Can you spend $1,000 – $5,000 – $10,000 helping someone else?
This is not my original idea, I am taking this idea from the television show The Big Give. I want to see how other people think and what they would do if given the opportunity to help others.
So if I gave you $1,000, $5,000 or $10,000 and a video camera what would you do to help someone else? Let me know, be creative….
Who knows, you may get the chance to do it and we can have the video on the website documenting your giving experience.
I believe this website will start a giving movement around the world. If everyone is seeking to help someone else, their own needs will be met by default.
Let me hear from you.
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42 Comments
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Kathy Swopes
My husband and I left the “wordly” way of living, to live by our Faith. We have 8 children, and have learned to live with a little and learned to live with a lot. I am a true “doer” of helping others. I don’t judge people for what they ask me for, I just give it to them. If I have $1.00 in my pocket, and someone asks me for some change, I’ll give it to them.
My family lost our home in 2007 to a foreclosure, and we have had to request churches, individuals, etc. for help. I know what is feels like to receive help, and being at a homeless shelter for 6 months (Jan.-May) I know what it feels like to give. Giving from the heart, makes this place better. We as humanity should have never become selfish, capitalist, and heartless. We have lost compassion for others. It’s time to reverse that and give the way God told us to. If you read the Bible, when Lazarus asked the rich man (Dives) for the crumbs from his table, and he refused, he eternally regretted that he didn’t help Lazarus.
Kathy Swopes
My idea for the using the money, is to help a woman in Waukegan, Illinois repair her home that she uses to feed the hungry and homeless persons 6 days a week. She has a huge house that needs work, so that she can fully utilize it to provide more services for anyone that needs. I also want to start my own service to aid the elderly, disabled, and sick-n-shut in who need someone to clean their home, run an errand, minor house repairs, or do some yard work. I will not do it for a fee, only a donation (whatever they are able to give). The only funds I need is for gas and maintenance for my car, my minutes on my cell phone, and cleaning supplies/house repair supplies. It’s not much that I need to get started. I have many other ideas to help people but these are two that are ready to go with some a little funding like what you are talking about.
I hope to hear from you to get these dreams to reality as soon as possible.
Joy Brown
I would film the hopeless people, who have had the door slammed in their faces, by people who use Government entitlements to open charities and disperse the funds to help themselves instead of the needy and then take it to congress to prove why there are so many homeless , hungry, and desperate people in the USA even though billions of dollars are dispersed to the charitable organizations yearly. I have helped the unfortunate all my life and now that I am desperate I understand the stories I have been told by those I helped. Thank you for this site.
Connie
Hmmmm…. Well, which is it, $1000, $5000 or $10,000? Of course I can help with any of the mentioned dollar amounts however my approach would be different for each. In all cases though I would try and up the starting amount to stretch the donation and amount of help further. I would rely on my current resources and experiences and really try and make a difference; help all that I can. I WOULD have a blast with this!
christine
For me, it always feels good to give than to receive. It makes me feel satisfied to give in secrecy or without disclosing myself rather than to get recognition from the people I helped. Appreciation for the gift or for the help they got from” this somebody” (Me) is already enough. Eversince, I am desirous of helping other people esp the less fortunate. I always dream of hitting the jackpot in lottery so I could help more people (but I don’t bet). I won’t mind giving away $10,000 as long as I have this money or as long as I could find a legal way in collecting this fund if this amount could greatly cater/ satisfy the needs of the people. If I have a video camera, I am sure I will use it for the benefit of other people who need help most. I would take some shots of the people who were victims of calamity, injustices, descrimination, and poverty; and use this video film to make a charity campaign and invite other people who could also extend a hand to these unfortunate people. Why am I going to do such generosity? It is because I know how it feels being in the shoe of these less fortunate people. I grew up in a remote area. Being in a big family and the second among the 6 siblings, I served as the eldest since my eldest sister got married at early age and left our family to settle down her own. I experienced all the sufferings of being in low class. Our parents wanted us to get through college ran by Marist Brothers without thinking how expensive it is only for us to get christian values/ education. We migrated in the city and lived the kind of life the city offers. My parents worked harder and, as the eldest, I worked part time and my kid brothers stopped from studying for a while just to let me graduate. I only got 3hrs of sleep because I am working and at the same time studying. It was so hard. When I got graduated, I only landed a job that is available though not in my line of course. I worked harder to help my 4 younger brothers to get through school. I asked for educational assistance from financial institution but failed to avail it because I was not qualified. I was young and only had a small income. I also tried to go for scholarship program for my brothers but was turned down because we’re new in the city. I was so desperate and felt being discriminated. I collected my old clothes and some of my friends’ and sold them to my neighbors to make ends meet. Some clothes that were not sold were brought to the orphanage or home for the aged. There, I realized that I am fortunate because I have family and I am still capable of helping despite of poverty.
