It is a very sad situation in a lot of places...bigger cities more than here. You do have con-artists out there, but there are a lot who try to get themselves above water, and just find themselves drowning again. Unless we know the circumstances, we don't know for sure, and should help no matter who they are, unless it is going to be a safety issue.
I have never been homeless, but have been in need before. If it wasn't for my family, and the help of people that I had never met before, there are times when I would not have made it. Sometimes, it would just start as a prayer request from someone who had heard of my situation, and the next thing, I would get a call and their Sunday school class or people they worked with had taken up money..etc. I had a child with spina bifida, and spent most of his 2 years in Birmingham at Children's. There were many times there that you would see a story so much more humbling than your own, and it really makes you thankful for what you do have, even if it's not much. Now, I work with one of the many hospices in this area, and have a chance to give back. Usually, the giver gets more of a blessing than the person receiving. I find that to be the case on an everyday basis.
All that rambling, but the main thing is that we should help people whether they "look" like they need help or not, because you never know. True, most of us can't afford to send big checks to help a lot at one time, but when you help one person at a time, it is possible. Sometimes all you can do is offer them a smile or kind word, and that is worth more somedays than money. Also, if you aren't in a situation where you can help financially, you can always pray for them that they find their way in life. We never know when we, ourselves, are going to be in a situation of need, and that very same person that we snubbed because we thought they could help themselves, might be the one we are turning to for help.
As far as the loaves and fishes places, I think they started off really helping people with different things...I have heard this from some of the people that they have helped in the past. But, I heard, (this is just hearsay), that each one is individually owned, and not part of the ministry that started at the beginning, and the profits they make may or may not be used to help others. I haven't been in one of them in awhile, but if I ever do again, I am going to be sure to ask what they do with the money.
While I can't answer as to who owns/runs them, they are all part of the same organization. Donations are all to be left as the store on Cypress Mill Road. Since they charge tax, there has obviously been some problem with getting a sales tax exemption. I once spoke with a lady who ran a Methodist thrift store in another city who told me they could not get a tax exemption because they used part of their proceeds to fund parties for teens who had worked in mission fields, projects with the elderly, etc., all summer.
quote:Originally posted by GoFish:quote:Originally posted by aprilkoonce:
GoFish, you say that the government provides programs, shelter, and hot food for the homeless in our area.
The Lighthouse shelter right near the police department on South Court Street near that old Ingram High-Fi shop.
GoFish--that is the Help Center that Joy and I have both mentioned. They don't offer overnight shelter, but they do offer clothing and sometimes monetary help and will refer to other facilities if possible. My church donates to them every month and we refer people to them. Our benevolent committee has the authority to give up to $200 per month to those in need when necessary. We have a lot of con artist comes in and like someone said -- they can rotate and not go to the same church for a year hoping to not get the same person again. We also donate to SafePlace, Shoals Save a Life, and we used to donate to L&F until we found out they are more for profit than not and that not all of the money goes to help -- it is like the Cancer foundation, when they started seeing profit suddently they started having more "overhead and admin" cost that cut into that charity...
I am such a "people" person that I would love to be able to help any one that is honestly down on their luck, which I do know 4 families right now...
BUT, (there is always a but, lol)... I also donate my time and money to a very reputable Christmas/Thanksgiving Organization, more proceeds for the Christmas Funds though. You have NO IDEA (or maybe you do) how many scams we receive each year. I could give examples that would make your blood boil, but I won't go into details... A couple of years ago, a few of us got mad about 'repeat' people who ALWAYS seemed down on their luck, plus some who blatantly LIED to get the toys and food for their children. But the Chairman told us, if they can live WITH scamming, we can live without the stuff we give to them. That was really profound, because there again... WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND...
One lady was seen taking the toys given to her children back to the store, and got a grand total of $176,93 in refunds. Her child got NOTHING, and what she did with the money no one knows... so there again, what goes around, comes around. I saw her picture in the paper a few short months afterwards, busted for drugs.
As far as I know there is NO WHERE in this area that gives people a place to sleep or warm food to eat (especially in the winter)... Safe Place is for abused women... and the Help Center just gives clothes a few toys and like DC said some Money... but I wonder how they weed out the scammers??? If we knew that, I could help our Christmas Funds go to the RIGHT people...
