social resposibility as a prepper

This is a beautiful example of charity Fenwolf and terrific of you teaching kindness to your kids. While I think we could have a whole discussion on charity, I'll stick to answering your posted questions.

My family donates quite a bit to our Church who forward a fair part to different missions around the world. Relying in great part on volunteers, I personally think this is the best way to see the larger ratio of my donated dollars to the needy. Every Christmas, we also choose one charity and donate money to that charity. Helping also goes beyond donating money. My family would never pass by a stranded motorist and not stop to offer assistance; we also routinely get involved with volunteer endeavours.

While it feels good to help/donate, I can't help but wonder sometimes "why do these people need this assistance". Surely, there have to be people down on their luck, but how many are in unfortunate circumstances due their own poor choices, addictions, unpreparedness or pure laziness?

"While it feels good to help/donate, I can't help but wonder sometimes "why do these people need this assistance". Surely, there have to be people down on their luck, but how many are in unfortunate circumstances due their own poor choices, addictions, unpreparedness or pure laziness?"

People on this forum are infatuated with the mythical SHTF. What we sometimes fail to see is that for others - the shit is hitting the fan daily! Fenwolf tells a story about a single mom with three kids... the shit has hit the fan big time! Unless she was partnered with someone with extreme means, it is likely things are really tight. Without a network of family and friends to lean on, one can feel completely overwhelmed. I have always been really fortunate with respect to that support network but can well understand how difficult it is without support.

So what does that mean for us??? We are prepared for various scenarios and often feel pretty good about ourselves. In all likelihood, the world won't end in our lifetimes (I hope this isn't news to you) and we should be thankful for having preps that will go unused. With respect to social responsibility I think it both right and good to lend a hand to people when they are struggling. You don't have to subscribe to a specific religious world view in order to care for your fellow man or woman. For me, I give when I see the need in others. I give first to those who are closest to me and a work out of that circle. It's a bit tribal but it works for me.

Fenwolf the heart spirit you have to be able to feel and respond to anothers need is beautiful. It is however a response to a symptom not to the problem. Poverty is a consequence gross injustice. It is the consequence of the economics of greed. If man lived with justice as his core principle than the extremes of wealth and poverty could not exist. This concept is called spiritual economics and if it were the standard that govern human affairs than the third world would live on par with the first world. Overpopulation would not be a concern. If the earth were given the same justice than it would not be raped of resources to the point of destruction.

Fenwolf the heart spirit you have to be able to feel and respond to anothers need is beautiful. It is however a response to a symptom not to the problem. Poverty is a consequence gross injustice. It is the consequence of the economics of greed. If man lived with justice as his core principle than the extremes of wealth and poverty could not exist. This concept is called spiritual economics and if it were the standard that govern human affairs than the third world would live on par with the first world. Overpopulation would not be a concern. If the earth were given the same justice than it would not be raped of resources to the point of destruction.

I would agree its a response to the symptom not the problem. Thats as far as you make any sense.

You've made a sweeping statement about poverty being a consequence of gross injustice. And somehow taken an act of Charity and twisted it into a bizarre tale of socialism, communism, some buzz term called Spiritual economics and some eco environmental babble personifying the Earth... topped with a layer of entitlement... I am having a hard time trying to explain the offense I take at your post.

As someone who comes from poverty and who has felt the sting, hurt and damage of injustice, Has watched those they love suffer the same and knowing that every day when you go to school you and those you care about are going to be beaten and you go to school on an empty stomach.

I remember people like you feeling so moved that they were compelled to help. It was welcomed and they were honored for at least having a heart that was alive. Charity is good but I wish it wasn't needed and it is needed all over the world. So I look for world solutions not just my own. I am sorry you felt offended but offense is a choice you made. I choose not to be even though I think you were offering it. You are a good person, be at peace.

While we were out today shopping for groceries and some winter emergency gear we crossed paths with a single mom of 3 having trouble buying lunch for her and her children. So I bought a $50 gift card for A&W and then had my 2 kids take it over to her. She was so greatful she started to cry. She only had $1.17 in her wallet and as it was they would have to walk home from the mall. My wife walked over to them and handed her our family day pass for the transit so they could get home. After we finished for the day and got home for dinner our kids asked why we did what we did. We explained that even though we are prepared not everyone has the resources to do it. So if we can we help in any way so others can have a chance. We are trying to help our kids understand that as part of prepping we should help others. What ways do you help others? and how does it make you feel to do it?