David
I am feeling that there may be some hope out there to helping people with what I am reading in these responses to your question “what would you do if you had 1,5,$10,000 to help people?”
Wow, what $10,000 could buy at a surplus store. The homeless would enjoy the socks,tents,sleeping bags, foot gear,jackets-coats,tooth brushes and paste.combs-brushes. Basic necessities for living on the streets.
Marvin Edwards
To be perfectly honest I think most people answering to this blog are having a hard time right now including myself. Through my research of trying to find help for myself. I found people like yourself giving to terminally ill persons that have been unable to pay their bills buy food or even keep there utilities going. Spontaneously, if given a camera and money to help people. I would want any help given to impact the person’s life. Most people want a free handout, being perfectly honest your rich and the word FREE may sound just as good to you sometimes as it does for us. My heart goes out to the sick, elderly, children and those individuals where unforeseen circumstances has brought lost and/or hardship. With my camera in hand feeling somewhat anxious I’d hit area malls, downtown and around town asking people the very same question. Can you spend $1,000 – $5,000 – $10,000 helping someone else? If so who would you help? I would listen to their stories. The stories I feel closely connected to. I would ask them would they be available to make some extra money $50 -$100. They need to be rewarded and associate giving with receiving. If they can find the person or people told about in their story I would pay them agreed amount and help the individuals in need $50- $100 with one stipulation they can’t tell them we’re coming to there rescue. I would film the journey asking the person who accepted the challenge to predict the person in need reaction to me helping them. That’s fun because then later you’ll have their real reactions recorded. Depending on time doing all of this I may get to helping two or four people a day depending on cost of need. Another approach would be to include clips of researched stories in my area broadcasted on T.V and film that journey to help those in need. Also I would visit the hospitals mainly the cancer center and interview some people with cancer not letting them know I’m going to bless them. The right person would ring to my heart. For instance if someone having a hard time with prescription I’d help. If I sensed they needed some cash to do something with a love one like go out on the town to get things off their minds I’d do that. If they’re falling behind on rent or mortgage facing eviction or foreclosure within my means I’d help all while filming these great acts of kindness. I would tell any of the people I met along the way the Lord the used a generous giving person who gave to me to give to you. And I’d pray for them. I don’t know who you are and how you feel about God. I am a believer and If you chose me to bless people that means God chose me to be a blessing unto you. A lot of us are having hard times right now. Some of us are about to lose what seems to be everything to us. In light of that, regardless of what anybody is going through it’s always good to bring and share joy in others life by giving. In my spirit I know I’m gonna be rich one day and then I’ll be doing what you’re doing.
Marvin Edwards
Chattanooga, Tennessee
ryan brando
Living in this world is so tough. Everyday, we fight for our existence. I, myself, am not exempted from it. But we don’t have choice but to go on with our lives and continue to live righteously as much as we could. If I am given a chance to spend thousand of dollars for my fellows, of course, I will do it though I am also in need. But considering them as in need than I am, this would drive me to give away $1000, $5000, or $10,000. $10,000 is just a penny if we consider the large scale of people who need most of help. But, if this $10,000 is to be spent only for their basic necessity just to go through their lives for a day then, this amount would greatly relieves the people from hunger. If I would be given a video camera, I will use this for the benefit of the less fortunate people. What’s the use of this thing if we couldn’t take the exact picture of these people in need and reveal it to the whole world what’s happening around us? I will use this film to campaign for charity so a lot of people who is capable of helping will also join and extend their hands for these people in need.
Adliah
If I have a lot of money I’m surely will spend $10k or more to help other people.For me the amount doesnt matter but the happiness that it bring to the recepient that give me satisfaction. Eventhough I’m at the moment also in dire strait but I still give or help others whatever I could. I believe when we give something during our hardness it will pay back later when we least expected.