I love helping, that I do... but I HATE scamming and I HATE the sob stories that some tell just to get something for nothing...
BUT, (there is always a but, lol)... I also donate my time and money to a very reputable Christmas/Thanksgiving Organization, more proceeds for the Christmas Funds though. You have NO IDEA (or maybe you do) how many scams we receive each year. I could give examples that would make your blood boil, but I won't go into details... A couple of years ago, a few of us got mad about 'repeat' people who ALWAYS seemed down on their luck, plus some who blatantly LIED to get the toys and food for their children. But the Chairman told us, if they can live WITH scamming, we can live without the stuff we give to them. That was really profound, because there again... WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND...
One lady was seen taking the toys given to her children back to the store, and got a grand total of $176,93 in refunds. Her child got NOTHING, and what she did with the money no one knows... so there again, what goes around, comes around. I saw her picture in the paper a few short months afterwards, busted for drugs.
As far as I know there is NO WHERE in this area that gives people a place to sleep or warm food to eat (especially in the winter)... Safe Place is for abused women... and the Help Center just gives clothes a few toys and like DC said some Money... but I wonder how they weed out the scammers??? If we knew that, I could help our Christmas Funds go to the RIGHT people...
I love helping, that I do... but I HATE scamming and I HATE the sob stories that some tell just to get something for nothing...
quote:Originally posted by Kindred_Spirit:
As far as I know there is NO WHERE in this area that gives people a place to sleep
Good. Perhaps they will come here, get a good meal then get the heck outta here. The last thing this area needs is a reputation as a "homeless-friendly" town.
quote:Originally posted by GoFish:quote:Originally posted by Kindred_Spirit:
As far as I know there is NO WHERE in this area that gives people a place to sleep
Good. Perhaps they will come here, get a good meal then get the heck outta here. The last thing this area needs is a reputation as a "homeless-friendly" town.
Although I partly agree that we don't need a lot of homeless people here... I will say that IF it happens, we should all be ready to help anyone that we can... to NOT help is NOT doing God's work...
I will try to help a druggie get into rehab. I will try to help an alcoholic get into rehab, I will give a hungry person a meal, and try my best to find some sort of housing for them. THAT is one of the things in life that God planned in MY life... I cannot help it... I have a "HEART" and I know that with a helping hand, that some people WOULD turn their lives around... without that helping hand, they could die.
I will extend that helping hand whenever, where ever I can. I thank God I am not heartless.
quote:Originally posted by Kindred_Spirit:
I will extend that helping hand whenever, where ever I can. I thank God I am not heartless.
I'll take that as a stab at my "heartlessness" as I'm sure it was intended.
No, I don't have sympathy for certain types of people. That includes prisoners, alcoholics, homeless people and fallen preachers. They all have one thing in common: They are responsible for their own predicament and have the power to help themselves back out if they want.
As I said before, my sympathy is reserved for people who can't help themselves. That includes abused wives, children and animals.
That said, can you give us a count of how many homeless people you have personally helped during the last year?
quote:Originally posted by GoFish:quote:Originally posted by Kindred_Spirit:
I will extend that helping hand whenever, where ever I can. I thank God I am not heartless.
I'll take that as a stab at my "heartlessness" as I'm sure it was intended.
No, I don't have sympathy for certain types of people. That includes prisoners, alcoholics, homeless people and fallen preachers. They all have one thing in common: They are responsible for their own predicament and have the power to help themselves back out if they want.
As I said before, my sympathy is reserved for people who can't help themselves. That includes abused wives, children and animals.
That said, can you give us a count of how many homeless people you have personally helped during the last year?
Ya know, that is really none of your business... it is between me and the people I have helped... I don't do it for NUMBERS, I do it to HELP people because they are in NEED.
When I talk about helping alcoholics or druggies... I mean I help them ONLY if they WANT to be helped... I dont help them get their next drink or fix... but I do have many connections to help them with detox and help afterwards...
I have taken money out of my pocket and paid for a small room in town for someone who just needed a HAND ... now I am not talking about substance abuse people, I am talking about people who once had it all, but life dealt tham a lousy hand, and they needed a hand... I don't apologize for it, nor am I bragging about it.. but what DOES amaze me is the LACK of help anyone can get in North Alabama!!!!
Los Angelos and New York City does better helping the poor than we do... and that is a shame.