those they claim to be fundraising for..

This my friend, is exactly what I was trying to hint at. I will not give one dime/penny to a large charity such as Cancer Research, worldwide, I'd rather just give it directly to the guy in the street.