I am always getting in trouble, where ever we go no matter what; I’m always giving money to the homeless. In Nashville, Chicago, and mostly Orlando, every city has their share. I don’t care about their story, I don’t care what they intend to do with the money; I just give it to them. My husband tells me their story is important, but what does it matter. If you’re homeless, you’re homeless. And if that cigarette or bottle of Jack Daniels or meal at McDonalds gets you through the next day, then who am I to judge? It’s not that my husband minds how much money I give away, well he does. But mostly I don’t know when to stop.
First the story; I was in the 7-Eleven on SR-436 Saturday evening and had the misfortune to overhear a young woman asking an older gentlemen (older than me and way older than the lady in question) who was busy selecting a donut from the Krispy Crème donut case, if he “would buy her a donut too, she was hungry.” He did not respond or even look her in the eyes; he just ignored her hoping she would just go away. Chivalry is clearly dead and gone. It was only $.99.
I, on the other hand, could not wait and jumped right in, placed a dollar on the counter to pay for the donut, and told the cashier I was paying. I then looked at the cashier and said “a dollar won’t be enough, what about the tax,” and promptly put another dollar on the counter. The young lady refused to pick up the money, I guess in hopes that I would pay and take the change. Instead I put a third on top of the two that were already there. She then felt the need to tell me her story.
And I, in my great wisdom told her “I don’t care about your story, I just care that you are hungry” while the older gentlemen stood on my right and didn’t say a word. I don’t even think he noticed. The cashier also felt the need to express her gratitude and let me know that the young girl had been trying for quite some time to find someone to help her and had been at the 7-Eleven since early afternoon asking people to “buy her food, she was hungry.”
I fully intended to beat everybody to the punch but my muse, Scott Maxwell, got his story in the Orlando Sentinel Sunday morning first. And let me tell you he’s right. We, as Americans, will go far and wide to feed the people in Haiti but fail our own here at home. Maybe it’s easier because we can’t see them, we don’t have to talk to them and it sure makes for good press.
I, on the other hand, know it’s time we stopped and smelled the coffee. When every man, woman, and child in this country goes to bed each night with a full stomach, then and only then should we start to feed the rest of the world. What do you think?
This is Elaine and let the sun shine in,
Elaine Huffman
Author, Publisher, and Environmentally Conscious
Charity is extremely important. You give more than I would. However, I do give some, maybe not enough, but I do give some.
Question: Does your charitable giving include illegal aliens?
John,
The word illegal should probably give you your answer, but for the record no. I feel very strongly that if you plan to live and prosper in this country and accept our charity you must come in the front door only. I am truly a charitable person, but am never tolerant of those who break the rules. It is unacceptable and this should be the standard we as American follow at all times. No exceptions. For the record, I never ask a person if they are here in the United States legally or not when handing out dollars or quarters whatever the case may be, so it is probably irrelevant don’t you think?
Elaine