"HeyBub" wrote in
m:

Not@home wrote:
There are charities that will take clothes and food. I know Purple
Heart Veteran takes clothes, and the food bank takes food.

Most of us have suffered in these times, some more than others, but
remember that the most meaningful gifts are those from people who
can't afford them; gifts from the rich aren't really much of a
sacrifice. although you have to admire some of the rich, such as
Warren Buffet, who leave their fortunes to charities.

casey wrote:

I'll disagree. The worthiness of charity depends on the worth to the
person receiving it, not the motivation, abilities, or sacrifice of
the giver. Further, the poor can't provide as much charity as the more
affluent. You're right about Buffet, but more good is done, and
quicker, when the charity is dispensed during the giver's lifetime.
Bill Gates is one such example (but recently Buffet joined the Gates
Foundation).

In the 13th Century, Maimonides ranked 13 kinds of charity. Second
from the top was an anonymous giver providing help to an anonymous
recipient. At the very bottom was a penurious contributor reluctantly,
loudly, and publicly giving a token amount to an embarrassed poor
person.

The highest form of charity according to Maimonides? Providing a loan
to a poor person so he could start a business!

The "Teach a man to fish" thing...


Many, many years ago, on PBS, F. Lee Bailey (in his youth) interviewed
H.L. Hunt, a wealthy Texas oil man and Bailey asked the proverbial
"are you still beating your wife" question: "Mr. Hunt, the history of
this country is filled with examples of the wealthy sharing their
largess with the public. One only has to think of the Carnegies and
the Fords to see examples of how they've used their great wealth to
help mankind. Why is it you've never seen fit to share your bounty
with the less fortunate?"

Old man Hunt looked at Bailey as if Bailey had just eaten a bug. "I
use my money to give people something more important that a pretty
picture to look at in some damned museum. I use my money got give 'em
a JOB!"