If I have $500 to donate, giving 25 people $20 each is gonna take a bunch of overhead in the searching and matching. Plus the logistics of actually being in the same place at the same time to hand over cash.
It look me less than 30 minutes to hand out $400 with $20 to a car to those in line at the food bank. Another time it did take a bit longer at about 40 minutes. Another time yet, it was again about 30 minutes. It was after the third time the food bank asked me to stop giving out cash to those in line. I respect their mission so I stopped. I’m looking for more ways to give directly. For a newly divorced mother of two small children I bought an old car and fixed it up for her with brand new tires and a tune up. I started this thread asking about how to identify those that need their groceries paid for. If you have more ideas about directly giving to those that need it, please share them. Please don’t just tell me to donate to another charity.
The beauty of the food bank is that it knocks out an expense for almost anyone who uses it, leaving them more cash to buy a tank of gas or school supplies or medication. Everyone needs food. Someone who needs more money for gas can get that if their grocery bill is reduced by $20. Money is fungible, so addressing the most fundamental needs ends up solving that problem of double coincidence that you’re alluding to.
I don’t understand why you keep presenting this as an “either/or” scenario. I’m fully in favor of food banks. I’m also in favor of giving cash directly to those that need it. If they already have food from the food bank, more food from the food bank won’t fill the gas tank. We need both food bank, and cash to those that need it.
But there is still a huge role to be played by nonprofit organizations, especially in meeting the foundational needs like food, water, shelter, and medical care.
I agree with you on this. Keep doing what you’re doing.
First things first: it’s obvious we agree on more than we disagree on, and this is just quibbling about details when we’re on the same page on the big picture stuff. I agree that giving directly is the best way to bypass the very real problem of the giver misidentifying the recipient’s highest priority needs. But I’m pointing out that at this particular moment, the balance may need to shift towards more efficiently meeting needs at large scale.
It look me less than 30 minutes to hand out $400 with $20 to a car to those in line at the food bank.
You see what I mean, though, right? You’re talking about the effort required to find a charity but your strategy of giving directly already starts from leveraging a charity you’ve already found.
Many food banks around the country are turning people away after running out of food. In that kind of context, I think $100 to the food bank likely does more good than $100 directly to individuals.
So if we’re talking about balance, I’m currently putting almost all my charitable giving towards those organizations and rarely handing out cash, and it’s generally only to the needy people I’m already familiar with in my neighborhood. My ratio is very skewed at this point in time but I believe I’m maximizing the benefit from my giving.
Many food banks around the country are turning people away after running out of food. In that kind of context, I think $100 to the food bank likely does more good than $100 directly to individuals.
I know I’ve posted this at least 3 times now: My local food bank won’t accept cash donations
It look me less than 30 minutes to hand out $400 with $20 to a car to those in line at the food bank. Another time it did take a bit longer at about 40 minutes. Another time yet, it was again about 30 minutes. It was after the third time the food bank asked me to stop giving out cash to those in line. I respect their mission so I stopped. I’m looking for more ways to give directly. For a newly divorced mother of two small children I bought an old car and fixed it up for her with brand new tires and a tune up. I started this thread asking about how to identify those that need their groceries paid for. If you have more ideas about directly giving to those that need it, please share them. Please don’t just tell me to donate to another charity.
I don’t understand why you keep presenting this as an “either/or” scenario. I’m fully in favor of food banks. I’m also in favor of giving cash directly to those that need it. If they already have food from the food bank, more food from the food bank won’t fill the gas tank. We need both food bank, and cash to those that need it.
I agree with you on this. Keep doing what you’re doing.
First things first: it’s obvious we agree on more than we disagree on, and this is just quibbling about details when we’re on the same page on the big picture stuff. I agree that giving directly is the best way to bypass the very real problem of the giver misidentifying the recipient’s highest priority needs. But I’m pointing out that at this particular moment, the balance may need to shift towards more efficiently meeting needs at large scale.
You see what I mean, though, right? You’re talking about the effort required to find a charity but your strategy of giving directly already starts from leveraging a charity you’ve already found.
Many food banks around the country are turning people away after running out of food. In that kind of context, I think $100 to the food bank likely does more good than $100 directly to individuals.
So if we’re talking about balance, I’m currently putting almost all my charitable giving towards those organizations and rarely handing out cash, and it’s generally only to the needy people I’m already familiar with in my neighborhood. My ratio is very skewed at this point in time but I believe I’m maximizing the benefit from my giving.
I know I’ve posted this at least 3 times now: My local food bank won’t accept cash donations