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Helping The Poor and Needy

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Published: Sep 1, 2023

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essay on helping the poor and needy

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Essay on Helping the Poor

Students are often asked to write an essay on Helping the Poor in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Helping the Poor

Understanding poverty.

Poverty is a global issue. Many people worldwide live under challenging conditions and struggle daily to meet basic needs.

Why Help the Poor?

Helping the poor is important. It’s about compassion, empathy, and making the world a better place. It helps reduce inequality and suffering.

Ways to Help

There are many ways to help. Donating money, food, or clothes can make a big difference. Volunteering time to community service or teaching skills also helps.

Impact of Helping

Helping the poor not only improves their lives but also makes us feel good. It promotes love, unity, and peace in society.

250 Words Essay on Helping the Poor

Introduction.

Helping the poor is not just a humanitarian act, but it is also a powerful tool for societal transformation. It involves more than just providing financial aid; it encompasses understanding, empathy, and a commitment to creating a system that fosters equal opportunities for all.

The Importance of Empathy

The first step towards helping the poor is cultivating empathy. Empathy allows us to understand the challenges faced by the less fortunate, thereby enabling us to devise effective solutions. It is not about pity; it’s about acknowledging their struggles and working towards alleviating them.

Education: The Key to Change

Education is a powerful weapon in the fight against poverty. By providing quality education to the underprivileged, we equip them with the tools to break the cycle of poverty. It fosters self-reliance, opening doors to better job opportunities and a brighter future.

Creating Sustainable Systems

Merely providing aid is not a sustainable solution. We need to create systems that promote equality and provide the poor with the resources they need to improve their circumstances. This includes access to healthcare, clean water, and affordable housing.

Helping the poor is not a one-time act, but a continuous process that requires collective effort. It is about creating a society where every individual has an equal shot at success. By fostering empathy, promoting education, and implementing sustainable systems, we can make a significant difference in the lives of the less fortunate.

500 Words Essay on Helping the Poor

Helping the poor is not just a moral obligation, but a societal necessity that promotes overall societal growth and development. It is a topic that deserves serious attention, especially in an era where wealth inequality is at its peak.

The Moral Imperative

The moral grounds for helping the poor are deeply rooted in empathy and compassion. The understanding that all humans deserve a decent standard of living regardless of their socio-economic status is fundamental. When we help the poor, we are not just giving them a lifeline, but we are also affirming their worth and dignity.

Economic Perspective

From an economic perspective, helping the poor can stimulate economic growth. The poor, when given the right resources and opportunities, can contribute positively to the economy. They can become consumers, producers, and even innovators, thus driving economic growth. This concept is also known as ‘inclusive growth’, which suggests that including everyone in economic development is beneficial for the economy as a whole.

Social Cohesion

Helping the poor also enhances social cohesion. In societies with high levels of poverty, there is often a corresponding increase in social unrest and crime. By addressing poverty, we can reduce these negative social phenomena, thus fostering peace and unity in the society.

Challenges and Solutions

Despite the clear benefits, there are challenges in helping the poor. The first is the issue of dependency. Handouts can create a dependency syndrome, which is counterproductive. To solve this, aid should be linked with empowerment programs that equip the poor with skills and knowledge to break the cycle of poverty.

Secondly, there is the issue of corruption and mismanagement of funds meant for the poor. This can be mitigated by promoting transparency and accountability in the distribution of aid.

In conclusion, helping the poor is a multifaceted issue that involves moral, economic, and social aspects. It is not just about giving handouts, but about empowering the poor to rise above their situation. By addressing the challenges and implementing effective strategies, we can make a significant difference in the lives of the poor and, by extension, the society at large.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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essay on helping the poor and needy

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7 Ways You Can Help Fight Poverty in Your Community

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, 7.8 million people have fallen into poverty—the biggest jump in a single year since the government began tracking poverty 60 years ago. It’s easy to think about poverty as a national crisis that is bigger than you, but there are actually lots of things you can do to influence this systemic problem right in your own community. CommonBond works to help fight poverty through housing in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Iowa, and we’ve outlined some examples of how you can help fight poverty in your community .

How to Help Poverty Issues in Your Community

1. challenge ideas and assumptions.

Whether you have preconceived notions about poverty within your community, or as a concept in general, it’s important to challenge those assumptions so you aren’t unintentionally spreading harmful biases. One common misconception, for example, is that people experiencing homelessness choose not to work. This misconception is incredibly harmful because it negates the many uncontrollable and systemic conditions that can cause housing instability or poverty. In reality, there are many factors people have to deal with that make it hard to find employment, including loss of affordable housing , inequitable access to training and tools, and mental illness.

If you recognize this myth, be sure to challenge it. Want to go a step further with how to help the poor and fight poverty in your community? Learn about the specific poverty issues your town or city faces; this will educate you on matters and enable you to apply context and critical thinking while pushing back against assumptions and myths.

2. Create awareness/get informed

Poverty is in every community, so it’s important to know where the issues lie within your own. Get informed about the resources that are already available and those that are still needed. There are local groups doing this work that could use your help—you can then do your part in getting the word out and listening to these community experts about where you can be helpful in fighting poverty in your community. A great resource in Minneapolis, for example, is the Twin Cities Mutual Aid Map . This map shows a myriad of organizations and mutual aid efforts around the Twin Cities area that are accepting donations or other resources.

3.  Donate funds and time & find volunteer opportunities

One of the most straightforward ways to help fight poverty in your community is to donate funds to organizations whose mission it is to end these economic disparities. No amount of money is too small or too large. As these donations add up, organizations can put the funds toward fixing housing inequalities, education gaps, food insecurities and more.

Another helpful option is to p artner with local organizations that help the community by donating time. Whether it’s helping out in a food kitchen or working with children after school to get their homework done, there are ways that don’t require money that can still make an impact. We’ve created a volunteer list that you can join to support our work, whether you’re in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, or Iowa.

Fighting Poverty in Your Community is as Simple as Donating a Few Dollars.

Donate Today!      

4. Make kits or fundraise for those experiencing homelessness in your neighborhood

In addition to donating time, you can also reach out to local organizational leaders to see what specifically folks who are experiencing poverty in their communities need. To ensure your donations have the most impact, listen to these community experts. Be sure to donate items that are specifically being asked for, not just what you have in your pantry! Use that info to create meal kits or baskets full of food or house cleaning products that will keep people stocked up on essentials for a while, and give it to local organizations and community experts to distribute.

Another option is to hold fundraisers. How about fighting poverty in your community by throwing a pizza party where the proceeds go to local shelters or other organizations that provide critical services? Get bigger local businesses to donate services for a silent auction. Doing fundraisers like this can be a fun way to bring people together for an important cause.

5. Attend demonstrations or rallies to increase awareness

Another way to create and increase awareness and help fight poverty in your community is to attend events like demonstrations and rallies. These may be block parties or parades or any other kind of peaceful event that will grab the community’s attention and turn it toward fighting against systemic poverty. There are organizations that regularly hold events that both raise awareness, as well as stand in solidarity with those affected by poverty—and by joining their work, you may learn how to be a better advocate.

6. Create jobs

If you own a business or an organization in the community, look for areas you could use some help with. Many people living in poverty may not have had access to higher education or specialty certifications, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have skills to contribute. Identifying areas of opportunities within your business or organization, expanding your recruiting pool, and paying a living wage is one way to make a change to help neighbors living in poverty in your community.

DONATE TODAY!

7. Provide paid leave and paid sick days

If you’re a business owner within your community, offer paid leave and paid sick days. Although it’s an investment for you, taking a day off every now and then without pay can seriously hurt some of your employees, especially if they’re under the poverty line. Your employees are going to get sick from time to time—let them rest easy by offering paid sick leave. For staff who are earning under the area median income, consider offering stipends for childcare, or even consider an on-site childcare option to create an environment where working families don't have to choose between income and childcare.

CommonBond Can Help

Poverty affects more people than you think, and as you now know, there are many ways to help fight poverty in your community. Serving your community by donating time or money is a valuable way to get involved. Our team at CommonBond wants to help you in your fight, whether you’re in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, or Iowa. Get in touch to learn more about how to help the poor and fight poverty in your community today!

Donate Today!

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Paragraph on Helping Poor | 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400 + Words

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Paragraph on Helping Poor- 100 Words

There are many ways to help the poor . One way is to donate money to charities that help the poor. Another way is to volunteer your time to help the poor. You can also help the poor by donating items that they need, such as clothes, food , and furniture. One way is to volunteer with or donate to organizations that aid the poor. Another way to help is to raise awareness about the issue of poverty and advocate for policies that would help alleviate it. Additionally, people can directly help those in poverty by providing them with food, clothing, or other necessary items. By helping the poor, we can make a difference in their lives and work towards a more just and equitable world.

Paragraph on Helping Poor- 150 Words

It is always better to give than to receive. When we help others, we not only make their lives better, but we also make the world a better place. Helping those in need not only benefits them, but it also benefits us. It feels good to know that we are making a difference in someone’s life. There are many ways that we can help those who are less fortunate than us. We can volunteer our time at a local soup kitchen or food bank. We can donate clothes or food to a local shelter. We can also simply lend a listening ear to someone who needs someone to talk to. We can help the poor, by providing things such as by giving them money, food, clothes, or shelter. Whatever way we choose to help, we should do so with a loving heart. We should also try to help them in other ways, such as by providing them with education or job opportunities. By helping the poor, we not only improve their lives but also make the world a better place.