Melissa Huff
I have a perfect idea for this money and i would have an awesome time doing this. I met a family the other day while doing some outreach ministry. They have a little boy, Dillan, who is two years old and terminally ill. Their doctor says he has maybe 6 months to live. Make-A-Wish can’t grant this boy a wish until he is 3 and by then it may be too late. Before he got really sick he loved watching Sponge Bob Square Pants. His mother told me that it would be great for him to be granted a wish to meet Sponge Bob and have a party. My daughter was granted a wish through Make-A-Wish and I know how much it means to the child. I would love to be able to throw Dillan a huge party, and SOON! That is what I would do with the money. And I would have a great time filming it.Thanks.
smitty57
I think I would help Melissa Huff and see the child received that wish. Even if there was no $1000, $5000, $10000 offer plus Camera. I would find a way to make it happen. Go Melissa, and may Mr. Crabs let Sponge Bob off from work to give Dillan a great Sponge Bob laugh. Bless to you all.
Tashia L Bramhan
I would take the money to the downtown Charlotte Assistance Ministry 1st thing in the morning and start talking to each person one by one and offering monetary assistance to do what they need unti I ran out of the money. So by the time the center opens up, depending on the number of people I would be able to help, that number would be less for them to take information on and have sitting in waiting rooms for hours.
Paula Smeltser
My son has always wanted to start a foundation to help under-privilaged kids make their dreams come true. To be able to hear a childs dream, hook them up with the people needed and assist in the financing of making their dreams come true. Of course, this foundation would need large amounts of money to really make it work, but for every $1000.00, someone’s dream could get started and maybe even come true!
Cookie
I am trying to figure out the details, however, I think I would take the money and purchase goods from craigslist. Right now, some of the people on craigslist are in financial trouble and need funds to move, etc. so they are selling their furniture and household items. Then I would sell the items on Ebay. I would take some of that money to purchase more goods. I would set aside a percentage to save…and hopefully that money would grow to help everyone in need.
admin
Cookie,
That is very creative and allows for possible continued giving.
Great Idea…. the philanthropist wanted me to comment on your comment.
Admin
MillionairesMoney.com
chedinia
If I was given $1,000.00-$5,000.00 or even $10,000.00 and a video camera, what i would do to help someone in need would be , to have a free event and at this event i would have everyone to fill out a questionaire, in re: to there current needs. and i would try and help as many people as possible based on there current needs.of course there would be so many people in need. but i would want to help the people that were in the most need of assistance first. i would seek ways to become able to help all the people that I could possibly help by the grace of God. because it’s by his grace all things are made possible.you have to know him, trust him, and beleive in him and know that he is true.And live by his word.
Teresa Nystrom
Hello,
Allow me to tell you a story.
Several years ago my three young sons and I were renting a house
and we were two weeks late with the rent.
The landlord threw us out and we ended up homeless. We lived in
our car until the insurance ran out. Once the insurance ran out we
backed the car into a church parking lot so the plates were not
visable and we lived in it. My youngest son actually went to school
in the mornings from the car and no one knew. I called Social Assistance,
I called Shelters, I called Low Income Housing, I called friends and do you
know that not one of those agencies or friends would help us. I was stunned.
I told Social Assistance that we were living in a car and they said there is
still a mandatory three week waiting period and they could not do anything
for us at all. Did I mention that I was stunned?
Now what did I learn from this?
I learned that there are people out there, people on the streets with
children, people that really do fall through the cracks of society. people
that really cannot find help when they need it, people who started out with
the best intentions in life and then something unforseen happened to
them as it did to us. I was not aware of how things could really turn
that bad for people as I had your standard wonderful upbringing with all
the trimmings.
I believe I was taught that lesson for a reason. I look at the unfortunate in
a completely different way than I used to. I have compassion and alot
more understanding for peoples needs than I used to.
So….if I were to take up your challange this is what I would do.
I would…….
fashion my idea from a television show that I used to watch.
The hosts would set up a booth along with their video cameras and
ask people to submit by application their “needs”. , groceries, clothing,
and many other things that were within their reach to help them with.
The hosts would then select the people that they felt would most benefit
from their help. It was a wonderful program. They would do the most amazing and
wonderful things for these people. The looks on the faces of the people
whom they helped would make me cry. They were so grateful. Many
were speechless that someone would give their precious time and
actually help them. I love helping others, it is the most warm and fullfilling
feeling that I have ever felt. What could be better.
