Really, super poor people.

[mississippifarmboy]

Quote:
Thank you Cindi

I've never had much of anything material in this life, and I've always helped anyone I can. To the OP; follow your heart, it will lead you straighter than your head most of the time. Being poor isn't a crime, but it's darned inconvenant.

Myself - I started out with nothing and still have most of it left, so I'm doing ok.

 

[mulewagon]

chickensducks&agoose, you're a good woman, with a good heart!

Even if it should turn out that those parents are junkies or something, that's all the more reason to help the children...maybe send books, clothes, etc through the school?

I'm in a similar position to you...we're having to heat with space heaters, because we can't fix the furnace. But we still got up a load of winter clothes and housewares to take to the local mission, which gives them directly to people in need. After all, we still have much more than so many folks! It would be terribly ungrateful to hold back.

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
This post made me cry. I have seen this over and over in this area as I was growing up. Often it is not the woman's and never is it the kid's fault if children are dirty and have no money. It is a cycle of abuse from men most of the time and it is hard to break away from. Very often it is a nice person who sees the real situation and helps in little ways that inspires these children to rise out of that kind of life and succeed later on in life. Someone kind who plants a seed or befriends a child or even the woman and helps them leave that way of life.

If there is any cash assistance from welfare, the man usually takes it to buy beer, cigs or snuff and to fund his own lifestyle. They seem to feel, if the kids have something to eat, that is the extent of their needs and it is enough. Sometimes it is the woman who abuses the system and the kids are left to fend for themselves.

MuddyHorse, thank you for showing us the other side of the coin...it is one that I have seen often and it is complicated. Not as simple to solve as someone looking in from the outside may think. CPS breaks up families, which is another kind of abuse situation altogether....kids never get over losing their mothers, no matter how bad she was or was not to them. Yes, I agree that it is needed in a lot of cases to save the children from worse things...I just think there must be a better way of doing it.

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

Do what your heart tells you to do, stop listening to nay sayers, they drag us all down when we allow them to.

I know all about money being tight, if it wasnt for my parents helping us out this past year when bills went through the roof and DHs hours were cut, we would be in a heap of trouble!


You personally see the situation, you "know" the people, so you do what your heart tells you too!

and I thank you for doing so!

 

[salunra]

Please call CPS. I have worked as a child advocate and CPS will do everything possible to keep the family together. CPS does not want to remove kids from their parents. It costs the state tons of money when children are put in foster care, they would much rather do what they can to et the family enough support that they can care for the children properly. And by properly, I do not mean how you want your kids to live, but just a bare standard of care. Clean clothes, safe house, food, dr care, going to school.

What they will do is help the family navigate the system to get as much support as possible to be able to fend for themselves. They will also investigate if their is any true neglect or abuse. (Such as has been speculated might be possible.)

Charity can be an amazing thing. My husband and I support numerous charities and have helped people out many times. But it is better to get people in a place where they can hopefully be educated in a better way to get by, or to have negative influences that stop them removed.

This family COULD be doing everything possible to get by and just not know what else to do. In that case a little help is going to go a long way. A job assistance program or "work-fare" program is going to go even farther. CPS can help with that. They can even help with things like child care vouchers and such, so that maybe mom could get a job as well.

Or there COULD be real neglect. bad decisions being made to serve someone's addiction or selfishness. In that case CPS will set up a plan for the family, and as long as they comply with their services (which could include parenting class, therapy, etc) the kids will remain with them. IF they do not comply then kids could be removed. But in that case it is probably in the kids best interest.

Good luck

 

[onecent]

I started out with nothing and still have most of it left! I feel ya on that one!
Anyway, if you can help them go for it! I help families here myself, i don't have much myself, but i sure will share what i have! I love to help when i can, no better feeling in the world! I sure had to have help when i was starting out, and thanks to some wonderful people who cared about me i made it and i was sooo thankful for what they did for me! every little bit helps! not to mention, you get blessings for helping someone! things always come back triple fold for you! that way you can help more! God Bless you!

 

[rainplace]

I respect all you folks who work for and/or support CPS, but from the point of view of a child who had the State of Illinois as her guardian, I would rather have stayed with the devil I knew than the six years of unstable abusive hell I went through as the state's child. Calling in CPS has the potential to destroy lives as well as save them. It doesn't sound to me like the OP is looking to save or destroy anyone's life, she just wants to give to meet some immediate needs for this family, which I wholeheartedly applaud. Sometimes that's all a family needs.

 

[spiritdance]

I just wanted to add my 2 cents worth ... I have heard so many people through the years say "Don't give them that ... they'll just waste it/spend it on booze/buy cigarettes/etc." ... but I've reached the conclusion in my life that I can only control so much in this world, the most important being my own actions. If I give to someone in need, I am doing what I know in my heart is right ... I control ME ... if that person uses my gift for something other than what it is intended for, THAT PERSON is in control of that ... his/her actions don't diminish mine. If you want to make sure the kids eat by giving canned goods, etc., that's understandable, but if you honestly feel a gift card is the right thing to do ... they can buy toilet paper, feminine needs, etc. with it ... then don't let fear of their possible actions dictate your honest generosity. Besides, I've found that most people in this world are good, despite the naysayers in my life that constantly warn me otherwise. You yourself are proof of that. You are willing to go the extra mile and share what you have with those less fortunate ... you, my dear, are a GOOD PERSON, and you make all of us richer just by being alive!

 

[Blackbird]

I'm glad so many of you are willing to help others!
It reminds me of a story. Both of my parents grew up in poverty as did their parents before them and so on. One story that I will always remember that my grandmother told me was about her childhood one Christmas over fifty years ago. They could barely afford to heat their home and feed themselves as it was, so there were no gifts for her or her siblings. On Christmas morning her father went out to haul in wood and on their doorstep was a red wagon filled with little presents, candy, foods, and even some warmer clothes. I don't remember if she told me if they found out who put all of it there, but it's something she says she will never remember, and now she always gives to charity through some sort of organization.

 

[oswegoscott]

Quote:
People like me?

? Your daughter could be much worse then being like me! I have never expected to be taken care of . I haven't spent a lifetime on the dole.
Don't you get ill seeing your taxes being used to feed and house folks who are capable of working,but choose not to because they KNOW they can survive without working?
The Chinese are killing our economy because they ALL work hard. If they don't--they starve and sicken and die if they have no family to help them

I will say,though, that I'm glad the OP is giving the money she can't afford to give to people in this country. Another burr under my saddle is all the money and compassion
given to people in other countries. There are lots of kids to help right here! Besides, very little of the aid sent overseas gets to the needy. Look at Haiti! It's virtually the same
even though millions of $ were sent to help.
I