Good man 🙂

I had a similar situation a few weeks ago at the grocery store. The mom in front of me was asking the cashier, "how much would it be if you take this off" It seemed like most of her items were going back on the shelves. I told the cashier to put them back, I would pay the difference & give the change to the woman. The reaction I got from the woman was not a positive one. She got rather nasty about it. I would still try to help the next time in spite of the reaction that I received.

I made it my goal this year to do one thing a month for "charity". I decided to crochet blankets for terminal patients.

I guess I see it different then charity ( I know, its a common word to use).
I see it as a HAND UP.

Many eons ago I was there needing a hand up while raising 3 kids on my own.
If I could of only had a hand up, instead of what some called charity. But I struggled and keep paddling my own wheels. Finally got there.
To me those are two different things, tho for me kinda hard to explain.

What Fenwolf did was a hand up. Good on you FW! 🙂
You're caring story made tears come to these old eyes.

You did more then you know for that gal. You gave her something she will never probably see again for a long time...if ever.
You gave her (and possibly her kids too) something valuable, caring and respect and the message that others do in fact care enough to give a helping hand up, not a hand out.

You also gave a valuable lesson to your children...about caring.
So lacking in today's world where most would look down on her in her struggles or just 'avoid' seeing it.

We (collective we) don't care enough about others as we go on in our lives.
We toss coins to charities and they hand out things that may not be needed to really help each. Now don't get me wrong, I am not blaming them nor running them down. They can only do so much in a time of many needing help and most of them are well meaning.

Someone who once told me..'you were there for me when I really needed it.' That will stay with me til I die. Talk about touched. :')
Not money, not things....just time to be with a person can make someone's world a different place by caring.

A little story if I may.
( I can hear ppl say "there goes OTG again.. another long post.) 😉

Eons ago I was helping thru a church organization.
A native fellow came in to bring them a huge box fresh fish he had caught, to give out to those that needed.
He had no mitts/gloves, he could not afford them as I was told later. They tried to get him some but his hands were bigger then they could find. He refused to take them cause someone else could better use them, they told me.

I was there seeing him rub his hands trying to get life back into those frozen fingers. He was so proud that he could help others as he understood the need to eat good foods.
Not a word about his hands but it was very telling, nor did he complain.

I went home that day and made him the warmest double knitted mitts I could make. Brushed the inside then lined them to make them more air proof.
Returned there on the day he was due again with more fish. The gals there gave him the mitts but thankfully no mention of who made them for him. I stood on the sidelines, watching as he was gifted them.

He really didn't know what to say, just looked around at us, then looked back at the mitts and a smile came to his face as he looked at everyone again.
Poor guy was stuck for what to say he was so overwhelmed that anyone would care to help him.
That look on his face still stays with me. That was my 'payback'.
This was not totally about mitts..it was the message that someone cared enough to do it for him.

Concept is very easy to figure out, if there has to be one.
It's called caring and putting yourself in their shoes by relating to them.

If more ppl would try putting themselves in others shoes and caring...we would not be in this mess we have all created many years ago.
When we stopped caring about others and the 'help your neighbour' stopped, that's when the big problems started.
And yes there's a flip side to that but will not go into that right now.

That's just my point of view. Simple... yes.
Sometimes I think we make things to complicated.
The word K.I.S.S is so right on. 😉

Old school:
I believe to much pride is a dangerous thing, as that lady showed. I think she was so embarrassed that she 'bit your head off' for trying to help out. Probably a concept that was totally foreign to her as well. :/
I've done it this way.
'You know I had someone help me one day when I was a bit short on $'s, so I am paying it forward.'
So far I still have my head.. I think.
Hey, you tried O.S..... good on you !

Ways:
I have to admit you lost me to on the last part as well. 🙂
As long as there are ppl and this old world keeps spinning, sadly to say there will always be a need.

I would say being there oneself and/or the ability to put your mind in their shoes that motivates most. A pay it forward, if you will.
--------

I still believe helping the first one, that one will hopefully go on to help others. I believe what started with one can multiply, like many other things have.
By planting one seed, you create many more. Sure some seeds don't take hold but look at the ones that do!

OTG

OTG, I did try the soft way. I even explained that I was once helped in by someone in the same manner. I am sure you are right about the pride and the fact that most likely no one had ever taken the time to notice her, never mind try to help.

There have been some really encouraging responses to Fenwolf's post. Just as OTG chooses to call that help a "hand up", I choose to call it support. The overall point is, there are those among us who are having a tough time of it and we often have the ability and means to make a difference. It's really just up to us.

