Charities for the Poor: Handout, or Hand Up?

By Teresa Ambord

If you think charities that serve the poor are merely distributing handouts to lazy people, take another look. It's not uncommon to be scornful of places like soup kitchens and rescue missions, because on the surface, they seem to perpetuate a subcultural lifestyle of non-responsibility.

But if you peek behind the curtains of these organizations, they might be much different than you think. All across the United States, missions operate to feed hungry families and give the homeless warm beds on cold nights. But that's not all they do. Not even close!

Check it Out

If you go online and type in "rescue mission" you'll find them in cities everywhere in America. Many people who visit these missions have been classified by the local Social Service departments as "throw-a ways," unredeemable and destined for severe poverty. Too often, they have children with them.

Rescue missions and similar organizations are striving to take society's castaways and get them back into productive lives. Take, for example, the Good News Rescue Mission (GNRM) in Redding, California. GNRM helps people who have hit the skids regain their dignity and rejoin society.

What Rescue Missions Do

Many people who find their way to rescue missions lack fundamental things that we take for granted. Without those missing pieces, a return to normal life seems unreachable, so they give up.

At GNRM and other missions, assistance is available in these areas:

Identification. Many long-term homeless people have no form of ID, and no knowledge of how to get it.
A place to wash up.
A clean set of clothes. Most missions maintain closets of good donated clothing. Before a person goes out looking for a job, they can be appropriately outfitted.
A haircut.
Basic medical and dental care.
Help earning their GED if needed.
Training in basic employment skills and work habits to make them employable.
Job market information.
Money management skills.
Guidance in finding decent, affordable housing.
Counseling.
Mentoring.
For some, paying jobs working at the missions.
And for those who need it, long-term drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

Who Pays for All This Charity?

Mostly individuals. At GNRM, 80% comes from private donations, and the rest from churches, businesses, grants, and fund-raising activities. Volunteers provide much of the training, mentoring, and counseling. Community food drives, clothing drives, coat drives, and blanket drives help to restock the pantries and closets of these charities. Some organizations, like the Salvation Army, maintain thrift stores to resell donations of clothing, furniture, whatever, and raise money to help the needy.

Are They Successful?

Absolutely. Though not all of those who pass through the missions step into to a better life, many do. And those that do, become productive members of society again, providing for themselves and their children. Often the rescued become the rescuers, helping others down the path to recovery.

Still Cynical?

Charities for the poor that offer a hand-up, but expect the recipients to participate in and commit to their own recovery, are recycling people that government programs have abandoned as unsalvageable. Rescue missions don't have to fight the red tape inherent in government assistance. They can simply offer help.

From Tax-user to Taxpayer

If the ministry of changing lives doesn't convince you, then look at it this way. From a strictly financial perspective, rescue missions are turning tax-users into taxpayers. And that has to be good.