Charity

Charity begins at home ? Is that really true?

I believe most people are charitable at heart; expressing empathy and reaching for their wallets at the same time. Very commendable indeed, you certainly won't lose faith in the human race. The milk of human kindness, so very heart warming. Yet it is this same kindness that are often exploited by the unscrupulous or the outright crooked.

Whenever disasters occur, relief aid bodies are quick to appeal for public support. The shock of the disaster serves as a wake up call for people to rally behind relief efforts being made. Appeals are made for donations in cash and kind by the aid bodies. But how much of this aid support actually reach those in most of it?

Rumours abound about cash and goods donated that are re-routed into heaven knows where. It never reaches the intended parties who had suffered most from the disaster. These rumours are more often than not probably true. Cash that are readily donated are not properly accounted for and often disappear into thin air. Same for goods like food provisions and other stuff – they are sold by agency insiders for quick cash gains that go straight into their personal pockets. It is of like donating more to a crook after he had robbed you.

If you are serious about doing your bit for the unfortunate, try to go the extra mile. Give your cash directly to the sufferers, never to a middle man be it an agency or otherwise. Better still, help the affected party to purchase whatever he needs to recover his life. You can also buy food provisions from wholesale sources and then send it directly to the disaster areas. This way, the end users will be ensured of getting the help and support they sorely need.

When donating to a person who needs money for medical treatment or surgery, it is better to pay directly to the appointed medical center handling the treatment You can then be assured that your donation will not be mis-appropriated for other purposes by the patient's relations or friends. One never knows.....

It is sad having to take such measures so that your donations will be used as intended but human nature being what it is; it makes sense. Being kind does not mean you have to open yourself to being conned.

Be kind and generous, do give till it hurts but do it wisely.