So this is what I would do. I would travel to community to community
with my crew, my crew would consist of my 18 year old son Daniel who
has the same helping spirit that I have. He actually won an award from
our Mayor for Humanitarian Work within our Community. Daniel would
do the filming and I would do the planning, helping and smiling.
Just thinking about being able to do this excites me and I want to begin
creating my list. I know I am getting a little ahead of myself. (smile).
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share this borrowed idea with you.
Claude
I;m glad someone you know has had this great idea. i;t sounds wonderful I would first buy the camera and then i would go streight to the people in my home town heare in north carolina and just show the world how poor this town really is we have lost about all our textile mills and a lot of the food banks are about to shut there doors because no one is able to donate to them thats what I would do Thank you.
Monique DuRant
hmm.. let me really think about this. $1,000, 5000, 10,000 and a camera. I would most likely visit several of the impoverished elementary schools here in Buffalo NY and speak with several teachers, principals and aides and find some students who really don’t have much. I would find out some of the needs of those children. I would see if they had things like school supplies, book bags, uniforms, toiletries etc. I would then take my money and go to Kmart, Walmart, Target, Sears, Tops, Dollar stores, etc. I would try to get them to either match the money I have or donate many of the needed items. I would video tape them donating the money and items. I would try to turn that 10,000 into at least 50,000. Then I should be able to help out at least 450-500 students and maybe a few parents. I would film as many as posible to put together a documentary of the occassion. Maybe other successful people would see the video and try to do the same type thing. All I know is the children would be thrilled and so would I. Just like Christmas!!! Wow I really like this idea..
Rhonda
I live in Memphis, TN. Having volunteered with the program at ST JUDE in different ways, I have ran into several people who are living at the housing provided at low cost for the families. I think it would be great to go see the kids and the families and be able to ask them what it is they need or want to make those trying times just a little easier. Many families have one spouse who has given up their job and is here with the child, while the rest of the family is seprated back home going to work and trying to pay the bills that keep coming. It would be great to give those families a little help. It may be something as simple as the family coming in for a weekend.
TAMMIE
I would love to help everyone! However I know that is hard to do. What I would like to do is help the low income children attend summer camps or after school programs that there parents cannot afford and then I would like to teach the single moms how to rely on resourses to apply for Scholarships so there children could attend Summer Camps that are fun and safe. I am a single mom of two children myself and I am thankful everyday for scholarship programs so that my children can do the things that the other kids get to do and they dont feel outcast because mom cannot afford summer camp.
Trisha Hartfield
Since I am a teacher I would use the money to bless select kids who don’t have adequate clothing, shoes, school materials with those items. Some children come to school with dirty clothes and ragged shoes daily. This affects ttheir self asteem especially when other children tease them. In certain cases their will be children who could use computers and other tecnology to enhance their learning experience, i would bless them. I would also like to pay off or pay down peoples bills. I know this may not be a need but it could allow someone who is struggling to breathe a little.
kathryn
I would help local children get school clothes and shoes plus schools supplies. These items can be costly when their is more than one child in a family. The children are required to bring school supplies and not everyone can afford to supply these items.
deebaby
I would search for people with children that go to bed hungry and help them buy groceries so that their little tummies would be full
Laura Miduski
I`m not absolute on how I would do the payfoward theory, I think I would do what I`ve been doing anyway. That is helping break a cycle of domestic violence,Perhaps I`d provide fees for courses for people to have an opportunity for higher education. Or buy a small home as a safe house for a family to stay while escaping the abuse. Or provide a christmas fund for the displaced children to have gifts so the parent can ease thier mind of where are the winter coats or boots or toys. Or create a voucher system with local farms to provide fruits and vegetables for the needy families. Just for now I just offer my doorstep, and what ever I could pick up at a thrift shop for the kids. And stretch the grocery budget, for just a few more mouths. someday that child may do the same for someone who also may need. (just for now) . people will continue to be people rich or poor, kind or mean, It`s the difference in onselves that would be the test with the money. good luck to all, and blessings to those who give, even if it`s just a smile to a passer by.