Paragraph on Helping Poor- 200 Words

There are many ways that people can help those who are less fortunate. One way is to donate money to charities that help the poor. Another way is to volunteer at soup kitchens or food banks. This allows people to directly help those in need by providing them with food and other necessities. People can also advocate for policies that will help the poor, such as increasing funding for social welfare programs. By helping the poor, we can make society a better place for everyone. No matter what our personal circumstances may be, we can all do something to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves. Whether it’s volunteering our time, donating money or simply offering a friendly smile, every act of kindness makes a difference. So let’s make a commitment to helping the poor and needy whenever we can. Not only will it make the world a better place, but it will also enrich our own lives in the process. There are a lot of ways to help the poor, and no one solution is perfect. But if we all work together, we can make a difference. Every little bit helps, whether it’s donating money to charity, volunteering your time at a local soup kitchen, or simply spreading awareness about poverty and its effects on people’s lives. Let’s commit to doing our part to help those in need and make the world a better place for everyone.

Paragraph on Helping Poor- 300 Words

There are many ways that people can help those who are living in poverty. One way is to donate money to charities that support poor communities. Another way is to volunteer with organizations that provide services to the poor. And finally, people can advocate for policies that help reduce poverty and improve economic opportunity for all.  People can raise awareness about poverty and advocate for policy changes that would help the poor. By doing these things, we can make a difference in the lives of those who are struggling. You can also advocate for policies that will help reduce poverty. Whatever way you choose to help, you can make a difference in the lives of the poor. No one deserves to live in poverty, and yet millions of people around the world do. Poverty is a vicious cycle that can be hard to break out of, but it is possible with some help. There are many ways to help the poor, whether it’s through donating money or time, or even just raising awareness. Any way that you can help make a difference in the fight against poverty is worthwhile. Let’s work together to end poverty once and for all. We should all do our part to try to help those in need. Whether it’s volunteering at a local soup kitchen or donating money to a worthy cause, every little bit helps. We should also be mindful of the way we talk about and treat those who are less fortunate than us; remember that everyone deserves respect and compassion. Let’s work together to make the world a better place for everyone. We should all do our part to help the poor. By helping the poor, we are not only improving their lives, but we are also making the world a better place. Helping poor people is not only the right thing to do, but it can also have a positive impact on our own lives. When we help others, we often find that our own problems become smaller and more manageable. Additionally, helping those in need can make us feel good about ourselves and increase our overall satisfaction with life. If you’re looking for ways to make a difference, consider volunteering your time or donating money to charities that help poverty-stricken individuals and families.

Paragraph on Helping Poor- 400 + Words

Paragraph on Helping Poor

It is often said that charity begins at home. What is meant by this is that a person’s first duty is to help those who are close to him or her – family, friends, neighbours and so on. Only after a person has fulfilled his or her obligations to these people should he or she think of helping others who may be less fortunate.

The current state of poverty

There is no question that the current state of poverty is unacceptable. Over 22% of the world’s population lives in poverty, according to the World Bank. That means over 1.6 billion people are struggling to meet their basic needs on a daily basis. The causes of poverty are complex and multi-dimensional. They include factors like unequal distribution of resources, conflict, and natural disasters. But one of the most important drivers of poverty is simply lack of opportunity. Too many people are trapped in a cycle of poverty because they lack the skills or education to get decent jobs. In order to address poverty, we need to address these underlying causes. We need to create more opportunities for people to get out of poverty and into decent work. This means investing in education and training, promoting economic growth, and tackling inequalities. There are lots of ways we can help reduce poverty. We can donate money to charitable organizations that are working to tackle the issue. We can also lobby our governments to do more to support those living in poverty. But perhaps the most important thing we can do is raise awareness about the issue and show solidarity with those who are affected by it.

How you can help the poor

There are many ways that you can help the poor. You can donate your time, money, or resources to organizations that help the poor. You can also volunteer your time to help with various projects that help the poor. Whatever you do to help the poor, you will be making a difference in their lives.

Why you should help the poor

There are many reasons why you should help the poor. One reason is that it is the right thing to do. When you have more than enough, it is important to share with those who don’t have enough. Another reason to help the poor is that it can actually help to improve the economy. When people have more money, they spend it, which helps businesses and creates jobs. Finally, helping the poor can also make you feel good about yourself. It can give you a sense of purpose and make you feel like you are making a difference in the world. If you are thinking about helping the poor, there are many ways you can do so. You can donate money to charities that help the poor, or you can volunteer your time to work with organizations that help those in need. You can also simply donate items that you no longer need, such as clothes or food. Whatever way you choose to help, know that you are making a difference in the lives of those who need it most.

What are some ways to help the poor?

There are many ways that people can help the poor. Some ways include: 1. Donating money to charities that help the poor. 2. Volunteering at soup kitchens or food pantries. 3. Helping to build homes for families in need through Habitat for Humanity or other organizations. 4. Tutoring children from low-income families. 5. Collecting clothes and other items to donate to shelters or people in need.

The Problem of Poverty

Poverty is a huge problem in the world today. There are billions of people around the globe who live in poverty, and many of them are children. Poverty is not only a problem of money, but also a problem of opportunity. Too often, people in poverty lack the opportunity to improve their lives. They lack access to education, healthcare, and good jobs. There are many ways to help the poor. One way is to donate money to charitable organizations that work to improve the lives of the poor. Another way is to volunteer your time to help those in need. You can also advocate for policies that help the poor, such as increasing access to education and healthcare. No matter what you do, remember that every little bit helps. By working together, we can make a difference in the fight against poverty.

The Causes of Poverty

There are many causes of poverty. Some of the most common include lack of access to education, lack of jobs, and inequality. Lack of access to education is a major cause of poverty. Many children in poverty-stricken areas are unable to attend school due to the high cost of tuition. In addition, many schools in these areas are underfunded and lack the resources needed to provide a quality education. As a result, children in poverty often have little chance of escaping the cycle of poverty. Lack of jobs is another major cause of poverty. In many poor communities, there simply are not enough jobs to go around. This lack of employment opportunities can lead to crime and desperation, which can further perpetuate the cycle of poverty. Inequality is also a major cause of poverty. In many countries, the rich get richer while the poor get poorer. This growing disparity makes it difficult for those in poverty to improve their economic situation. These are just some of the causes of poverty. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to this complex problem, we must work together to find ways to reduce poverty and improve the lives of those who are struggling.

What Can Be Done to Help the Poor?

There are many ways to help the poor, and it all starts with each individual doing what they can to make a difference. Here are some things you can do to help the poor: 1. Donate money or goods to your local food bank or soup kitchen. 2. Volunteer your time at a local shelter or food bank. 3. Advocate for policies that will help the poor, such as increasing the minimum wage or expanding access to healthcare and education. 4. Educate yourself and others about poverty and its causes. 5. Be a supportive friend or family member to someone who is struggling financially. No one solution will solve poverty, but by working together we can make a difference in the lives of those who are struggling. What will you do to help the poor?

The Government’s Role in Helping the Poor

There is no question that the government has a role to play in helping the poor. There are many programs and initiatives in place that aim to provide financial assistance and other resources to those who need it most. However, some people believe that the government should do more to help the poor. There are a number of ways the government could help the poor more effectively. For example, they could provide more targeted assistance to those who are truly in need, rather than providing blanket assistance that often goes to people who don’t really need it. They could also create more job opportunities for low-income individuals, which would help them escape poverty. Ultimately, it’s up to the government to decide how best to help the poor. But there’s no doubt that they have a responsibility to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their socioeconomic status.

Private Charity and Helping the Poor

When it comes to helping the poor, private charity is always going to be more efficient than government welfare. This is because private charities are able to target their assistance more specifically to those who need it the most, whereas government welfare programs often have much more bureaucratic overhead that can eat up a large portion of their funding. In addition, private charities are also generally better at holding donors accountable for how their money is being used. When you give to a private charity, you can often specify exactly what your donation will be used for, and you can track the results to see if the charity is actually making a difference. With government welfare programs, it can be much harder to track where your tax dollars are going and whether or not they’re actually helping people. If you’re looking to make the biggest impact possible with your charitable donations, then giving to private charities that focus on helping the poor is always going to be your best bet.

It is always better to give than to receive, and this is especially true when it comes to helping those who are less fortunate. There are so many ways that we can help the poor, whether it be through donating money or clothing, or volunteering our time at a local soup kitchen or food bank. Every little bit helps, and we should all do our part to lend a helping hand to those in need.

Related Posts

Essay on Globalization edumantra.net

We Can Help Poor People by Treating Them With Respect

ATD Fourth World organized an event during the 30th World Day for Overcoming Poverty in Paris on Oct. 17, 2017.

A bhijit remembers walking into a meeting at the EU headquarters and immediately noticing that this was very different from the ones he was used to. No suits, no ties, no high heels; lined faces, scruffy winter jackets, and also an eagerness he associated with college freshmen in their first week. These were people, he was told, who had experienced extreme poverty and were still very poor. They wanted to participate in a conversation about what the poor wanted.

It turned out to be nothing like anything he had ever encountered before. People quickly intervened and talked about their lives and about the nature of poverty and the failings of policy, drawing on their own experiences. Abhijit tried to respond, trying at first to be as delicate as possible when he disagreed. He soon realized he was being patronizing; they were in no way less sophisticated or less able to argue back than he was.

He left with enormous respect for ATD Fourth World , the organization that had convened the meeting, and an understanding of why its slogan is “All Together in Dignity to Overcome Poverty.” It was an organization that puts dignity first, even before basic needs.

Travailler et Apprendre Ensemble (“Work and Learn Together”), or TAE, is a small business started by ATD Fourth World to provide people in extreme poverty with permanent jobs. One winter morning, we went to Noisy-le-Grand in the east of Paris, to observe one of their team meetings. The group was discussing a company event. The atmosphere was relaxed but engaged, problems were discussed with seriousness, and everyone then went off to work. It could have been the weekly meeting of a small start-up in Silicon Valley.

