Should Charity start at home?....?

Question

Why are we so quick to help out other countrys when a disaster happens .. but when bad floods hit England and leave 1000's homeless do they have England on there screens to donate to?....

Answer 1

Yes, charity should begin at home.  Further, no funds should be given away to anyone else until everyone at home has food, clothing, and shelter (the simple basics).  Anything less is a shame on your house.

Answer 2

yes send me a check in the mail

Answer 3

It's called politics. It's the reason you have such a nice house over your head and why you can afford charity.

Is it better to start charity at home or with those who have the least and need it the most?

Answer 4

CHARITY SHOULD START AT HOME BUT SADLY ENOUGH MOST OF THE TIME IT DOES NOT.  THIS ALSO GOES FOR OUR HOMES WITH OUR FAMILIES.  MANY WILL BE  AND ARE WILLING TO  GO ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR FRIENDS, CO-WORKERS AND EVEN PEOPLE THEY BARELY KNOW BEFORE THEY EVEN CONSIDER DOING SOMETHING FOR A FAMILY MEMBER.  WHEN NATURAL DISASTERS HAPPEN TO OTHER COUNTRIES I THINK OTHERS FEEL OBLIGATED TO ASSIST THEM SO THEY CAN GET THE RECOGNITION FOR BEING SUCH A GREAT COUNTRY, THAT DOES GREAT THINGS.  TO ANSWER THE QUESTION WHY ARE OUR PEOPLE LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES IS STILL A MYSTERY AND WILL FOREVER BE.  THE UNITED STATES IGNORED THE HURRICANE KATRINA VICTIMS FOR DAYS. EVEN TROOPS FIGHTING THE WARS ARE IGNORED.  THESE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN SACRIFICE EVERYTHING AND THE GOVERNMENTS

IN MY OPINION IGNORE THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES NEEDS.  THEY ONLY DO WHAT'S NECESSARY AND THAT IS NOT ENOUGH!  WHEN WILL IT ALL CHANGE WHEN WILL WE HOLD OUR GOVERNMENTS ACCOUNTABLE?

Answer 5

There are NOT thousands of people homeless from the English floods. There aren't hundreds of people homeless from the English floods. There aren't even dozens.

Those who were temporarily made homeless by the floods had a government and community that was rich enough to help them. The response in England was certainly more organized and quicker to respond than, say, the New Orleans region.

If you want to only give money locally, fine (and what DID you do to help others during and after the floods, by the way?) -- but don't dictate to others about where they want to focus their philanthropy. It's not your place.

Answer 6

I think the tendency to rush to the aid of the disaster of the week, often miles away from home, is because there is the feeling of being part of the team.  When you donate locally as an individual instead as part of a big high profile charitable effort, you don't get that same rush.

I am involved with an international needlecraft group that mainly makes clothing/blankets for different agencies.  And though I feel silly at times for contributing elsewhere with the postage involved, when there are domestic violence shelters and homeless shelters and such within a half hour of home, I have to admit that there is something that makes being part of a group effort more attractive.  

I have been trying to cut back on the mailings, have been trying to focus more on local needs (and when I do they are thrilled to get what I deliver so that should be a motivator to deliver close to home!) when the needs are the same as what the group is supporting.  But I would find it hard to quit the group and just focus on local efforts.