Cookie
I find that there are so many organizations out there willing to help people…however it is difficult for the people who need help to find them. I would establish a toll-free hotline number for people to call when they find themselves without food / shelter / etc. We could get in touch with the organization nearest to them to provide aid. This would be a hotline for all of the United States. People who have gotten assistance would be required to work a certain number of hours answering the hotline or working for the organization in some way. We could have fund-raising events to earn money to keep it going and to provide resources to each organization so they can provide aid.
Life Is A Gift
•Today before you think of saying an unkind word – Think of someone who can’t speak.
•Before you complain about the taste of your food – Think of someone who has nothing to eat.
•Before you complain about your husband or wife – Think of someone who’s crying out to God for a companion.
•Today before you complain about life – Think of someone who went too early to heaven.
•Before you complain about your children – Think of someone who desires children but they’re barren.
•Before you argue about your dirty house, someone didn’t clean or sweep – Think of the people who are living in the streets.
•Before whining about the distance you drive – Think of someone who walks the same distance.
•And when you are tired and complain about your job – Think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.
•But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another – Remember that not one of us are without sin and we all answer to one maker.
•And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down – Put a smile on your face and thank God you’re alive and still around.
Life is a gift…
Live it…
Enjoy it…
Celebrate it…
and fulfill it.
Madeleine Morin
My husband and I have always discussed how, if we were ever millionaires, we would buy a comfy RV and travel the country with our 2 kids and our dog and cat. On the road we would not flaunt our money, rather retract from it and see how we are treated. Those who treated us well would receive anonymously and those who treated us poorly would not get anything. Nowadays people treat other according to the thickness of their wallets or what they can do for them. We believe in treating people according to their heart and soul. It would be so cool to be able to do that…who knows, maybe someday !!!
JENNY
I WOULD DEFINETELY HELP THE ANIMALS. MY HEART BREAKS FOR UNWANTED, DISABLED AND HELPLESS ANIMALS. I WOULD LOVE TO OPEN MY OWN SHELTER AND HELP ALL ANIMALS IN NEED, OR I WOULD LOVE TO DONATE AND VOLUNTEER AT A LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER. I WOULD LOVE TO HOLD SPECIAL EVENTS TO GET PEOPLE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE A CHANCE TO INTERACT WITH THESE BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS AND GET THE WORD OUT THAT THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO ADOPT TO LOVING HOMES. OR THAT IT’S OK TO VOLUNTEER AT A SHELTER, OR EVEN DONATE TO THE SHELTERS SO THAT THESE INNOCENT ANIMALS HAVE A CHANCE AT A WONDERFUL LIFE. I WOULD DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO HELP.
Rebecca Fountain
oohhh how I would love an oppurtunity such as this,plus I loved the oprah’s big give away, myslef, I would like to give help to the people of New Orleans, & southern mississppi ( which those poor people never get any media attention as does NEw Orleans) after what they all went through with Hurricane Katrina, myself being a survivior of the 3 Hurricanes during the 2004 & 2005 season’s. I truely know what it feels like to see all that you’ve worked for be destroyed in a matter of hour’s…so please consider me to help with such a project, for I know just DVD’s that I got all my friends to donate and send to the red cross in Houston when they were trying to house all the evacuees from New Orleans, just the feeling I had at the moment nothing can come close to it. The power of giving is a joy, and even when life is biting me in the a@*! just giving a jar of peanutbutter ina food drive lifts my spirit’s more than words can express, so to be able to offer such a great means of help would be AWESOME!!!
Rebecca Fountain
this is a revision to my earlier comment about helping hurricane survivors, for I hate the word VICTIM , I would want to go to a small town just into the state of Mississippi called Bay St. Louis ms, and give all the help I possbly can as well as into the New Orleans area, but to me it just seems the other gulf states have been forgotten. Ok Please give me a camera andthe means that will let me help other’s.
mackenzie
I have wanted to do this for a long time. If I had an extra 1,000 – 10,000 I would go to all the schools around town and bring a Ben and Jerry’s Ice cream truck and give all the kids in school Ice Cream for the day.I would also have tons of bubbles for them to take with them too. I love kids and this would make any kid so excited and happy! I adore the playful fun pure energy that comes from being a child. To contribute to that would just be awesome.
Mary ann
I guess right now I would help my co-workers in financial troubles.We all work so hard caring for others but it seems when we are down and hurting,corporate america no longer cares for their own.It so saddens me because of policies,rules and regulations no matter what the circumstances so many are treated like food for sharks when all they needed was a smile and a virtual break.