What was different was the activities they were scheduling (cleaning services, construction, and computer maintenance). And the people around the table. Chantal, for example, had been a nurse, but disabled in an accident and unable to work, she lost custody of her four children to the state and ended up homeless. ATD offered her housing and directed her to TAE when she was ready to work. She had been working there for ten years when we met her, going from cleaning to software to becoming a leader. She was now contemplating starting a small NGO to help disabled people find work.

The key to the program’s success, according to Bruno Tardieu, a leader of ATD, is that “all their lives people have given them things. No one has even asked them to contribute.” The extreme poor are robbed of their dignity and their agency, made to understand that they should be grateful for help, even when they don’t particularly want it. Their resistance to the “gifts” they are offered, is often taken for ingratitude and obstinacy, which further deepens the trap in which they are stuck. In TAE, they make decisions together, train each other, eat together every day, and take care of each other.

What can a small business in France, employing less than a dozen very poor people and struggling to get by, teach us about social policy more generally?

First, given the right conditions, everyone can hold a job and be productive. Second, work is not necessarily what results when all the other problems have been solved and people are “ready,” but is part of the recovery process itself. Third, the deep disregard for the humanity of the poor is endemic in the social protection system. The suspicion that poor parents are bad parents, which led to Chantal losing her children for 10 years, is widespread. As a result, people will go to great lengths to avoid having anything to do with the social protection.

And this does not just affect some small sliver of the extreme poor who are different from the rest of us. When social “protection” symbolizes punishment and humiliation, it is the entire society that recoils from it. The last thing a worker wants when he has just lost his job is to be treated like “those people.”

A different model is possible. In Sénart, near Paris, we observed a meeting of “young creators” at the local unemployment office. A dozen young unemployed were talking about the businesses they wanted to start, e.g. a gym, a beauty parlor, and an organic beauty products shop. If this were a traditional unemployment program, the counselors at the meeting would pretty soon tell them what made sense for them to do (perhaps based on some machine-learning algorithm). The youths then have to conform (or lose their benefits).

Didier Dugast, who conceived the creators program, told us that more often than not, this approach fails totally. Most of these young people are used to being told what to do. They have also been told, in school and perhaps at home, that they are not good enough. They arrive bruised and wounded, with extremely low self-esteem, which often translates into an instinctive suspicion of everything offered to them.

The idea behind the young creators program is to start by taking the project they propose very seriously. We sat in on several long initial interviews: one of them was with a young woman who wanted to start a pharmacy for Chinese medicine. The caseworker took time to understand the project, without ever obviously judging it. More in-depth interviews followed, as well as a few group workshops. In all these conversations, the caseworker was focused on convincing her that she was in control of her destiny and had what it took to succeed. At the same time, it was also made clear that there was more than one way to succeed; perhaps the aspiring Chinese pharmacist could start training to become a nurse or a paramedic.

We were involved in the impact evaluation of this project. Nine hundred young unemployed who had applied for it were randomly assigned either to this program or to its traditional alternative. We found that the new program generated more employment and higher earnings, especially for those who were most disadvantaged to start with. Strikingly, the program actually reduces the probability of being self-employed, even though it begins with the applicant’s idea for starting a business. This is because the self-employment project is meant to be a starting point for a conversation that is effectively a form of therapy aimed at restoring confidence. A deep respect for the dignity of the young people is what made the Sénart young creators initiative work—many of them had never experienced being taken seriously by anyone in an official position (teachers, bureaucrats, law enforcement officials).

essay on helping the poor and needy

The same shift in attitude, from patronizing to respectful, was built into the Becoming a Man program , in inner-city Chicago. The program seeks to temper violence among young people. But instead of telling them it is wrong to be violent, it starts with recognizing that for teens in disadvantaged neighborhoods violence may be the norm, so being aggressive or even fighting may be necessary to avoid developing a reputation as a victim. Instead of telling participants not to fight, Becoming a Man asked kids from poor neighborhoods to think about when fighting was the appropriate reaction and when it might not be. Participation in the program reduced the total number of arrests during the intervention period by about a third, reduced violent crime arrests by half, and increased graduation rates by almost 20 percent.

What goes for youth in the Paris suburbs or Chicago’s South Side, also goes for fifty-something white men who were just laid off? While they may have problems, they are not the problem. They are entitled to be seen for who they are and to not be defined by the difficulties besieging them. Defining people by their problems is turning circumstance into essence. It denies hope.

The goal of social policy, in these times of change and anxiety, is to help people absorb the shocks that affect them without allowing those shocks to affect their sense of themselves. Unfortunately, this is not the system we have inherited. Our social protection still has its Victorian overlay, and all too many politicians do not try to hide their contempt for the poor and disadvantaged. Even with a shift in attitude, social protection will require a profound rethinking and an injection of lots of imagination. We clearly don’t have all the solutions, and suspect nobody else does either. But as long as we understand what the goal is, we can win.

Adapted from their new book Good Economics in Hard Times , published by PublicAffairs.

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Sample Essay On Helping Poor People

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Social Issues , Charity , Human , Children , Family , World , Life , United Nations

Words: 1300

Published: 03/28/2020

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Introduction

Human life is guided by principles, thoughts and considerations, which determine what activities, are right or wrong to undertake in any situation. The ability to reason and act out of a set of determined principles differentiates humans from animals. All activities conducted by humans, therefore find their basis in some ethic that makes them acceptable or not. Humanitarian effort finds its foundation in the willingness by other people to sacrifice some of their resources for the improvement of someone else’s life. The decision to participate in a humanitarian effort is voluntary and not guided by formal laws. Additionally, the choice of the effort to expend one’s resources towards is a voluntary decision guided by individual preferences and value for each cause they chose to participate. In making such choices, however, people often find guidance from discourses carried out in the past relating to the subject in determining the best cause to contribute towards, and one that will offer the best satisfaction. Such discourses include the golden rule, which states that one should do onto others what they would want done unto them. In relation to philanthropy, this would relate the situations of a person with the means to help, with the person in need. In a reversal of the roles, the person with the means to help should do as he/ she would want done unto them if they were in the opposite situation. By application of the golden rule, it is, therefore, paramount that anyone in a privileged position finds it their duty to assist those in disadvantaged situations. The essay on poverty by wattles brings the question of how much should a person contribute towards charity. Although it is an over-simplification, I would hold that one is obliged to contribute as much as they can, and as long as they fee3l they are contributing to a good cause; Wattles holds that one should contribute a sum close to the entirety of their earnings, after the deduction of basic amenities. While it is a good benchmark, it is seldom applicable. Wattles donates a fifth of his earnings to charity, which is not a reflection of his earnings minus expenses for basic amenities. Additionally, the determination of what are the basic requirements for an individual is prone to various interpretations. This essay seeks to explain the charity I would consider donating towards in case I happened to chance upon a $10,000 windfall. Deciding on what charity to donate towards, for me is much a moral decision as it is a decision guided by preference and logical deduction. There are good causes, to which one can donate towards, the environment, saving animals, medicine, famine-relief, the list in exhaustible. I chose to help poor people incapable of meeting their basic needs such as proper feeding, housing and basic clothing. It is the right of every human being to achieve a life of some decency. While this right is espoused in many constitutions around the world, few countries, if any achieve the goal of citizens who can be considered to live a decent life. The right to life is protected in many all countries that adopt the universal bill of rights, but it is the concerted duty of the individual, and the ethical obligation of a person of means to preserve that right to life, towards achieving a dignified life for all. The choice that informed my decision to contributing to the cause for human life preservation, other causes in need of support arise out of the deliberate actions of human beings. The environment, for instance, is faced with numerous challenges such as melting glaciers, decreasing forest cover, radioactive contamination and many more. The cause for these challenges afflicting human beings is because of human activity. The attempt to stop or reverse these activities would succeed only from the willing cessation of the injurious activities to the environment. Animals also fall under this category, animal welfare is the subject of conscious human consideration, preservation efforts would always negate, if the human agents putting the animals at risk are not persuaded not to do so. I chose to concentrate on charities that improve on the lives of human beings, in particular, the most vulnerable to factors beyond their control, the children. I found several charities with causes that impact on the welfare of children both indirectly and directly. The organizations I targeted for consideration include; save the children, Oxfam, UNICEF, CARE, and World vision. UNICEF is concerned with the overall welfare of children, ranging from feeding the underfed children, promoting security in conflict areas for the welfare of the children, educating underprivileged children, promoting emergency aid to children and providing humanitarian services. According to the UNICEF website, they are actively involved in ensuring the welfare of children afflicted by various threats against their welfare around the world. Their involvement in the conflict, in Lebanon shows their commitment to ensuring child safety amongst all children despite the nature and origin of the threat facing them. Children fleeing conflict in Syria are facing a different crisis in Lebanon where the threat of malnutrition faces them. According to a report compiled by a UNICEF correspondent, Soha Bsat Boustani, http://www.unicef.org/media/media_72726.html , she reports on the fate several women and the different realities their children are facing away from home. UNICEF utilizes its global reach to raise awareness on issues such as the plight on the Syrian refugees and the impact the affected children suffer as a means of mobilizing resources towards alleviating their suffering. Oxfam is another charitable cause towards which I would consider contributing. It deals with global alleviation of poverty and as such, is involved in activities aimed at reducing the poverty levels experienced by people around the world. Some of its activities include the setting up of infrastructure aiding in the creation of wealth such as irrigation systems and preservation of existing production resources. Additionally, they are involved in situations where there is the risk of deteriorating the livelihood of the people through crisis. Through an article reported in the Philippines’ information agency, Oxfam helped in the alleviation of suffering caused by typhoon Yolanda in the country. Th program initiated seeks to offer temporary assistance to the residents, before rehabilitating them back into their normal livelihoods for a sustainable way to earn income. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=newssearch&cd=5&cad=rja&ved=0CEQQqQIoADAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.pia.gov.ph%2Findex.php%3Farticle%3D1231392861916&ei=34oPU4elJqOH4gSS-YEw&usg=AFQjCNF2loi8yg11dN_k6iHAwVsOLGMTyg&sig2=iQyHXCiWtQmoTFNqR07Ojw&bvm=bv.61965928,d.bGE I would choose to donate my $10, 000 on UNHCR for the reason that their cause appeal to me more than Oxfam’s. While both organizations help individuals in desperate situations, a child is always vulnerable in comparison to an adult. The dedication by UNICEF to champion the issues affecting children, expressly, and exclusively, means that they afford the children a chance to change for a better future. The immediate well-being of the child is important in determining their presence in the achievement of future aspirations.

