Really, super poor people.

[Spookwriter]

I commend the people that give willingly and without reservation to
those around them in need.

Your giving is something you feel led to do. How the gift is accepted
is up to them. You may not change their life. But you will change their
one day. And isn't that what life is made of, one day at a time.

 

[thecochincoop]

I say go with your gut. God will reward you for an act of kindness. Ignore the selfish people in the world and do what you know right. If you live your life good then good things will follow

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Quote:
I agree with this post.

OP... After going through a training for Mandated Reporters yesterday (as required for my job), I can say that if I witnessed the conditions you described, it would require a call to CPS. If you are a Mandated Reporter or someone in your family is and now knows about the situation, you/the family member should report or you/they could be prosecuted if someone else calls later and it becomes known that you/they already knew what was going on.

The situation sounds like child neglect more than child abuse. CPS can help the parents to get help with their basic needs.

 

[Mattemma]

Wood to cover the windows.See if any local business would be willing to give windows. I sometimes see them free on craigs when people replace otherwise good(but old) with new. I understand the pets.We have them and I struggle getting the supplies for them.Rehoming would help. It is so hard to let them go,but sometimes it is for the best.

You can buy cloths cheap at resale.Some stores have 50 cent days. I see people with cart loads of cloths on those days. I am suprised the family is not getting an sort of social service help.Food stamps in the least.

 

[chics in the sun]

Quote:
You deserve the blessing. We were foster parents for 10 years and have 5 adopted children because of it. We have known a few social workers and I'm always astounded at the effort you people put in for very little in return monetarily. In ten years we had over 100 children come through our home and none of them were happy about being separated from their parents. No matter how badly they were treated they still wanted to stay with their parents. So I can imagine what it must be like to have to do that. I also know that a large percentage of the parents revert to their previous behavior. Our case worker was with us for almost the whole 10 years and she would tell us what happened to children that had gone back to their parents or relatives. Most of the time it wasn't very good news, although sometimes there was a very happy ending. I was always amazed at what people are capable of doing with their kids.

It takes a lot to do your job and I applaud you.

Awww... Thank you! I don't do child abuse or custody work, but I do have to get involved from time to time. I am a school social worker now, and I work with pregnant/ parenting teen mothers, trying to teach good parenting and coping so the Social Workers who DO work in cusotdy don't ever have to get involved in their lives! My job has never been any kind of sacrifice - I love it, and am honored to be a part of people's lives.

 

[nop169]

I commend you for looking past your own situation & being willing to help someone else in need. Although many have posted about "choice" & substance abuse & even about the pets... and although in principle I agree with many of the comments..... I believe that when God impresses an act upon your heart you should follow it. You cannot worry about what others think - whether the recepiant uses your gift wisely or what "issues" they have.... you do what you feel you need to do for you will surely be blessed for it. I believe God looks at our intentions & our hearts & He will surely bless you for your kindness. It is about this families need - but also about your obedience to your conscious. It is like tithing in church - I give with an open trusting heart - if the pastor embezzles the money or misuses the money... that is wrong but ultimately it isn't my issue - I gave in obedience & trust God to use it appropriately. So "tithe" by helping this family that you feel is in need.
That being said - yes be careful not to get sucked into a bad situation. I think it boils down to the people & their situation. Some people just need a hand up at times. It may be financial or it may be substance abuse or it may be illness mental or physical or it may be depression from these trying times or ignorance on how to manage, to cook from scratch/bulk or to fix the windows. Water may be cut off or perhaps sanitation/hygene has not been taught. There are many scenerios that you may be able to help with or educate - BUT be sure you want to be that involved before you become that involved! Some people will take & take & take so draw your lines firmly in the sand until you know the kind of people you are dealing with. Or simply - only - do only that that you were impressed upon by God to do - supply a few groceries & toys. Follow your conscious.
We have become involved many times with like situations - sometimes it was a great blessing for them & ultimately to us - sometimes we were taken advantage of & hurt.... both paths blessed us in the long run from the lessons learned & blessings that followed.... life lessons that taught us what we needed to learn.
I greatly respect you for getting involved & helping when your own situation is shaky. Just remember that to give when you have abundance is easy - to give when you are also in need shows a truely beautiful & obiedient soul. I know that your efforts will be blessed. You inspire me.

 

[RoeDylanda]

I see some of these families in the urban maternity unit where I work. PLEASE get Child Protective Services involved. They really are in the best position to assess what the kids need, whether they are safe at home, and can easily connect them with services. In my experience CPS bends over backwards to keep kids with their families if at all possible. If foster care is a better option, CPS can pull the kids out that day. I know CPS has had massive, widely publicized foul-ups, but the folks I interact with are trying hard to help.

We don't know what's up with the parents. They could be anywhere on the spectrum from devoted parents without knowledge or resources to brain-fried sociopathic mentally ill drug addicts. Even so, no one deserves to starve or to freeze to death. Blessings on you for doing something.

Good luck.

 

[Camelot Farms]

This isnt an instant fix, but if they have children under the age of 5, you could make sure that the local Head Start program is aware of them. Head Start will connect them with tons of services plus the children under 5 will get 3 hot meals a day along with medical and dental screenings.

Head Start operates on referrals. You can contact you local HS office and let them know that there is a family at such and such an address that has children age 0-5 and they will send out info or send a worker to see if they are interested in the program.

Head Start does neighborhood canvasing door to door and may just not be aware of that family or the family may have turned down their program in which case they would have record of that and wouldnt go out again.

Hope something pans out for them....

 

[Camelot Farms]

Quote:
Me too. Boehner and McConnell just got them a tax break so they should be OK.

No reason to bring this in to the conversation at all. It has no bearing on the OP's post or situation. Some would see it as trolling which is not welcome at BYC.

 

[oswegoscott]

chickensducks&agoose :

ps. we heat mainly with wood. for free.

"(even though our propane was a present from my brother, cause we can't afford it)"

^^Your words from the initial posting . Suggestion--cut out the "middle man(woman)"- have brother give money to them directly, instead of you using your propane money to help them !!​