Helping the poor is something everyone should do. Children deserve compassionate aid from the community around them. Fortunately, many people enjoy helping. It's best when private individuals or groups help, since aid is not diluted by passing through a government agency. The personal touch is also valuable; relationships can be formed that may last long after a child no longer needs food and education for poor children.
Some truly believe that the government should take care of these needs. However, anyone seeing how much money goes into administration and how little real good is achieved for massive expenditure will realize there is a better way. Policies like 'no child left behind' or 'the war on poverty' have cost billions and improved things little if at all.
In contrast, many efforts by churches, civic organizations, businesses, and even public schools do make a difference. These are direct programs, often run by volunteers who require no salary, benefits, or oversight. Donors of goods and services know that what they give gets to the recipients, rather than being wasted on administrative costs.
Churches often collect school supplies in late summer and give, for example, a loaded book bag to children who qualify for this aid. Congregations can form a relationship with one school, and those who pass out the book bags will get to know the children they are helping, as well as teachers and school officials.
In many areas, department stores place boxes near the door for shoppers to fill with school supplies or packaged groceries, depending on the need. It's easy for most families to donate a box of crayons, a notebook, or a pack of pencils while they are doing their own 'back to school' shopping. People enjoy dropping a box of cake mix or a can of baked beans into the box on their way out of the store.
Some churches form relationships with a particular school and even make sure that kids have food over the summer vacation. They collect boxes of cereal and jars of peanut butter and distribute them to registered families at the beginning of every month. The participants get to know each other, and both caregivers and recipients benefit. This is a great program, because no one has to give a lot but added together the gifts add up to more than enough.
There are lots of opportunities in the area of education besides giving school supplies. People can offer free tutoring to students of all levels. Local business professionals may speak at schools or teach at community colleges. Businesses can offer internships or summer programs to introduce high school kids to the world of law, finance, or retail.
You can research volunteer opportunities online, participate at church or at work, and help out with local food drives. You can help a poor family connect with services they need. You might want to sponsor a music or art program after school, or help a civic organization buy eyeglasses for a student. There are really as many opportunities to help as there are needs.
Some truly believe that the government should take care of these needs. However, anyone seeing how much money goes into administration and how little real good is achieved for massive expenditure will realize there is a better way. Policies like 'no child left behind' or 'the war on poverty' have cost billions and improved things little if at all.
In contrast, many efforts by churches, civic organizations, businesses, and even public schools do make a difference. These are direct programs, often run by volunteers who require no salary, benefits, or oversight. Donors of goods and services know that what they give gets to the recipients, rather than being wasted on administrative costs.
Churches often collect school supplies in late summer and give, for example, a loaded book bag to children who qualify for this aid. Congregations can form a relationship with one school, and those who pass out the book bags will get to know the children they are helping, as well as teachers and school officials.
In many areas, department stores place boxes near the door for shoppers to fill with school supplies or packaged groceries, depending on the need. It's easy for most families to donate a box of crayons, a notebook, or a pack of pencils while they are doing their own 'back to school' shopping. People enjoy dropping a box of cake mix or a can of baked beans into the box on their way out of the store.
Some churches form relationships with a particular school and even make sure that kids have food over the summer vacation. They collect boxes of cereal and jars of peanut butter and distribute them to registered families at the beginning of every month. The participants get to know each other, and both caregivers and recipients benefit. This is a great program, because no one has to give a lot but added together the gifts add up to more than enough.
There are lots of opportunities in the area of education besides giving school supplies. People can offer free tutoring to students of all levels. Local business professionals may speak at schools or teach at community colleges. Businesses can offer internships or summer programs to introduce high school kids to the world of law, finance, or retail.
You can research volunteer opportunities online, participate at church or at work, and help out with local food drives. You can help a poor family connect with services they need. You might want to sponsor a music or art program after school, or help a civic organization buy eyeglasses for a student. There are really as many opportunities to help as there are needs.
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Learn how to support food and education for poor children by visiting our web pages now. For detailed information on our mission or to get involved, click the links at http://www.mumzyschildrenrelieffoundation.org today.