Those who give to the
poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many
curses. Proverbs 28:27 New International Version
A week ago last Friday,
my daughter called and said she had some news. I waited for her to spill it and
in those two seconds, I began to wonder if I would see this as good news or bad
news.
She couldn’t wait for
long though to tell me that her nonprofit organization, Tumaini Volunteers Inc., had achieved tax exempt status. Which means that now anyone who donates
to it can deduct that donation on their income taxes, which means people with
extra money have further incentive to share their money with us.
Since I returned from
Africa in May of 2013, I have set up a booth at I believe six events. At these shows,
I have been selling the Kenyan arts and crafts which we had brought back with
us or which our Kenyan friends had routed to us. All of the money raised at
those craft shows goes right back to Tumaini. Inevitably, while I am telling
our story to anyone who is willing to stop long enough to hear it, someone will
say something that rubs me the wrong way. Here are the things I have heard:
1) But we have poor
people in this country. True, we do. And luckily there are many government and
private programs to help these people. I do realize too that some of these
people slip through the cracks, either they are too proud to ask for
assistance, they don’t know that help is out there, or some loophole prevents
them from getting any aid. I have worked in the medical field for over 25
years, so I know that this is true. And it frustrates me. But I still believe
these people have more resources available than those living in third world
countries do.
2) But the people living
over there really don’t have it that bad. Really? Really? And you can say that
because you have been there? Coz I have
been there twice and my daughter has been there three times. All together, the
two of us have spent nearly a year in Kenya. We weren’t there as tourists,
instead we saw how the majority of the residents live. Not in plush hotels, not
in safari resorts, but in slums and hovels and mud huts. Most of them live
without running water or reliable electricity. There is no such thing as
insurance, of any kind. If you get sick, you may find help at a local clinic
run by a charity, or you may end up dying alone at home from a simple infection
that no one in America would ever die from. There’s no foster care system to
take in the thousands of children who have been orphaned or abandoned by
parents who simply can’t afford them. I hate to tell you this, but it really is
that bad.
3) But I don’t have that
kind of money. What kind of money would that be? The average Kenyan lives on
less than a dollar a day. I am just going to make up a figure and say that 80%
of Americans can find an extra thirty dollars a month somewhere in their budget
that they could spend on a worthwhile charity. If you don’t want to send it
overseas (as in example 1), than give that money to a local charity.
4) But I’ve heard that
there is so much corruption that my donation won’t really end up helping the
needy. Finally a statement I can agree with. But all that this means is that
you have to check out the organization you are sending your money to. Just like
in this country, some nonprofit organizations have CEOs who garner an obscene
income, and only a very small percentage of your donation goes directly to
those who really need it. If you should
choose to give your hard-earned money to Tumaini Volunteers, I will show you
exactly where your money is going, who it is going to help and how it is going
to change their life. Or better yet, you can sign up for a volunteer trip with
us and come see for yourself.
Ok, so that’s me on my
soapbox this week. I will promptly climb down now and return to my normal life.
No, hold it, I don’t have a normal life, so that’s not going to happen.
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be
sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.1 Peter 3:8 New
International Version
1 comment:
Well said, Chris
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