I flirted with poverty and single parenthood a couple of decades ago and it wasn't fun. Oddly, I didn't see myself as poor at the time. I was just trying to muddle through like so many of us do. I had to make a decision to change my circumstances and fortunately had the support network in place to help me through. Things are very different today for me and I am not so arrogant as to think that I am solely responsible for that good fortune. I certainly wouldn't change the "system" that allowed for both my hard times and now the better times. Instead, I would encourage my peers to help others when the opportunity presents itself and assert that it is entirely consistent for a successful society to do so.

For Thecrownsown, I'm sorry you feel offended by Ways'. I understand where you are coming from and approach similar situations like this; in order to be offended by someone on these boards you must first respect them. Save your respect for your peers until they have first earned it in the content of their posts and views. There is nothing you can do about those folks who appear to be way out there, however if you don't respect them in the first place, their opinions can hardly offend.

Antsy

My wife used to work for a drive through coffee place. Two or three times a week someone would come to the window and pay for the order of the car behind them not knowing who they were of what they ordered. Its called, 'a random act of kindness' and it is usually anonymous.

Wow. When I posted this I did not expect all this. I just wanted to see what experiences others have had. My family too has hit upon hard times in the last few years and we fought through them and have come back around. There were many people that gave us help when we needed it and I want to do my part to help others now that I have the means to. I can only be who I am and I always try to help another when possible. And from what I am seeing on the news and reading on the net about the state of the world right now. I can only see that more people will need help and we all have to try and do our part.

My wake up call was two strokes....in rapid succession for my DH. Together we make more than the average household but we were invincible and nothing bad was heading our way... Well try two years on,one income instead of two and no noticeable change to the outgoings.

Today, I have my man, we r both back at the top of the earnings tree but do I look at the world through different eyes? You're damn skippy!
Would I put myself out to help someone less fortunate? Today that's a resounding Hell Yeah.
Who needs me? Sign me up!

Good for you man. I don't see too many families, but I take care of the schizos on my corner as best i can, soup, coffee, bagels, cigarettes.

The reason some people are poor is because they had uneducated parents and you didn't. You should thank god every day for that. You should also thank god you aren't schizophrenic, or drastically mentally ill or physically or mentally disabled, or rather GAVE BIRTH to a mentally or physically handicapped, or mentally ill child. You should also thank god you live in Canada, and weren't born in the middle east or some other terrible place. I knew a dude who was playing soccer when he was eight, saw his friends back explode out of his chest from a sniper, try living a successful life growing up like that.

And another thing. As a christian, I get seriously offended when people mention "church" and then complain about poor people IN THE SAME SENTENCE. HYPOCRITES! Jesus was a socialist by philosophy, whether you care to admit that or not. He also taught not to hate the tax-man. YOU REMEMBER THAT? WHERE HE GOT PETER AND MATHEW TO SIT DOWN TO EAT TOGETHER? Yeah taxes, ain't so bad... PAY UP. It's what made this country as great as it is. The rest was unions.

Always bothered me how 'strong' people(mentally,educationally, financially, physically) can feel jealous over social handouts, as if theirs something the welfare recipient has that they're missing out on.

EDIT- Did anybody ever notice, every major religious figure that was close to God in Judaism, Christianity, Islam and a multitude of others was always broke and homeless? If the son of God ever returned to earth, do you think he would be broke or rich, and WOULD you listen to him if he was broke?

Singlecell,

I respect the assistance you offer to the needy in your area but disagree with some of your comments. Being born of uneducated parent doesn't make one poor and neither does coming from the Middle East. At the same time, being born from respectful families doesn't make one successful.

Also, there is a significant leap in changes between the taxes levied during Jesus' days and our modern times. Effectively, the Church is no longer the main source of support for the poor, sick and orphans. Sadly, we are now in a situation where everyone contribute to 'forced charity' through taxes to support government-based social programs. I would much rather keep (lower) taxes for government and infrastructure and give generously to charity through my Church than be forced to give a healthy amount of my incomes to social programs administered by a myriad of well paid public servants. Maybe this makes me an hypocrite, but I don't see myself as such. As for being 'strong' I'm really not jealous of those recipients of social programs though I'm really annoyed some people chose to make a lifestyle out of living off the government (I personally know more than a few). I'm not hinting this was the case in Fenwolf's example.

From a religious perspective (always touchy in public forum, but I'm approaching this from an historical point of view...), not every one close to God were poor. Starting in Genesis : Joseph, son of Jacob, ruled over Egypt as Pharaoh's second in command (wealthy). Moses was part of the Pharaoh's family (very wealthy). Fast forward a bit, King Salomon surely wasn't broke nor homeless. The Apostles were fishermen, tax collectors, etc and not poor (at least until they became preachers). Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was a merchant until 43 before he started his ministry. Just some trivia.