The role of charity groups

I watched a program recently about feeding hungry people in Kenya. Apparently Kenya is experiencing their worst drought in 20 years. The program indicated that the livestock were dying and because of that the people were starving too. This group had brought in truckloads of food and was distributing it to the people there.

What really surprised me was that there was no water being distributed, and all the food was beans, rice and dried corn. How were they going to prepare this food if they were lacking water ? My understanding is that people can live for 3 weeks without food, but only about 3 days without water. Obviously they were getting water from someone or the drought has not completely depleted their water supply.

My point here is that we are only seeing what they want us to see. They mention that they have been working in northern Kenya for over 30 years. It sees to me that in that amount of time they should have some type of self sustaining system in place . I believe the point of charity is not only to feed people but to educate them so that they can eventually support themselves. The old adage “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” is what charity should be about. Too many of the large charities appear to be more interested in propagating their organization than helping people to help theselves.

Why Make Charitable Donations ?

          Everybody donates to the charity of their choice for their own reasons. While I like to believe that everyone contributes out of kindness, I know hat this is untrue. Many people use these donations as a way of lowering their taxes and some do it because their religion tells them they must if they want to go to heaven. While others want the respect that comes with  making large donations.

          Large amounts of money are donated by these people every year and it is of course appreciated by the charities and recipients. It feeds many children and helps the least fortunate among us. It is used for research  and medical treaments and so many other things.

          So is it wrong to donate for these reasons ? No these are all valid reasons to contribute to charity. I believe though that the people who are seeking no rewards either financially, in the afterlife or earthly are the real Philanthropists among us. They donate only for the self satisfaction of knowing they have made somebody else’s life better without any other reward..

          That is why there is nothing on my blog or my website to identify me. I am not seeking recognition for my good works nor am I looking to receive any other reward besides knowing I have made the world a better place for everyone.

          Like people everywhere I do need to meet my own personal needs. I neither expect nor intend to get rich from this, but I do have to survive while doing the charity work.