Fighting Poverty as a Business Venture

Published on May 4, 2005 By Gideon MacLeish In Politics

My position on poverty in the US is well known to frequent readers, but to those who aren't, I will rehash. I don't believe the solution to poverty lies in governments, but in individuals who can more efficiently assist others with their contributions.

One of the problems with poverty lies in the fact that "fighting poverty" can be a lucrative business venture. Simply get a building donated in kind, and start collecting charitable donations (and hey, if you take a few of those clothes for your OWN family, who would care, right? Take a look around your community. Find the food banks, the clothing banks, the agencies to help with utility assistance; if you work your way around these on a regular basis (as most of the needy do), there's hardly any need for ANY government aid, save for cash assistance.

And yet most of these organizations are run by churches. While they are good organizations to be sure, they refuse to streamline their services by combining with other, similar charities. Why? well, that would dilute their take, now, wouldn't it? Running a food bank gives a minister a little extra incentive to add that extra plea for money; after all, it's not for HIM, it's for the POOR. And setting up a homeless shelter pretty much amounts to job security in the world of the compassionate. I remember in the community we left where a $10 million homeless shelter was being built to serve a community of 60,000.

Don't get me wrong; the services these organizations provide do a world of good. They provide inestimable value to the community and individual when they are run properly. But I have seen far too many "ministers" with dollar signs in their eyes when they realize that they can make a whole lot more by running service organizations than they ever could by just having Sunday and Wednesday services.

And here, I find one of my biggest ethical dilemnas; that is, that the services are being provided even though the ministers are making money hand over fist. I just wish the church would spend a little less time concentrating on its income and more concentrating on its outreach.

Comments

MasonM

on May 04, 2005

And of course there are no honest churches or ministers who pass all of the donated goods, minus true operating costs, to the needy? Sorry but I do know a few who do. I have personally worked closely with some of these groups and am happy to say that I haven't personally run into this sort of deceit. But I know it does exist.

Not everyone is out to take advantage. But sadly, yeah there are enough of them to leave a bad taste in the mouths of many.

Gideon MacLeish

on May 04, 2005

Mason,

Sad to say I'm getting jaded. My experience indicates that the honest ones are a rather small minority. I HOPE my experience is an anomaly, but I'm starting to question that.

MasonM

on May 04, 2005

Could be a regional thing. As someone who has lived most his life in the "bible belt" as they call it, perhaps the sheer volume of churches and church groups improves the odds a bit?

And many church groups here do in fact join forces on certain projects to improve the outcome. Many food banks down here are non-denominational and contributions come from many different church groups.

Oh yeah, I should also mention that in legitimately established churches, the minister doesn't handle the money at all. That isn't his job. The only exception may be a small independant church in which the minister has to perform all church duties.

Trudygolightly

on May 04, 2005

I find this article very insightful and agree with most of your ideas, it makes alot of sense.

" just wish the church would spend a little less time concentrating on its income and more concentrating on its outreach."

SO TRUE!
I so wanted to get to church, and having no car, my community worker took me to the church to see if there was a member
of the church near me that would agree to pick me up on Sunday morning. The secretary said, quite tartly, "you know the address
of the church right?, well then you can get here on your own". So, I've given up on "organized religion!!

" if you work your way around these on a regular basis (as most of the needy do), there's hardly any need for ANY government aid, save for cash assistance."

Well.....I don't know what a food bank is, there's a food shelf here in town and the needy are allowed to visit it once a month and if you use it three months in row then they contact the welfare to see why you need it so much! The clothing assistance is a one time allowed thing. Like when my dad died, I needed a winter coat to wear so I could brave the cold weather. That was the only time I"ve used it, however would hate to need more help as the attitude there is not friendly.
And you're right about the people that work or volunteer getting things for themselves first. I saw first hand how the employees and volunteers bought stuff that had been donated for the poor. It wasn't as if they "stole them" since they paid for them, it's just
that the public never gets a chance to see it and buy it before it's sorted through by the help.

MasonM

on May 04, 2005

Wow Trudy, sounds like a very crappy church. I wouldn't have gone back either. Inexcusable.

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