There is Elizabeth off work because of surgery and because she went over her allotted medical leave she was let go a few days ago.While being off she had no medical pay left as she had already used it up while ill but had vacation pay denied to her while being off from surgery. While trying to learn to rewalk again after surgery,her only son totalled out her car,she now has no transportation to even get to a job when released by the doctor to work.She was an employee who pulled many overtime hours to help the facility out when she was working,she worked there 9 years but it didn’t matter.
I would help Julie whose husband is now in prison for another ‘drunk driving’.I have seen this woman weep and persevere trying to keep a roof over her families head and continuously work while wages being garnished because of medical bills,utility shut offs because she opted to stand by her husband and his causes of financial harms to her income.
I would help Deb who has been off with her fight against breast cancer,she like all of us has no optimal medical pay as we continue to work thru our own crisis in life,she breaks my heart.
I would help Keith whom took in his sister-in-laws two children because she is a drug addict.He seems to work day and night to provide for his now much larger family.All help to subsidise his living costs would be beneficial.
I would give Ann a financial hug because she continues to work thru much pain with lupus because she like me had to stop our doctor ordered ‘work only 8 hours a day’because the company came after us for being a hardship to fellow workers,tho healthy all were upset we were not doing our share of overtime.If we did not comply we would be let go.
I would compensate Sara,let go after 10 years of faithful employment for punching in to many times a ‘few minutes late’this past year.
I would compensate little Julie for all her tears while vomiting all over and crying she couldn’t be sent home ill as they would,’fire her’for to many times being sick.
Sara J who works with Multiple Sclerosis,now finally on disability she still has to work to make ends meet for her family.Just to provide her with extra groceries every month or pay an utility bill,big grin here.
I can tell you more people all I have to do is visually look around where we work,so many good people that need help.Just an attaboy or attagirl,or here ‘We the company knows how rough it has been on you,let us help.’
Yes,I have a lot of people I could help from co-workers,to neighbors,to family.Like I said to you,’What I wouldn’t,couldn’t do with a million dollars,ha.
dannyginger
Well, I would pay off the trailer my mother and father-in-law are putting on the acre of land my husband just bought them. We are by no means rich (1600.00 a month income) but my in-laws water well went dry and they were having to haul water, it was either pay 15,000.00 to drill a new well or $750.00 for an acre of land. My husband bought the land and his boss let him put an old trailer there which he will be paying off in monthly payments. Yes we are poor but if we could have bought them a new trailer we would have.
dannyginger
Edit to my above post. I’ve already stated what I would do with the money but to put it on film would feel wrong. I would film the person signing the deed to the trailer over but I feel it would be embarrasing not only to me but to my in-laws to have us gifting them with a home video taped.
Rollin Woodard
I would use it to help the children of our community. These young ones really need somewhere to go and something to do besides hiding say at the Falls,or sand pit,lyon mtn mine shafts,etc drinking and partying. A nice place to hang out with real activities.
Drugs and alcohol are consuming our youth. But the local goverment has no options for our youth.
Rhonda
I would take whatever money I was given and give half of it to my mother. She is trying to survive only on Social Security. My father passed away and has left my mother with more debt than could have been expected. We have tried to help her but we can only do so much. My sister sold her house and moved in with my mother to help her out with bills and such but she is still having difficulties with property taxes and other bills. I have had extensive medical bills due to complications during pregnancy and so I would take half of the money to pay down my medical bills and give the other half to my mother to get her property taxes and such paid.
Betty
Well, my idea is simple. film day to day people with day to day struggles, use the money to send copies to organizations and businesses, directing them to either your organization to partner, or to directly help also.
marissa
i like that challenge.since i was alittle girl i have always said i want to have lots of money to help those in need.i would have my children go with me to meet families in the missions and homeless shelters we would film their lifes situations for now(i always believe that the rain dosen’t last forever)we would go shopping for some because i couldn’t do everyone unfortuantely,get them dressed and take them out for a beautiful dinner and movie for the kids.i would try to get a non-profit organizatin together were i could keep adding onto the money and eventually have a charity to help all those in need.
mary
I’ve skimmed through some of these replies and what I found was that most of them do not attempt CURE poverty. I remember reading an article about a man who borrowed millionaire’s money to cure poverty in 3rd world countries. What he came up with were called micro-loans, he would loan a couple hundred to a person in need and what they would do with the money is use it to start a little business and once they had enough money they would pay him back. One thing he said that I remember most was “charity does not cure poverty it only feeds it” something along those lines. So if I were given the chance to have 10,000 I would do the same along those lines. I would take a homeless people in, get them cleaned up, help them get their papers, help them get a job and become a contributor to society. So I’m not just giving them money and sending them off hoping they’ll be ok. I hope if I do a kind act like that to a homeless person that they will have a heart and continue my act towards other who are unfortunate.
