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I get asked a lot how to help the people I write about. My first response is pretty simple, treat them like anybody else, not someone who is broken, or fallen, or a victim, or whatever.
Give them the dignity to be your equal, as measured by things other than $, status, etc. 1/
Give them the dignity to be your equal, as measured by things other than $, status, etc. 1/
Yet clearly by $ they are not equal. So how to help them that way? I believe in charity being as local & personal as possible. I buy people McDonald's meals, let them use my phone, or computer, help them navigate social services. Etc.
Or just sit & talk if they want to talk 2/
Or just sit & talk if they want to talk 2/
So I keep a wad of $10 & $5 bills in my pocket to hand out, if asked, or offer. I also carry McDonald's gift cards, if you worry about $s going to drugs
For those who worry about being scammed. Well, if begging for cash is their scam, they are probably still pretty desperate. 3/
For those who worry about being scammed. Well, if begging for cash is their scam, they are probably still pretty desperate. 3/
If you want to help more local is IMO the best. Volunteer at local non-profit or church, & over time you will see how you can "help" the most. Like maybe buying the soup kitchen a new fridge, or a kid a bike, or whatever. The more personal the better. For a lot of reasons 4/
For those who don't have the time (life is complicated) & want to give to a charity, here are 4 links of places I tend to ask people to give to.
All are Bronx focused, because the Bronx did so much for me. I owe it.
There are variations of all of these in every city though 5/
All are Bronx focused, because the Bronx did so much for me. I owe it.
There are variations of all of these in every city though 5/
Hunts Point Alliance for Children https://www.huntspoint.org/
VIP Community Services https://www.vipservices.org/
St Ann's corner for harm reduction https://sachr.org/
St Anthony Shelter https://stanthonyshelter.org/
Publicolor https://www.publicolor.org/
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VIP Community Services https://www.vipservices.org/
St Ann's corner for harm reduction https://sachr.org/
St Anthony Shelter https://stanthonyshelter.org/
Publicolor https://www.publicolor.org/
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Although Covid has made personal charity far harder, when all of this lifts, IMO the best thing one can do to "help" is at the personal level.
Engaging (in whatever fashion you feel your are most comfortable with) with people you might not have engaged with before. 7/
Engaging (in whatever fashion you feel your are most comfortable with) with people you might not have engaged with before. 7/
Last point -- when engaging treat them like anybody else. Find common interest & talk about them. If you have them. Like maybe hating on the Jets
Also, afford people the dignity of maybe not liking them! You don't have to treat everyone as a perfect person needing your help!
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Also, afford people the dignity of maybe not liking them! You don't have to treat everyone as a perfect person needing your help!
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Regardless. Have a great Xmas and remember. Twitter brings out the worst in everyone. It is like seeing people at their very worst moment, and then having that magnified 8 billions times by quote tweets and missing context.
So. Be safe and God Bless.
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So. Be safe and God Bless.
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