Works Cited

Korenromp, Eline L., John Miller, Richard E. Cibulskis, M. K. Cham, David Alnwick, and Christopher Dye. "Monitoring mosquito net coverage for malaria control in Africa: possession vs. use by children under 5 years." Tropical Medicine & International Health (2003): n. pag. Print. Oxfam. "What we do." Oxfam GB. Oxfam.uk, 27 Feb. 2014. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. ""Peter Singer's Solution to World Poverty," New York Times Sunday Magazine." Brandeis Users' Home Pages. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. "Press centre report: Silent threat emerging among Syrian refugee children in Lebanon."UNICEF. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.

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Speeches > John K. Carmack > Bless the Poor and Needy

Bless the Poor and Needy

John k. carmack.

Managing Director of the Perpetual Education Fund

February 3, 2004

My first memory of staring poverty in the face came about 1936, during the great economic depression. About that same time Maynard Dixon painted a poignant picture called Forgotten Man. This is a man with holes in his shoes, downcast eyes, and hands hanging down. He is without work or hope, sitting on the curb. Well-dressed men and women walk by, paying no more attention to him than to the fire hydrant next to him. The faces of the passersby are deliberately not shown—representing, I think, their lack of humanity and compassion. I hope this captures your full attention and introduces my remarks in a memorable way.

I would have been about five years old when a man dressed in tattered clothing came to our door in Winslow, Arizona, asking: “Could you spare some food or money? I am on the road, cold and hungry.” The concern and empathy I felt never left me. During those years poverty was widespread. As I remember, Mother always found something to spare for the poor.

We had few luxuries and guarded our meager resources closely. We always had a comfortable home, however, and good food on the table. Mother canned fruit, vegetables, and meat. She made all of our bread and many of our shirts. I never remember eating at a restaurant. We did not consider ourselves poor. Nearly everyone around us was in similar circumstances. We enjoyed a good life. In reality, measured by standards through most of the world’s history, we were rich. We had clean running water, indoor plumbing, space to live in, and clothing that in most ages would be robes only the rich could afford.

Today many of us enjoy unprecedented abundance. We see it here and nearly everywhere. We can easily forget that a major percentage of the world’s people live in poverty, seriously lacking necessities. What should we do about this gap between those with plenty and those living in poverty? Do we have an individual responsibility to help alleviate poverty? Does the Church, now a worldwide institution, have a responsibility to help? Is caring for the poor merely a good thing to do or an imperative duty? These are the issues I will address.

One of the phrases we often hear in prayers is “Bless the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted, and those who have cause to mourn.” I hope we always pray for the poor and needy, but isn’t there more to this than dashing off that phrase? And why should I even bring up this subject with university students?

Although material abundance may come for many of you, those days are probably in the future. Nevertheless, this is a good time to be thinking about these things. I have sensed a great spirit of compassion here. I felt it when I spoke at the hunger banquet on campus 11 months ago. I am aware that some of you struggle daily. The overall impression, however, is one of ampleness. And if we compare our comfortable circumstances with such places as Bangladesh, Haiti, and Bolivia, we know we are blessed. Conditions of poverty are widespread. I sense that in the years ahead you would like to do something about the great gulf separating individuals and communities. I believe you will!

I hope to touch your hearts, increase your understanding, and engage your interest about this subject. The gulf between the affluent and needy worries me. The scriptures on this issue cut to the core. Both our opportunities and duties arise out of these teachings. How we act in relation to them is of the utmost importance, even tied closely to our individual salvation.

Let’s start with the teachings of Jesus and His Apostles. Poverty was even more evident in those days. The Apostles often ran into it among their Gentile converts. In his second epistle to the Saints at Corinth, Paul urged those with abundance to share with those in poverty around them. He reminded the Saints how gracious the Lord had been to them. They enjoyed every benefit of the gospel. To use Paul’s own words, they abounded “in faith, and utterance, and knowledge” (2 Corinthians 8:7). And now, in the spirit of love, Paul urged them to take practical steps to care for the poor.

To dramatize their duty to the poor, he used the greatest moral act in history as an example they should follow. These were his words: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich [referring to his high and holy premortal station], yet for your sakes he became poor [meaning that he came down from that high station to earth], that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). The Atonement was the crowning act of love. Christ had rescued them from spiritual and physical death.

By using the words rich and poor to describe Christ’s great gift, Paul helped them understand their loving duty to help the poor. In this way, he explained, they could prove their sincerity. Paul continued: “Now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality” (2 Corinthians 8:14).

Simply put, others now need your help. And you may at another time need their help. Helping each other leads to equality. These words triggered another thought. As Paul said, both the abundant giver and the needy recipient had their needs supplied in the process of giving. Those with abundance gave food, clothing, shelter, and money to those in need. On the other hand, those in poverty shared their love, appreciation, humility, and simplicity. This process of sharing with each other promoted greater justice and equality. And the process brought them closer to the spirit of the great plan of reconciliation.

We can have the same blessings today. Sharing blesses both the giver and the receiver, and both feel good when it happens. The Lord is also pleased. Everyone wins!

The desire to help others comes, not just as a duty, but also through our love of others. And it extends to those we don’t even know. Joseph Smith’s grand understanding of love’s reach and power is captured in this tremendous statement: “A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race” ( HC 4:227).

We find an interesting declaration of these principles in the Doctrine and Covenants. The Lord said: “I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine” (D&C 104:14). Yes, we may enjoy temporary possession of many good things, but we are merely stewards of those things because all things belong to our Lord.

He then explains that “the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare” (D&C 104:17). The Lord intends to provide for His Saints, but in His own way. The Lord’s way is “that the poor shall be exalted [that is, lifted up and their wants supplied], in that the rich are made low [that is, those with abundance share with those in poverty]” (D&C 104:16).

As the Lord concluded these very clear teachings, He declared something designed to capture our complete attention and underline the critical importance of caring for the poor: “If any man shall take of the abundance which I have made, and impart not his portion, according to the law of my gospel, unto the poor and the needy, he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in hell, being in torment” (D&C 104:18).

That, indeed, is plain language. The Lord warned and motivated us to take care of His children. And lest we choose to brush this warning off, we find the same warning repeated often in the scriptures. For example, Jesus gave the same teaching and warning in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. The unnamed rich man in the parable is described as clothed in purple and fine linen. He also enjoyed sumptuous food every day. Lazarus, on the other hand, lay at the rich man’s gate, hungry and covered with sores, hoping somehow to pick up crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. On Judgment Day Lazarus “was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom” (Luke 16:22). When the rich man died, he was consigned to hell, where he burned in torment. The tables had turned. The rich man was now the needy one. What had he done to deserve such a judgment? Obviously it was what he did not do for Lazarus that, at least in part, doomed him.

Perhaps he rationalized: “This beggar brought his condition on himself. He is lazy. Anyone can work if he wants to.” He may have told himself: “I gave at the office. I have helped build the temple with my contributions. I was honest in business.”

When the Lord repeats the same warning in direct statements and powerful parables, we are wise if we pay attention. It is obvious that we must help those needy souls that cross our paths, if we have the ability to do so. My experience is that most Church members with abundance would like to find a way to share with those in poverty but are looking for the best ways to do it. They have discovered that giving in the wrong way often causes more problems than it solves. Our giving can be wasted, even when given with the best of intentions. And handouts often weaken more than they strengthen. Also, so much that we do provides only temporary help and fails to solve problems on a basic level. We want to help in the worst way and often do! Is there anything we can do that will have a lasting effect in helping the poor and needy?

This is where we turn to the issue of the responsibility owed to the poor and needy by the Church as an institution. I remember when Ethiopia experienced the terrible drought in 1984. Thousands died daily, and there was no end in sight. The Brethren designated a special Sunday to fast and make contributions for the relief of the people of Ethiopia. The Saints in 1984, as did the Saints in Corinth in Paul’s time, raised money—millions of dollars—to be used to alleviate suffering. Part of the money was used to develop an irrigation system to store and distribute water in times of good rainfall. This was more than just a Band-Aid approach to alleviating poverty. The possibilities for basic long-range benefits made that help particularly valuable. The Brethren assigned me to investigate the value of the project by traveling to Ethiopia when the irrigation project was well along. I was thrilled then with our involvement. Individuals could not easily provide such help. The Church as an institution needed to organize and promote the effort.

Let me share some keys that help me understand this subject.

