Dollar Philanthropy Celebrates Blog Action Day

October 15th has been selected as the day when bloggers all over the world put on their "Do Gooder" hats and blog for a cause.  Well-- that's not a new thing here at Dollar Philanthropy.

So, I'll keep this short...

Poverty is a bad thing.  However, each of us needs to be sure that we do not allow it to shape our judgements and definition of people who must deal with it's consequences.  Poor people are just like us.  It is just that their poverty creates the situation where they lack access to resources many of us take for granted. 

• Access to health care
• Access to food
• Access to clean water
• Access to shelter
• Access to clothing
• Access to education
• Access to advocacy

Just to name a few....

I think my many years of caring for and working with people with schizophrenia has made the issue of homelessness one that speaks to my heart.  I know first hand the undeserved suffering that people with severe and persistent mental illnesses go through. So today I challenge you to do two things

1. The next time you pass a homeless person on the street, look at them with caring and compassion.  Notice the dirty clothes, take in the smell of a person who does not have access to a shower, look at their thin, gaunt face, and if they happen to be talking nonsense or appear mentally ill, take a moment to recognize and understand that you are just seeing the results of poverty.  For if this homeless person had access to shelter, food, clothing, and adequate healthcare, he or she would be more able to find a compassionate, helping community to get their life back in order.
2. Consider donating to a cause that helps people get their lives back.  As usual I have a couple of suggestions:

Send Your Dollar Today!

MUST Ministries is an organization that has a wide array of services that meets people where they are and also provides assistance to keep people from becoming homeless.  They operate a shelter, food kitchen, food pantry, health clinic, transitional housing, clothing closet, prevocational training, and emergency monetary assistance. 

Click here to Donate Online
Click here for Donate by Mail

Holy Comforter is a parish in Atlanta where about 60% of their congregation lives with mental illness.  Many of the congregants live in group homes or other supported living situations. In response to a dramatic decrease in state funding of services for this population, Holy Comforter offers a day program 2 days a week where 80 to 125 people with mental illnesses can participate in a variety of activities including painting, ceramics, gardening, weaving and woodworking.  

Holy Comforter's staff and volunteers provide a compassionate and caring hand to help people get their lives back.

You can mail donations to: 

Rev. Mike Tanner
Holy Comforter
737 Woodlawn Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30316

Comments

[kouji haiku]

good luck with this work.

for my part, i turn to sites like freerice, kiva, and goodsearch, as ways to help alleviate poverty online.

saw this post via the front page of blog action day. it's great that you're participating. :)

[PSI Staff]

It is wonderful when people lend a helping hand with whatever they can in times of needs. Non-profit and philanthropies change the world.