Pages

Saturday, December 12, 2009

PSA Time

Every year about this time, I write a post about giving. This year is no different in that here we are, writing and reading my annual PSA about giving. This year is very different in that I am writing it from a perspective to which I am unaccustomed. It doesn't change the post much; it does remind what I want to stress and what isn't quite so important. As always, if you aren't planning on giving, for whatever reason, that's cool. Seriously. If you are going to give, please take some of this into consideration...

1. Christmas is about all kids. Everybody loves to take care of the little ones. Don't forget their older siblings. Not even all agencies address the desires and dreams of teenagers (some don't even deal with tweens, which just makes no sense to me. Digressing, Pobble...) Ask. Find out who and where the agencies are that ensure the older kids have something under the tree, too. Think about giving to them. Don't know where to start? Call the local middle and high schools. They'll know. Ask to speak to the receptionist or the school counselor. It's the people behind the scenes with the information, but ain't that always the truth? ;)

2. People are hurting everywhere this year. No one is exempt. Think you live in a neighborhood that hasn't been hit? Think again. Regardless of the face that is being put on, statistically, someone in your neighborhood, someone you see every week, someone wearing a warm coat and a smile, doesn't know how to make the season special for their kids or family this year. Try to give locally.

3. Every little bit helps. You may be unable to give to the extent that you once did and that you will be able to again right now. Okay. If you can afford to give anything, it's okay to give it. I don't care if it's a dollar. Or the spare change from your car. The agency or organization isn't going to look at your donation and turn it away because it's too little. They will take your spare change and add it to the other donations of spare change and *poof* create a meal or a stocking or a ride to a job interview or...something. With your little ol' dollar in coins.

4. Agencies can't stay in business to help people if they can't pay their electric bills and salaries. So often I hear "I don't give because my whole donation doesn't go directly to the people I want to help." Well get over your damn self and redefine your understanding of "directly to the people." Now, before anyone starts yelling at me, yes, there are indeed agencies whose salaries are too high, whose marketing campaigns cost more than some people make in a year, whose Board of Directors have grand parties twice a year. I'm not talking about giving to them. That's silly. However, your local shelter or human services organization? No one working there is rich. Most people working there have a second income for their family. I know agencies where the people working there are actually financially eligible for the very services they provide. Electricity costs money. Rent and mortgages cost money. Want to ensure your donation goes "directly to the people" then make sure the lights and heat stay on so the people you want to help have a place to go to get help. It really is just as important.

5. Compassion without respect is insulting. I have written about this over and over and over again. It continues to be important to me. There but for the grace of God, my friends. Treat people with the attitude you would want directed your way. If you wouldn't want to be pitied, then don't pity.

But above all, hold onto each other. Love each other. Be good to each other. Take care of each other. Enjoy whatever it is you have this year. Decorate your home, sing carols, take walks hand in hand. Reconnect with each other. Because sometimes, that's the greatest gift you can give the people you love.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

9 comments:

Dreamer said...

A blog I really enjoy, http://www.cakewrecks.blogspot.com/ is doing something fantastic this year. The blog operators (that's their only source of income as they were painters but had their jobs nixed by the economy) are giving 200 dollars every day, for two weeks to a different organization every day. They will be posting the names/numbers to get ahold of and how to donate money. They're urging people to give at least a dollar a day to different donations, if not to their donation then to another because every little bit counts. Thought I'd share!

BostonPobble said...

Dreamer ~ I love cakewrecks and thought this was a great idea! Thanks for sharing it here, too.

nRT said...

You are a wise one Boston Pobble,
love your posts
Happy Holiday's

Rose said...

Pobble thank you for being a great blog friend. You always give good advice and I appreciate the advice you gave me. I will put up a tree and lights and feel good about it. Thank you so much and I pray that you and your husband will receive so many blessings this year....

Neo_Prodigy said...

Wonderful post.

And the fifth point is especially an important one to remember.

BostonPobble said...

nRT ~ You're welcome and happy holidays to you, as well.

Rose ~ Thank you. And enjoy your holiday decorations as much as you enjoy your holiday!

Neo_Prodigy ~ The 5th one is a bit of an obsession for me and has been for years. I loathe beyond explanation the "those poor people, let me help them" mentality.

Hermes said...

Teenagers. Feh. Rotten punks with their skateboards and over-size pants. You can have 'em.
So... find a rural school and donate to their graduation committee. A celebration of their successes is fundamental to getting these kids going on the next phase of things. Not every community can afford a lavish affair and its not as if the government funds these shindigs. Just a thought.

SenorGeek said...

Just last week was involved in a really special event organized by the Sunshine Foundation (similar to the Make-A-Wish Foundation but in Canada) ... they sent 81 kids to Disneyland for the day ... had a tough time keeping myself from choking up as we gave out some gifts my company donated ... and then seeing the first kid off the plane when they returned at midnight was rollied out in a wheelchair, not because he needed a wheelchair but because he was so tired that they couldn't wake him up!

The local Wendy's franchises do a Dreamlift day every January where they donate their profits to this event, I was able to get onto the list of people who'll be working a shift at a local Wendy's (only 1.5 hours just in case you visit this store and might get scared I was cooking there) ... will also be donating my daily salary to the cause ...

I wholeheartedly love what Pobble wrote and will do my best to set as good an example ...

BostonPobble said...

GOML! ~ And there you have it. Happy holidays, my friend.

Senor Geek ~ Why thank you. And it sounds as if you've had a lovely season.