Your Charity of Choice (1 Viewer)

[bigbottom]

I do something different.

I've been pretty lucky in my life and career financially, but my wife and I have never really donated much to charity. The two primary reasons are skepticism about where the money goes, and the fact that I like to actually see and participate a bit in outcome. So we went for a while not really doing much charity-wise.

About five years ago I hired an older African American fellow who was mentally slow - Brian. We are not sure exaclty what Brian's mental issues are, but they are there. He worked in our lab for a couple years, and honestly, that was pretty much all about charity. He didn't do much, but I just couldn't let him go. Finally, we hit a slow time, and I had to pull the trigger and fire him. It was very very difficult to do.

About a year and a half ago, a guy at work said he saw Brian panhandling for money down by the freeway. A couple days later, a lady I work with said the same thing, and she said she talked to him and he said he had been homeless for three years, ever since I had to lay him off.

I went home that night and cried. It was just so hard to hear what had happened to him. He is such a good guy, and just always wanted to work, but he's got issues that prevent him from holding a "real" job. I talked to my wife and we decided we needed to help him and get him off the streets. Now the thing about Brian is that he doesn't think he has a problem. He thinks he's totaly "normal" but has just had some bad luck. So it's a bit tough to get him the help he really needs.

I drove down to where I heard Brian was and after a couple days of asking around, I finally found him. It was the middle of summer in Phoenix, and I saw him walking the streets with a few bags. When I approached him, he instantly remembered me and starting asking about how everyone at work was doing. He was very weathered and looked terrible. All of his top teeth were broken from what looked like some kind of fight. He said he had been sleeping in the park for three years. He showed me where and showed me how he cleaned himself (with a bucket of water filled from the hose at the park). It was one of the sadder days of my life.

I took Brian to an Extended Stay hotel and got him a room. I got him settled, and I made a promise to him that he would never have to sleep on the streets again. I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to make that happen, but there was no way I could live with myself if he had to go back to the streets.

I started up a collection at work to help get his teeth fixed. We raised some money and a guy at work is friends with a dentist, and we got a discounted price on a full set of top dentures for Brian. It was a few month process, but we got his smile back to where it used to be - the teeth look great! 

That was about 2 years ago, and since then, my wife and I pay for Brian to have an apartment and I stop by at least once a month and give him grocery and food gift cards. He keeps applying for and getting and losing jobs, but at least he's out there trying. He can get Social Security in about five years, and at that point he wants to move back to Pittsburgh. So I figure I have about five more years of supporting him, and that will be my charity donations. I'm lucky to have a wife who is just as supportive of him, and actually, we feel better about helping Brian than we do about helping our own kids sometimes! 

Anyway, sorry for the long rant. I just thought I would share what we do because it's pretty non-traditional, but it's a really good feeling to know that we are really making a difference, even if it's just in one person's life.

It is impossible to overstate how much getting a set of teeth for a homeless person can positively impact their lives.  Nutrition, health, employability, self-esteem. It's honestly one of the more life-changing things you can do for someone in that position.  Good on you!

 

[kutta]

It is impossible to overstate how much getting a set of teeth for a homeless person can positively impact their lives.  Nutrition, health, employability, self-esteem. It's honestly one of the more life-changing things you can do for someone in that position.  Good on you!

I totally agree. Every time I see Brian, he busts out in a big smile and talks about how he "got his smile back." It's so important to him, and I'm just glad to be able to help him out.

 

[NutterButter]

Friends of Karen in the NY area.

They principally provide financial support to families of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. But they also provide sibling support (enormously overlooked component), coordinate "adopt a family" stuff around the holidays, back-to-school support, etc. 

My wife worked for them for a few years and it's a really great organization that actually spends it's money wisely. That's why we donate there. She's worked for other orgs and seen how they spend their money, and we don't donate to those places.

My daughter's first birthday is coming up and we asked people to consider making a donation to FOK instead of bringing gifts. She has everything she needs and more importantly we can provide for her (and selfishly, we just don't have the space for all those gifts, so this is an awesome best-of-both-worlds). 

Weve Typically done the whole donate to a charity instead of giving a gift at my kids birthday parties. Like you said we don't need any more crap and those donations will go to much better use.

