Join In Efforts To Provide Food And Education For Poor Children

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By Kathleen Reed


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.

Others feel that this is a responsibility that churches, civic groups, businesses, and even schools should assume for their local area. One very good argument for private help is that no bureaucrats, who deserve and get a salary, are needed for planning, gathering, or distribution. The money or goods donated go directly to the recipient when the work is done by dedicated volunteers.

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.

Think how many boxes you've seen near the doors of department stores. Customers are encouraged to buy an extra item or two while they are doing their 'back to school' shopping, so the store can pass them along to those who will distribute them. These drives are very effective, because many people are happy to give an item that costs a dollar or two.

If a church or civic group 'adopts' a school, they can help even when school is out. One program collects boxes of cereal and jars of peanut butter to give out the first of each of the summer months, so children that may depend on a free school lunch won't go hungry over the vacation. Schools, stores, banks, scout troops, and churches have food drives, when they collect canned goods for local food banks or homeless shelters. Even if people can only give one item, enough donations added together can make the difference.

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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