The First Key

The first key to understanding our duty in relation to abundance and poverty is that we should not set our hearts on riches. Why? Because “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). Remember the rich man who came to Jesus in the night seeking to know what he must do to enjoy eternal life? He had lived a good life, but that was not enough to ensure that he would reach his goal. Probably sensing his pride and selfishness, Jesus told him: “Sell that thou hast, and give to the poor” (Matthew 19:21). Jesus perceived that the rich man had his heart set on the wrong things. If he really wanted eternal life, he had to repent of his pride and love of riches. Likewise, we can be in danger if our major focus is on amassing more and more wealth.

Jacob summarized this first key in these words:

Before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.

And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted. [Jacob 2:18–19]

Follow Jacob’s counsel and you will be on the right path. Keep your priorities straight. Doing so will not deprive you of financial success—if that is important to you—but your heart will be anchored on the rock of Christ.

The Second Key

The second key is to keep your eyes open for opportunities to do what you can to alleviate situations of suffering that come your way. We have already sufficiently reminded you of this simple, but vitally important key in such teachings as the parable of Lazarus and the rich man.

The Third Key

The third key applies to those fortunate enough to enjoy material abundance. We should voluntarily share some of it with institutions and programs that help those in need. I have mentioned as an example the help the Church gave to alleviate suffering in Ethiopia. Since then a tremendous outpouring of contributions have come to the Church for such causes, enabling the Church to help with needs and crises all over the world. Of course, we should not forget our responsibilities to donate to the fast-offering fund, an enormously vital and successful way for the Church to care for its poor globally.

Something very profound and exciting happened on March 31, 2001. The Church established the Perpetual Education Fund (PEF) to help bring a whole generation of young adults out of poverty. The PEF is not just another humanitarian project but is uniquely postured to meet deeper and more fundamental needs of young adults mired in poverty. When he introduced the PEF, President Gordon B. Hinckley counseled us succinctly and directly on our duties to help the poor. He said: “I believe the Lord does not wish to see His people condemned to live in poverty. I believe He would have the faithful enjoy the good things of the earth.” He invited those with enough and to spare to share with the fund: “It is our solemn obligation, it is our certain responsibility . . . to ‘succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees’ (D&C 81:5).” He added, giving the manner in which we can best help: “We must help them to become self-reliant and successful” (“The Perpetual Education Fund,” Ensign, May 2001, 53).

Church members seemed to instantly sense that the prophet had acted under the inspiration of God. He had provided Church members with a simple and marvelous way to bring our people out of poverty and want, gain financial stability, and become successful citizens in their own lands. In showing the way, he dodged the give-away approach to helping the poor by establishing a loan program rather than offering grants. He explained his firm expectation that members receiving loans would repay them to help others who would come after them.

In explaining the purposes of the loans, President Hinckley boldly declared: “Education is the key to opportunity” (“The PEF,” 53). We might do many good things, but to educate a generation of young adults in their own countries is the key to real opportunity.

When he announced the creation of the PEF, President Hinckley cited the former PEF, the Perpetual Emigrating Fund and Company, as a precedent. Historians have written extensively of its beneficial effect, enabling Church members from Europe to join the body of the Church trying to make a go of it in these valleys. When the organization of the Perpetual Education Fund was announced, many Church members experienced a sacred feeling that it was right and inspired. Some had the reaction: “Why didn’t we think of this before?”

Helping young people get education leading to good employment is one of the finest ways conceived thus far to liberate a generation of young adults in less-advantaged areas of the world. So many good things can and will follow from such a program. The Church is interested in perfecting the whole person.

A recent convert to the Church in Peru faced severe parental disapproval when she was baptized. Later, when she received a PEF loan and started a wonderful educational program, her parents experienced a complete change of heart. Her father said: “Your new Church is not only concerned about the spiritual welfare of its members but also their temporal welfare.”

The Fourth Key

A fourth key is obvious, but it needs to be said. It is that we don’t intend for those with family responsibilities to forget them in following the other three keys. Perhaps all we need to do is remind ourselves of the advice Paul gave Timothy: “If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:8). The Lord wants us to have a reasonable share of the good things of the earth and to become self-sufficient, never forgetting the source of all good things.

In summary, I submit that those four keys will guide us in meeting the issues we all face in helping the needy. We want all of you to become the best you are capable of becoming. We hope you will strive to incorporate these four keys in your lives.

The PEF is already bearing fruit. There are 300 young people from Peru who are benefiting from this initiative. When you look at their faces, you see that they are our brothers and sisters.

Perhaps one example will illustrate the power of the PEF to lift our young people from conditions of poverty. A young man in South America came home from his mission with a great desire to make his mark in the Church and in his community. He knew he needed an education and, since he lived close to an excellent technical school, desired to enroll there. He visited the school and learned that the cost to attend was far beyond his means. “Perhaps next year the cost will be reduced,” he thought. For eight years he visited and asked for the opportunity of attending there, to no avail.

Then came the announcement of the PEF. He applied for a loan that would enable him to attend the school. He graduated first in his class as an occupational safety engineer. When he graduated, the school was about to build a new campus for 10,000 students. They hired him as their safety engineer at three to four times any income he had previously enjoyed. In turn, he reduced their accidents by 80 percent. His ability to serve in the Church increased. His wife and children now have sufficient for their needs. This is an example that could be replicated hundreds of times.

May we individually and as a Church family bless the poor and needy. As leaders of the Church, we have shared the keys as we see them. May we now all act well our parts in these matters. Imagine what 30,000 of you, spanning the world, living these principles, can mean to the Church and to the world. I envision this happening under the inspired direction of our leaders and under the inspiration of the Spirit. Perhaps this is the way Enoch and his people eradicated poverty completely from their great city. And in doing these things, we bridge the gulf between those enjoying material abundance and those mired in poverty. Perhaps recalling the words of the opening hymn is a way to sum it up:

Because I have been given much, I too must give;

Because of thy great bounty, Lord, each day I live

I shall divide my gifts from thee

With ev’ry brother that I see

Who has the need of help from me.

Because I have been blessed by thy great love, dear Lord,

I’ll share thy love again, according to thy word.

I shall give love to those in need;

I’ll show that love by word and deed:

Thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.

[“Because I Have Been Given Much,” Hymns, 1985, no. 219, verses 1 and 3]

Let’s return to Maynard Dixon’s painting, Forgotten Man. By all means let’s continue to pray for the poor and needy, the sick, and those who mourn. But let’s all—every one of us—do more than pray. Let’s do what we can, according to our circumstances, to lift those arms that hang down. Let’s act in a way that will bless the poor and needy. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

© Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

John K. Carmack

John K. Carmack was managing director of the Perpetual Education Fund and a General Authority emeritus of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when this devotional address was given on 3 February 2004.

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The Working Poor: Helping The Poor And Needy

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10 Ways to Start Helping the Poor

Last Updated: March 15, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Direct Relief and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman . Direct Relief is an award-winning humanitarian aid organization, active in all 50 states and more than 80 countries. They focus on helping people affected by emergencies and natural disasters. Direct Relief has been highly rated by Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and the Center for High Impact Philanthropy at University of Pennsylvania, for their effectiveness, efficiency, and transparency. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 492,175 times.

There’s no denying that poverty is a serious concern all over the world, including your own community. How can we as individuals hope to make a difference when facing such a widespread issue, though? Don’t worry—by offering your voice and using your time and resources wisely, there are plenty of ways for you to make a positive impact on the world around you.

Things You Should Know

  • Support businesses with a track record of giving back to impoverished communities, like Kroger, The Home Depot, and Johnson & Johnson.
  • Donate to charities dedicated to helping those in poverty. Resources like Charity Navigator can help you find high-quality organizations to donate to.
  • Support local food banks in your area by donating groceries.

Support businesses that donate to charity.

A little research can turn your shopping into meaningful advocacy.

  • The Home Depot
  • Johnson & Johnson

Give money to reputable charities.

Not all charities and non-profits are created equally.

  • Evidence Action Inc
  • Haitian Health Foundation
  • Amref Health Africa
  • Equalize Health
  • Tip: Try to make thoughtful purchases when you go out shopping. Before making an impulse buy, ask yourself if you really need the item. Could that money be better used as a charitable donation?

Donate groceries to local food banks.

A simple food donation can make a big difference in someone’s life.

  • Not sure where your local food bank is? If you live in the United States, click here .
  • Does your community not have a local food bank? Think about starting one yourself .

Volunteer your time.

Soup kitchens and homeless shelters are both good options to consider.

  • Make meals with groups like Orphan Grain Train or No Kid Hungry
  • Build homes with groups like Habitat for Humanity
  • Help out at a local soup kitchen
  • Volunteer at a homeless shelter [3] X Research source

Distribute meal kits to the local homeless community.

Fill large plastic bags with food, water, and helpful toiletries.

  • Pads and tampons
  • Toothbrushes and toothpaste

Start a fundraiser.

Bake sales, fun events, and contests are all great ways to raise money.

  • Hosting a collection drive
  • Hosting a dance-a-thon
  • Organizing a charity BBQ
  • Organizing a charity quiz night

Call your government officials.

Government officials can take more direct action to help the poor.

  • Not sure who your local representative is or how to contact them? Check out this website for more information.

Advocate on social media.

Take time to highlight poverty-related issues on your profile.

  • “I’ve been thinking a lot about some of the low-income families in our community. Did you know that United Way offers healthcare support to families in need?”
  • “As a new mother myself, it breaks my heart to know that some mothers are struggling to provide for their little ones. I’m grateful and relieved to know that charities like Life of a Single Mom and Bridge of Hope are offering support to this vulnerable community.”

Talk about poverty-related issues with others.

See if you can motivate some of the people in your life to take action.

