Have You Ever Asked Yourself This Provocative Question About Charity?

By Published on December 22, 2015

Every December, our family has chosen names off charity trees and bought presents for needy kids and families. But this act of giving felt hollow.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to give Christmas gifts to kids, but I remember the look on a mom’s face as she opened the door to accept the gifts I was delivering. She bowed her head, grabbed the bag — avoiding any eye contact. A look of shame spread across her face.

Our act of generosity may have met an immediate need, but it didn’t solve anything long term. She is still, several years later, living in poverty — and she’s not alone.

None of us want to believe that our help isn’t actually helping, but what if it isn’t?

What if our contributions aren’t empowering people to leave a harmful situation, distancing them even further from employment and a life of opportunity?

James Whitford, founder of the Watered Gardens Rescue Mission asked himself the same question.

Whitford started the mission in Joplin, Missouri with his wife over 15 years ago. They originally thought by giving out clothes, food and shelter that they were helping, but they weren’t — at least not long term.

They were meeting immediate needs but their “help” was keeping people trapped in a cycle of dependency; the exact opposite of their intent. He explained:

“At first it was, ‘Hey, you’re hungry. We want to feed you and love you.’ Then they’d come back and we’d feed them again, or give them shoes. I’d ask, ‘What did you do with the last pair?’ We began to realize that our good intentions were not actually realizing solutions. That’s when things began to change with us. Our mindset was, if we give them stuff and tell them we care, it will make a difference. The truth is, that doesn’t work. It’s a form of aid, and aid never resolves poverty.”

 

Read the article “Have You Ever Asked Yourself This Provocative Question About Charity?” on theblaze.com.

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