It’s an old saying. But oh, so true! I believe the best and most genuine expressions of charity are the ones made directly from giver to recipient. Like a casserole to a neighbour in their time of need. And the concept is making a comeback…
We’ve seen, in this space in the past week, examples of how the growing food sustainability crisis in our communities can best be addressed. And it doesn’t involve governments or agencies or millions of dollars in ‘aid’…
The direct approach
It’s based on the old, original concept of charity – one person helping another, hand to hand. And we’ve showcased two examples of how effective that can be.
From ‘have’ to ‘have not’
The À la Carte leftover food redirection program is a great example of how waste can be turned directly into meals for those who need them. And mountains of perfectly good food can be diverted from the landfill every year.
The program coordinates donations of leftover food from hotels, convention centres and large entertain-ment venues directly to homeless shelters, food banks and community feeding organizations.
It’s a prime example of how fast and efficient the dir-ect approach can be.
The Roscoe’s method
It all started when an anonymous woman called Rosco’s Delivery Pizza in Union, Michigan, asking if they had any food they threw out at the end of the day. Many restos do.
Manager Shanna Crice had to disappoint the caller. But later had second thoughts. Was the woman asking because she was hungry and couldn’t afford to buy food?
After some thought and research, Crice institutued the Rosco’s Meal Wall (pictured top of page), where customers can leave $10 vouchers that needy neighbours can claim to help them buy a pie.
Again, it’s a direct gesture of support directly from a giver to a recipient. And an example of folks helping others in their own community.
My take
I believe that the more complex a charitable organization gets, the less efficient and the less focused on the goal it becomes. And the best, most efficient – and overall, most effective – kind of charity is the simplest – when folks reach out and help a neighbour in need.
My questions for you:
Have you ever reached out to a neighbour in their time of need? Without being asked to?
Would you support a community food sustainability program such as À la Carte?
Would you buy a voucher for a Meal Wall?
Do you believe that charity begins at home?
Muse on that!
~ Maggie J.