  • “Did you know that about 1 in every 6 kids in America is currently experiencing poverty?”
  • “Did you know that over 15 million Americans are currently making 50% below the poverty level of income?”
  • “I learned recently that over 10% of American families/households don’t have food security.” [6] X Research source

essay on helping the poor and needy

Live empathetically and help others to the best of your ability "We have a responsibility to be aware of others. We need to make justice the norm, not the exception."

Research and learn more about poverty.

Understanding poverty is a valuable step to help those in poverty.

  • Poverty USA (poverty in America)
  • UNICEF (child poverty)
  • World Bank (learning poverty)
  • World Vision (global poverty)

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You might also like.

Help  Poor Children to Have a Better Future

  • ↑ https://www.giveforms.com/blog/25-companies-that-donate-to-nonprofits
  • ↑ https://www.charitynavigator.org/discover-charities/best-charities/address-global-poverty/
  • ↑ https://students.1fbusa.com/pay-it-forward/25-ways-to-volunteer-in-your-community
  • ↑ https://portlandrescuemission.org/news/about-homelessness/how-to-pack-a-care-kit-to-help-someone-homeless/
  • ↑ https://www.nspcc.org.uk/support-us/charity-fundraising/do-your-own-fundraising/a-z-fundraising-ideas/
  • ↑ https://www.povertyusa.org/facts

About This Article

Direct Relief

You can help the poor by donating food, clothing, or toiletries to a local shelter or giving your old books to a books for prisoners program. You can also donate your time by volunteering in an community center or soup kitchen. To have a greater impact in your community, try joining an organization or starting a petition to help low-income kids in your community. To learn more ways to help the poor through activism, keep reading. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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essay on helping the poor and needy

4 Practical Ways to Help the Poor and Make a Positive Impact

The problem of poverty is one of the most serious issues facing the world, as the number of people living in extreme poverty is about 650M globally, according to the World Bank.

Despite that, we can always do something to help them, lift them out of poverty , and positively impact them, whether we are individuals, organizations, or governments.

As one of the leading organizations working on the ground in relief and development for years, in this article, we will explore some of the most effective and practical ways to help the poor and create a more just and equitable society.

Importance of helping the poor

Helping the poor is crucial to building a just, equitable, and prosperous society . It does not only directly affect the lives of those in need who lack access to basic resources and services but also helps society as a whole!

When poverty spreads:

  • Crime rates rise.
  • Education levels decline.
  • Health conditions deteriorate in the entire community.

Therefore, it is necessary to help vulnerable people and involve them in the development of society .

  • Practical ways to make a positive impact

While slogans and words can raise awareness, they do not necessarily bring about tangible change. It is essential to take action and implement practical solutions that address the root causes of poverty through the following practical Ways:

1. Volunteer your time and skills

Donating money to charities is undoubtedly helpful, but it is not always feasible for everyone. 

However, volunteering time and skills can be just as impactful, if not more so, as it can directly address the needs of impoverished individuals and communities. 

  • Overview of volunteering opportunities

By volunteering, individuals can share their skills, knowledge, and experience with those in need and help them build better lives for themselves. This can include activities like:

  • Volunteer at a local food bank.
  • Offer to tutor children from low-income families.
  • Volunteer at a homeless shelter or organization that provides transitional housing.
  • Help organize and participate in fundraising events for charities supporting the poor.
  • Volunteer at a hospital or clinic that offers free or low-cost medical services to low-income individuals and families.
  • Mentor young people from underserved communities to help them develop skills and access new opportunities.
  • Benefits of volunteering

Volunteering is a rewarding experience that can benefit both the individual and society. Here are some benefits of volunteering:

For the individual:

  • Personal fulfillment and a sense of purpose.
  • Development of new skills and experiences.
  • Increased social connections and sense of community.
  • Improved mental and physical health.
  • Opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery.

For society:

  • Increased support and resources for non-profit organizations and community initiatives.
  • Addressing important social and environmental issues.
  • Development of a more engaged and active citizenry.
  • Increased social cohesion and community well-being.
  • Promotion of a culture of service and giving back.

Help the Poor

  • 2. Tips for making impactful donations
  • Make your donations to people experiencing poverty in your social circle if you can.
  • Focus on providing sustainable solutions for the poor, such as supporting them in obtaining job opportunities.
  • Help children from low-income families complete their education.
  • Remember to consider the usefulness of in-kind donations such as clothing, food, and medical supplies.
  • When donating to an association, it is necessary to research and investigate its credibility and actual work.
  • 3. Donate to trusted charities

One of the biggest problems facing charitable work and preventing donations from reaching those who deserve them among the needy is the presence of fraudulent charities that steal a large part of donations , so it is necessary to:

  • Research before you donate: Before making any donation, it is essential to research and ensure that the organization you are donating to is legitimate and effective. Look for organizations with a proven track record of making a real difference in the lives of those they serve.
  • Donate to smaller organizations: Smaller charities often have less overhead costs and can direct more funding to the cause they support.
  • Follow up: After donating, follow up with the organization to see how your donation was used and what impact it had. This not only helps you ensure that your donation had the intended effects, but it also allows you to provide feedback and suggestions for future projects.

4. Educate yourself and raise awareness

Educating yourself and raising awareness is the first step towards positively impacting the lives of the poor. Here are some ways to educate yourself and raise awareness:

  • Importance of understanding the root causes of poverty

Understanding the root causes of poverty is crucial to creating effective and sustainable solutions. Some of the main factors contributing to poverty include:

  • Lack of education.
  • Lack of Access to healthcare.
  • Discrimination.
  • Unemployment.
  • Civil wars.

By understanding these causes, we can develop targeted solutions to address them.

  • Ways to educate yourself on poverty-related issues
  • Read and watch news sources that cover poverty-related issues.
  • Research and read reports and studies on poverty and its effects.
  • Volunteer with organizations that work to combat poverty.
  • Spreading awareness and promoting empathy
  • Share information and news articles on social media.
  • Organize community events to raise awareness and promote empathy.
  • Use art and media to spread messages of hope and understanding.
  • Engage with people who have experienced poverty and listen to their stories to understand their struggles better.

By educating ourselves and raising awareness, we can create a society that values and supports those in need and work towards a future where poverty is a thing of the past.

  • Donate to the poor in affected countries

Your donations can help support the refugees and their families during these challenging times.

It is indeed the responsibility of our community to support the affected refugee areas with our finances, efforts, and time. 

Bonyan Organization has been actively working towards providing relief and aid to those affected by the ongoing conflicts in the region.

By donating to Bonyan , you can significantly impact the lives of the refugees and their communities.

  • References:
  • catholicworldmission.org
  • commonbond.org
  • borgenmagazine.com
  • What is the most effective way to help the poor?

The most effective way to help the poor is by supporting charitable organizations that work towards sustainable solutions for poverty reduction. 

  • How do you help improve the lives of the poor?

Improving the lives of the poor can involve a range of approaches: Providing necessities such as food, shelter, and medical care. Offering education and training opportunities to help them build sustainable livelihoods.

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Helping the Poor – Short Essay

Category: Essays and Paragraphs On March 8, 2019 By Ananda

Helping the poor means helping a needy person in terms of money or any other stuff e.g. Food, Clothes, household stuff or grocery. This is a very generous act and is loved in all the religions and countries of the world.

Why help the poor?

Mentioned in all the religions: Every religion whether Christianity, Hinduism or Islam taught us to help the poor people in time of their needs. This will bring GOD”S Happiness and Blessings on you and in the family.

Purpose of our life: We should all focus on the meaning of our life. We are here to serve our nation and locals.

Good and kind Gesture: Moreover helping poor people is a very good act and it helps to build trust on masses. In this way you are considered more respected.

Build a good economy: This all will on a bigger hand build economy which is more healthy and unsustainable in the long run.

Ways to help a poor:

It’s a long list. Some ways of helping the poor are as follows:

Conclusion:

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Helping the Poor and Homeless

essay on helping the poor and needy

(Written in 1993; Originally published in Discipleship Journal )

A stubble-faced, leather-skinned vagrant approaches me and asks, “Can you spare some change?” It’s nothing new, but the last few years the faces have been getting younger, the requests more frequent and my responses less certain. A popular sign reads, “Will work for food.” Sometimes it’s true. Sometimes it isn’t. (Unless I have a job to offer, how can I know?)

As a pastor for fourteen years, I was sometimes called on to deal with requests for money. Knowing that churches have benevolence funds, needy people dropped by asking for gas money, food money, or bus money. Some of them slept in their cars. Some even had children. It was my job to try to discern if the need was legitimate, and if so, the best way to help. As director of a parachurch ministry committed to assisting those who feed the poor, I have to exercise the same kind of discernment.

Definitions and therefore estimates of the homeless vary widely from source to source. (Does homeless include those who have no home of their own, but live with others? Does it include those who stay in government provided apartments and never face sleeping on the streets?) It appears that between 300,000 and 500,000 Americans may be homeless on any given night. Most of these end up in shelters, and a good portion of those who don’t are on the streets by choice. (According to Newsweek , New York City alone has 90,000 homeless, and 30,000 of these have AIDS or are HIV positive.) Most of these are adult men, but there are increasing numbers of women and children, and even whole families.

Demographic breakdowns of the homeless also vary widely from source to source. The following is an average of statistics found in several different sources, and is therefore only roughly accurate. It appears that about 15% of homelessness is due to job loss and lack of low-income housing. About 35% is due to mental illness, which is usually accompanied by marginal job skills. About 50% of the homeless are physically and mentally able, with job skills ranging from minimal to optimal, but choose not to work.