Lauri Myers
If I was handed $10,000 and a video camera, here’s what I am planning to do. Take this money and purchase 10 Wal-Mart cards placing $1,000 on each card. These cards being used for gas, food and clothing or school supplies. I would seek out 10 families that not only appear in need of these items for daily consumption they would actually need these items. I live in Arkansas, and I can’t speak for any other location other than from where I used to live, Iowa. Here I see more people struggling to find jobs, pay for clothes that are needed for their kids, and most of all food. My husband I don’t buy prepared foods like pizza, we buy the ingredients that we need and make it ourselves. I don’t buy hambuger helper, I make my own meals that might look like that box. Groceries are a hot topic in any location. This is more of a neccesity than a luxury item. In my local area, I could name more than 10 families that are in need. I could also put forth this same amount of money in a local charity program for kids, it’s called the backpack program. Non parishables and no peanut butter (for kids allergic to that) put in a bin that is taken to our Clearinghouse which gives it to the area schools for kids to put the food into backpacks to take home. This is what I would do.
Guy
I believe that I am a member of a misunderstood minority. I am a single father. How I got to be one is a long and sometimes unpleasant story, some of which I am unable to speak about here. What I can say is that at times, most of the time, frankly, I have felt rather alone in this. However, I know that I am not. What I also know is that, without certain events and, in particular, certain people’s help, I would not be where I am and my daughter would be in a much more unpleasant place. I was lucky to have the support of my family and of a couple of friends in particular. One of those friends was a strong advocate for me, helping me and supporting me along the way. Without this person I know that my daughter and I would not be where we are today. If I were able to, I would be that advocate for other men in similar situations.
There is a climate in the divorce and child custody arena which is inherently biased against men. I know this sounds like I am simply bitter over the adversarial environment that divorce and custody battles engender, but with a little research, one can easily see the disproportionate number of single fathers versus single mothers. From my own experiences and from talking to other men who have been through what I have, I know that the issue is not simply one of absent fathers or fathers who were less suitable than the mothers to be custodial parents. There is a clear bias against fathers at work here. Certainly there are laws in place to prevent this bias, but the people administering and arguing these laws are just that – people, with their own biases and beliefs, regardless of the checks and balances in place. A sea change is in order. Barring that, an advocacy group where fathers can get advice and help.
The romanticism behind the image of the single mother, combined with the ingrained beliefs that mothers are inherently better suited to raising children are causing many children to be raised without fathers, even part-time fathers. The common belief is that men simply would rather be free of that burden, that they “abandon” the children to the mother, but often times the continued adversarial nature of the post-divorce relationship (when the mother becomes sole custodial parent) causes such stress to the children involved that many men simply remove themselves from the picture to spare the children that stress.
There are advocacy groups out there for men, but for the most part they are small and unfunded grass-roots groups with no real power or influence. I would like to be able to pull together a larger, more powerful organization, one that can offer support and more importantly, aid to those fathers who have no real place to turn for help. To be able to call upon attorneys willing to offer free advice or even pro bono assistance. To wield a lobbying force to continue to push the legal field towards a more equitable position. To help fathers overcome the stereotypes and give them the support so they can be more involved in their children’s lives, whether they have custody or not. This is not about taking children from their mothers. It is about leveling the field so that fathers have an equal chance as well as an equal influence in their children’s lives.
Okay, I’m done pontificating. You can see I am a little passionate about this.
Jeff
If people have money to give and want to give to the ones in need you should from your heart the best place to start is with the future the future is children and they need it more then anyone in this world as an adult. If you are old enough you can help yourself but children are the true victims of helplessness they need us to help them through the times when no one will they are the true unfortunate ones in the world they cannot get a job to feed or cloth them they cannot rent a place to live. I would help the ones that need it the most the children, they are our future and an impression like that last a life time in that child.