 

[bentley]

United Way for Greater Austin. Our chapter work focuses mainly on providing early childhood education for underprivileged kids to give them a chance to succeed in school and also in 2Gen programs where the parents get job training while the kids get high quality education at the same time. I’m also a board member and on several committees.

On several other boards around town, but UWATX focuses on the area of greatest need.

 

[Chemical X]

Just an update on my meals on wheels volunteerism.  So, I got myself on a fill in list for deliver.  Basically, if someone can't deliver their route, I get a call to fill in.  I have only been called 2x in my first 3 mumfs, but it is fascinating to see how the operation works.  So many people are involved in getting the food to someone, it is amazing and what is delivered is really not much to you and me, basically a glorified TV dinner, but you have to do things a certain way and stick to the routine. 

I guess I would say that donating your time is just as valuable as donating scrillas.

 

[Psychopav]

Mercy Home

 

[kutta]

Just an update on my meals on wheels volunteerism.  So, I got myself on a fill in list for deliver.  Basically, if someone can't deliver their route, I get a call to fill in.  I have only been called 2x in my first 3 mumfs, but it is fascinating to see how the operation works.  So many people are involved in getting the food to someone, it is amazing and what is delivered is really not much to you and me, basically a glorified TV dinner, but you have to do things a certain way and stick to the routine. 

I guess I would say that donating your time is just as valuable as donating scrillas.

As someone who donates a fair amount of scrillas, I’d say donating time is much more valuable - for both you and the recipient.

 

[ChiefD]

Mercy Home

That's a cool charity. Read quite a bit of their website. 

 

[Psychopav]

That's a cool charity. Read quite a bit of their website. 

Definitely.  And when I was a H.S. teacher (1995 - 2000), I saw firsthand the amazing impact they had on kids' lives.

 

[ChiefD]

Definitely.  And when I was a H.S. teacher (1995 - 2000), I saw firsthand the amazing impact they had on kids' lives.

To me, this is how we (as a society) are going to really impact and turn around our country. We have to be able to reach those kids and provide them opportunities to a world they don't even know exists. And keep them from falling into a hole they can never get out of. And that charity looks like they are doing their part. Very impressive. 

 

[Psychopav]

Shame on me for forgetting this one.

Habitat

Also local Catholic Charities and St. Vincent DePaul.

 

[Mr. Ected]

Shame on me for forgetting this one.

Habitat

Say what you will about whether you agreed with Mr. Carter's politics, and some say he was one of the worst Presidents ever (although that was in the Pre-45 era ) ; he has been by far the best ex-President yet. Hands down.

 

[RUSF18]

One Simple Wish is a new one I've gotten into recently after hearing about it from someone I follow on Twitter. It's mostly aimed at supporting kids in foster homes who are looking for small things to brighten their days a bit.

When I first went on, almost right away I saw an agency posting about a 2 year old girl who was looking for her first tricycle ($55). It was literally an hour after I ordered our 15 month old her first tricycle (convertible from being one of those push bikes). What could be a better sign? Yesterday we got a 6 year old some kind of mermaid Barbie because her dream is to be a mermaid and she can play with this thing in the bath.

I plan on checking in on the site every couple weeks or so and grabbing some stuff. Of course I understand the need for monetary donations but it's also nice to do little things that can directly put smiles on the faces of kids who have been dealt a crap hand.

Anyway, thought I'd share in case it interests people here.

 

[Chemical X]

So, I filled in today for a Meal on Wheels delivery and I highly recommend this charity.  It's time, not money, maybe 1 hour when you get called.  They have everyday drivers, but like I said, I am simply a fill in for when a regular can't deliver a route.  So, maybe 1x or 2x per month, if that.  The recipients are so appreciative and it keeps you grounded in understanding how people might not have it as well off as you do.  I have found that most people don't really want to chat with me, though I would be available.  They get their food, say thx and I am on my way.  About 10 deliveries, but many times they are lumped together in the same complex or like today, 3 in the same house.  It's like a small TV dinner, today was fish, sides of beans and veggies.  Tartar, bread, milk and banana.  It amazes me this occurs everyday, with so many people involved.

Just an FYI if anyone is feeling charitable and looking.