Many in the latter group are alcoholics or drug-addicts. They take advantage of public shelters and soup kitchens to save money for their addictions. Frequently they are the most cunning and aggressive panhandlers, while the willing-to-work are often too ashamed to ask for money, and not “good at it” when they do. The 15% whose adverse circumstances have put them on the streets are the subject of most of the media stories on “street people.” The sentiments this generates prompt further indiscriminate social services that often end up going to the wrong people, thus fueling the growing public cynicism about the poor that results in “throwing the baby out with the bathwater” (failing to help the truly poor because of resentment toward those who abuse the system).

When it comes to the poor and homeless, I see three primary questions. The morality question—"What is our responsibility to the poor?" The wisdom question—"How do we discern who the poor are and what they really need?" The practicality question— "What exactly should we do to help the poor?"

What is Our Responsibility to the Poor?

In his essay on self-reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “Do not tell me, as a good man did today, of my obligation to put all poor men in good situations. Are they my poor?”

Biblically, Emerson’s question can be approached two ways. First, are the non-poor to blame for the poor being poor? Karl Marx claimed that if anyone has more than someone else, he must have gotten it at the other’s expense. Scripture, however, tells us God “gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deut. 8:18). There is not a set amount of wealth that is constantly redistributed. One person can generate wealth without taking it from another.

Of course, some have cheated and exploited others, contributing to their poverty—”The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you” (James 5:4). If we have done this we must repent and make restitution. Zaccheus determined to pay back four times over those whom he had cheated (Luke 19:8).

But contrary to Emerson’s sentiments, even if I am not to blame for the poor being poor, Scripture tells me I am still responsible to help them. The Good Samaritan was not responsible for the plight of the man lying beside the road. After all, he had not robbed and brutalized him. Nonetheless, he was responsible to love his neighbor as himself. He did this not simply by refraining from hurting him, but by actively helping him. He generously used his time, energy and money to care for him. Jesus instructed us to do the same (Luke 10:30-37).

God says, “I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land” (Deut. 15:10, 11). He promises special reward for helping the poor (Prov. 19:17; 22:9; 28:27). The Old Testament prophets boldly spoke forth God’s commands to care for the poor (Isa. 58:7-11). Jesus came to preach the good news to the poor and needy (Luke 4:18-19). Though he himself had little, Christ made a regular practice of giving to the poor (John 13:29). He also repeatedly commanded care for the poor, promising eternal reward for those who do so (Luke 14:12-­14). Special offerings to help the poor were commonplace in the early church (Acts 11:27-30; 24:17; Gal. 2:10).

Caring for the poor is a litmus test of whether our faith is biblical and genuine (James 1:27; 2:14­-16; 1 John 3:16-­19). Our Lord takes personally how we treat the poor—”For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat . . . In that you did it for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me” (Matt. 25:34-35).

How Do We Decide Who the Poor Are and What They Need?

We are often told by government and religious agencies alike that we should help “the poor” by doing this or that. But it is a fundamental error to lump together all of the “poor,” as if they were a monolithic group. Both Scripture and experience teach us that not all people are poor for the same reasons, and therefore not all can ultimately be helped by the same means.

I can think of at least fifteen reasons people may be poor: insufficient natural resources, adverse climate, lack of knowledge or skill, lack of needed technology or equipment, natural disaster (e.g. earthquake or flood), personal catastrophe (e.g. destruction of home or fields), poor health or physical handicap, mental handicap, exploitation and oppression by others, inability to find work, substance addiction, personal laziness, wasteful self-indulgence, personal choice to identify with and serve the poor (e.g. Mother Teresa), and religion or world view. (An example of the latter is the Hindu concept of karma which discourages improving one’s circumstances and results in people starving while one of their major God-given food sources, cattle, consumes another, grain.)

Cures must be tailor-made to the cause of an illness. One does not take chemotherapy to cure a cold, nor insulin to treat asthma. It is as ludicrous to use one stock formula to “help the poor” as it is to give all sick people the same treatment for every disease and expect it to heal them.

If a person is poor because his home has been destroyed by earthquake or flood, the solution may be to give him the money, materials and assistance to help him rebuild his home and reestablish his business. If he’s poor due to exploitation or oppression or injustice, we can offer immediate help while laboring for long-term legal, social, and economic reforms. When poverty is due to adverse climate, the poor need not just short-term relief, but long-term development that will give them the resources to prevent future poverty and hunger. (Some relief organizations are short-sighted, responding to present emergencies—as they should—but doing little to prevent future emergencies.)

If a person is homeless due to a mental handicap, we should seek to provide love, friendship and housing, find proper treatment and training in job skills. (Becoming a contributing member of society is often the best treatment for mental illness.) For those with addictions who want help, we can link them with rehabilitation and recovery groups. Again, giving short-term help without offering long-term solutions is counterproductive.

A person may be poor because of waste and self-indulgence—”He who loves pleasure will become poor” (Prov. 21:17). A man may make a decent income but waste it on drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, expensive convenience foods, costly recreation, or gambling (including lotteries).

Many people manage to meet their family’s needs on very low incomes. Others make several times as much money, but are always “poor,” always in a financial crisis. This is not because their means are too little, but because they are living above their means. Trying to solve such a situation by throwing money at it is like trying to put out a fire by dousing it with gasoline.

When I was a pastor, we called a government agency to get the names of needy people. We drove to their homes with sacks of food, only to find people surrounded by conveniences that some of us contributing the food couldn’t afford or justify. I’ve seen people who perpetually “have no money” to buy groceries for their family, but have a boat, car or recreational vehicle worth $20,000 parked in their driveway! Such people need to be held accountable to liquidate their assets and feed their families, then learn to reorder their priorities and live within their means.

Some people are poor due to laziness. God’s Word says that the result of laziness will be poverty (Prov. 24:30-34). “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth” (Prov. 10:4). “Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry” (Prov. 19:15). “A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing” (Prov. 20:4). “The fool folds his hands and ruins himself” (Eccles. 4:5).

Every act of provision to a lazy person legitimizes and reinforces his laziness. It removes his incentives to be responsible for himself, and makes him more dependent on others. Paul commanded the Thessalonian church to stop taking care of the lazy and reminded them of this strict rule—”if a man will not work, he shall not eat” (2 Thess. 3:10). If we take this verse literally, and I do, it means it’s a sin to feed the lazy. The point is not to let people starve—the point is that faced with hunger they will be motivated to work and support themselves as God intends. “A worker’s appetite works for him, for his hunger urges him on” (Prov. 16:26).

The lazy and self-indulgent do not need financial support, they need incentives to no longer be lazy and self-indulgent. “Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry” (Prov. 19:15). As God-created nerve endings send the painful but life-saving message “take your hand out of the fire,” so hunger sends the life-saving message to the lazy person, “Stop being lazy and go to work.” That is, unless we circumvent God’s system by feeding the lazy. It is a serious error to invalidate the God-ordained mechanism that says “What you sow you will reap” (Gal. 6:7). By all means we must care for those whose circumstances and disabilities leave them poor. But any system—whether secular or religious—that feeds the able-bodied lazy is a counterproductive system. It does them and the rest of society a disservice. We become enablers and accomplices in the violation of God’s principles. The lazy man is poor by choice. We must do nothing to encourage that choice.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development counted 1900 homeless shelters in 1984. By 1988, there were 5400. Why? Because, some experts are now saying, the supply created a demand. U.S. News and World Report says people are now kicking out extended family or single daughters with children—or the latter are choosing to leave an adequate home—precisely because society will provide them free housing. In fact, New York has 3,200 transitional housing units for the homeless that provide private living quarters, baths and a daily restaurant allowance—a better arrangement than people get living with their relatives.

Federal funding for housing has gone from twenty billion dollars in 1978 to over seventy billion dollars in 1990, yet the number homeless seeking new shelters has dramatically increased. While many blame the economy, government statistics show the number of poor people living in crowded households actually dropped significantly from 1.4 million in 1983 to less than a million in 1989. Government provided housing has become a “Field of Dreams” scenario—”if you build it, we will come.” This problem will not be solved with money and facilities—families must be built and strengthened, and responsibility must be taught by refusing to reward (and thereby encourage) irresponsibility. The U. S. News article comes to a conclusion in line with the apostle Paul—”the homeless sometimes respond better to discipline than to unfettered support.”

I know a man who chose not to work, yet received unemployment benefits twice as high as the salary of his friend who worked forty hours a week. I saw the light go on in his head—”Why work when you don’t have to?” I watched that man change over a one year period, as he grew accustomed to not having to work to live. That was ten years ago, and he hasn’t had a job since. He still lives off the misguided “help” of society. Meanwhile he has lost both his self-respect and his family. A nation, church or family that subsidizes the lazy spawns laziness. Since laziness leads to poverty, supporting the lazy breeds poverty.

What is Biblical Compassion?

I know from experience that many Christians will be uncomfortable, or even offended, by what I’ve just been saying. They will think, “This doesn’t sound compassionate.” But what sounds compassionate and what is compassionate are not always the same. Compassion must not be rooted simply in our feelings, or measured by our own subjective satisfaction in saying “I helped the poor.” True compassion sees and deals with the root of the problem. Compassionate parents don’t let their children watch whatever they want on TV, eat junk food all day, or play on the freeway—even though doing so may make the children happier (today), and make life easier for the parents (today). They don’t automatically give their child the new bicycle he wants—they tell him he can only have a new bicycle if he earns it, then they take the time and effort to show him how to earn it.

