One of the myths we encounter as we talk to people about helping the poor is this statement: “When you help them, you are just enabling them to stay poor.”
This statement puts every family and every person we help in a mislabeled category. The word, enable, is defined as: “to provide with the means or opportunity, training that enables people to earn a living.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enable
We are enabling them to see themselves as contributing members of society, empowering them to have food on the table, encouraging them to find jobs, or get an education so they can move out of poverty into financial stability.
We are not enabling them to stay in a place of need, but enabling them to find ways to earn a living, taking advantage of every opportunity to change their circumstance.
Poverty can be overcome through education, temporary assistance, changed thinking patterns concerning identity and ability, and opportunity to change their status.
One of our clients is the father of five children. He is in construction work. One day when he was on the roof of a house working his job, he fell to the ground breaking his arm and shoulder.
He came into our facility with his broken arm in a cast and his shoulder in a sling, asking for food for his children while he recuperated from his injuries. After he got well, he was back at his construction job, earning the money needed to pay his bills and feed his family.
Another client was suffering with COPD, unable to work because of it. He walked down to our facility with his oxygen tank in tow, and asked for food.
His breathing was very labored, but he had to have food and had no vehicle. We gave him food and took him home, so he wouldn’t have to overexert himself.
I will never forget the single mom with a little boy who walked in to our facility. The child looked around and saw the bread, the snacks, the food items that were available.
His eyes brightened. I asked him, “Are you hungry?” He replied with a nod while staring at the food. I handed him some crackers and cheese and a box of juice to eat and drink while we fixed his mother a box of food to take home. We not only got a smile out of him, but also a giant hug.
Our community has many single mothers with children, elderly on fixed income, and families whose lives have been hit by tragedy. We are here to help.
Can I say this without making you angry?
Don’t you dare put all of these wonderful people in a category when you have never met them. You don’t know their stories, and you haven’t seen their faces when a box of food and a package of encouragement has given them hope in their seemingly hopeless situations. Jesus fed the five thousand! Perhaps the Lord is asking you to feed a few hungry people in this region. Help us help them. You can go to our website to find a list of things we need and perhaps donate to our cause: “no child going to bed hungry in our region.”
We are a legitimate nonprofit organization and have achieved the 2018 Gold Seal of Transparency on GuideStar! Your donations are tax deductible. Feeding Incorporated, P.O. Box 732, Carthage, MO, 64836 or hit the donate button our website: www.feedinginc.com