The fact is that many of us want to “help the poor” because of the good feeling it gives us. We are concerned about salving our consciences, not with whether our “help” has actually met their real long-term needs. But true compassion gives people what they need, not just what they want. Our primary calling is not to help others (or ourselves) feel good, but to help them be good. Shoveling money and goods at poor people may help us—and them—feel good for the short run. It takes more thought, time and commitment on our part—and theirs—to help them do what is best in the long run. It is terribly unfair to attribute all poverty to laziness. It is terribly unwise to try to help the lazy in the same way we help those who are truly in need.

This concept is a challenge to ministries that open their soup kitchens daily and distribute free food and materials to anyone and everyone. Some inner city missions are exemplary, but others fall into the same unhealthy pattern of fostering irresponsibility that has marred most government programs. Some truly needy will be helped—but others will be reinforced in their laziness, and subsidized in their pursuit of harmful addictions. If by feeding a person tonight, we enable him to spend his money on alcohol rather than food, effectively are we doing anything different than just handing him a bottle?

Of course, sometimes it will be impractical or impossible to screen out the irresponsible. Better to feed some who are irresponsible in the process of helping the truly needy, than let the truly needy (including the children of the irresponsible) suffer in the screening attempt. But better still to try to do both, for Scripture tells us to do both. To exercise such discernment requires taking time to get to know individuals and their unique situations, just as a doctor must diagnose each patient rather than prescribing one general cure for everyone. Tempting as it is to do so, we must refuse to equate biblical compassion with every impersonal or indiscriminate distribution program, whether by government or religious agencies.

What Exactly Should We Do to Help the Poor?

Obviously, a person can be unemployed without being lazy. We need to help the unemployed with his immediate needs, but above all we need to help him find work. Sending him to classes, teaching him a skill, helping him write a resume, coaching him for a job interview—all these may be much more helpful than ongoing financial gifts. When work isn’t to be found, we need to provide it however we can. On a few occasions we’ve helped the unemployed by giving them work on our church grounds. I’ve come up with a variety of odd jobs around our house that are worthy and constructive. It’s important for people’s self-respect and initiative to maintain the God-ordained connection between work and income.

The Old Testament pattern of gleaning is a model of how to help the poor in the most positive way (Lev. 19:9-10). God said to leave the corners of the fields uncut so the poor could have food. But notice the grain was not cut, bundled, processed, ground, bagged, transported and delivered to the poor. Provided they were able, the poor were to go to the fields and do the work themselves. This way their needs were met, but they weren’t robbed of their dignity nor made irresponsible by a workless welfare system.

We need to develop a screening process that isn’t impersonal or dehumanizing, but accurately determines whether a person is in need, and if so, why. Christ’s words “Give to him who asks of you” must be seen in the context of the whole Scriptures. Paul commands the church to care for “those widows who are really in need” (1 Tim. 5:3), but says that even in the body of Christ not every widow qualifies for church support . We must be generous, but also be discerning so that our generosity hits the mark.

I have the phone numbers of a few friends who own nurseries. I’ve told able-bodied street people if they want some honest work to earn money for food and other needs, there’s a good chance they can get a job in the fields. If they’re not interested, they’ve screened themselves out and I know I shouldn’t give them money. If they are, I can go the next step and see what else I can do for them. (Needless to say, we should look for every opportunity to share the gospel.)

The church is not to take over responsibilities that properly belong to family members (1 Tim. 5:3­5). In light of this principle, our church leaders approached an elderly woman’s brother to encourage him to meet her material needs he had neglected. He was embarrassed, but he got involved in the life of his sister precisely because we called on him to. Had we continued helping her, he never would have. It is the church’s role to encourage the family to fulfill its responsibilities, not to take over those responsibilities. (Of course, if family members refuse to help, the church must.)

Churches need to help the poor not just by giving money or food, but personal attention—our time, our skills, and our personal interest. An elderly widow doesn’t just need a check, she needs someone to take her shopping, to sit and talk with her, to pray with her. She may need someone to mow her lawn, fix her fence, drive her to church. When we see the homeless, God may not just want us to open our pocketbooks, but our homes (Rom. 12:13). When we opened our home to a needy woman for a year, we had the privilege of seeing her come to Christ. No evangelistic efforts are more credible than those authenticated by hospitality. (Even when we open our homes, however, biblical compassion means expecting them to contribute to the household in some meaningful way.)

What many people need is not more money, but personal help in handling the money they have. Good financial counseling, including how to make and stick to a reasonable budget, is a far more valuable gift than $500 to bail someone out of a situation he should never have gotten into in the first place. Direction in how to find and keep a job is much more helpful than putting groceries on a shelf while someone sits home and watches television all day. When a middle aged career person is laid off, he not only needs to find a new job, but may need support to avoid paralytic depression.

Our family gives regularly to World Relief, a ministry that brings immediate help, long-term development, and the gospel of Christ to the needy throughout the world. The fact is that the poorest of the poor live far away from most of us. Local efforts are good, but we must not forget the desperate needs in parts of Africa, Asia and South America. Furthermore, the class called the “poor” in Scripture includes the weak, defenseless and exploited. Efforts on behalf of unborn children, exploited women, the elderly, handicapped and underprivileged immigrants and minorities are close to the heart of God, who calls himself the rescuer of the poor (Job 29:12; Psalm 35:10; Jer. 20:13).

I cannot relate meaningfully to the poor when I am isolated from the poor. For some of us it’s a question of walking down the block and getting to know the poor. For others it’s driving twenty miles to find a homeless person. Perhaps I must take regular trips away from the cozy suburbs to the inner city. Whole churches have become involved in projects of helping the poor. Some youth groups take regular trips to Mexico. Others put on camps and evangelistic Bible clubs for inner-city children. Churches can go to the ghettos, the jails, the hospitals, and rest homes—wherever there is need.

More radically, instead of following the evangelical pattern of abandoning the city for the suburbs, perhaps its time for more of us to go as missionaries to the poor and live in their midst. Clearly our social programs are not working—if we as Christians will not be the incarnation of Christ’s love and wisdom in the inner city, who will?

We must resist the unbiblical rationalization that we cannot make a difference. “But I’m just one person. And we’re just a small church. How can we eliminate poverty?” The answer is you can’t. Jesus said the poor would always be with us (Mark 14:7). But that shouldn’t inhibit our action. A poster asked, “How can you help a billion hungry people?” The answer below was right on target: “One at a time.”

Caring for the poor is a sobering responsibility for which we will all be held accountable—”If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered” (Prov. 21:13). We must seek to help the poor in the right way, but above all we must help them in some way. Helping the poor and homeless is not a peripheral issue. God links our efforts for the poor directly to our relationship with him. May he one day say of us what he said of King Josiah: “He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” (Jer. 22:16).

Ellen L. Bassuk, “Homeless Families,” Scientific American , December 1991

Gabriel Constans, “This is Madness,” USA Today (Magazine), November 1991, 77-78.

Jay Matthews, “Rethinking the Homeless Myths,” Newsweek , April 6, 1992, 29.

David Whitman, “Exodus of the Couch People,” U. S. News & World Report , December 23, 1991, 30-32.

“New York: The Wind Will Rattle Your Bones,” Newsweek , December 2, 1991

Randy Alcorn ( @randyalcorn ) is the author of over sixty  books and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries . 

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The Importance of Helping The Poor

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Lucy , Daily Life Writer October 13, 2016

Imagine waking up in the morning on the hard ground, or going to bed with no food in your stomach. Imagine the feeling of loneliness weighing down on you or feeling helpless as you walk around the eerie streets each night. Homeless people can experience these struggles and feelings for some people this is their lives. For these reasons, seventh graders at St. Robert School have decided to step in to help and give love to those people who need it most.

A few weeks ago, a small group of seventh graders along with their teacher Mr. Brehm went on a service trip. Maggie, one of the seventh-graders who went on the trip, explained, “We fed food to the poor, and we toured a cathedral as well as visiting a museum.” To be more specific, their teacher Mr. Brehm noted, “We [go] to the Cathedral of St. John, and we get a tour. Then we go to open door cafe, part of the cathedral, and we serve lunch to homeless people [and struggling ones]. Then we go to the Roman museum to get a docent-lead tour of various works of art.” The Roman museum concluded the kids’ day of service. A new group of 7th graders will continue making trips here on the first Tuesday of each month for the remainder of the year.

Service can affect people in many different ways. Maggie commented on her experience saying, “It was very reflective, and it was eye-opening to see the people that were less fortunate. When we visited the cathedral and visited the poor, I felt happy because I was helping people out.” For Maggie her experience made her feel a bit sad as well as she sympathized with those who are less fortunate, but she also experienced happiness because she is helping people through her work.

Mr. Brehm, who organizes this trip, sees great importance in the experience. He noted that service matters “Because it is a way to live the beatitudes, and that is important for them to learn because it is one of the core messages of Jesus.” Doing service not only makes one a better person but improves one’s faith life.

Service can help people emotionally, physically, and improve their connection with God. Maggie said, “I would recommend it because it was a good experience because I got to help people.” Mr. Brehm, who has done past service including serving at a soup kitchen and attending a mass with the sisters of charity in Chicago, also explained, “It was a good experience because what I did helped me to see Christ in the poor.” He also noted that experiences with certain people really impact him as a person.

All in all, service is a great way to stay emotionally and faithfully strong. It can impact the way we see people and situations and encourage others to step in and help. Service will have something to offer, and leave you walking away thinking about the world around you. I can’t wait to go on my first service trip next month and experience this opportunity. Go online or ask friends to sign up for service today to help other people and grow as a person.

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Lucy is a current 8th grader at St. Robert. This year she is Editor-in-Chief of the White and Blue press, and she is very enthusiastic to see what this...

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kacey • Dec 7, 2016 at 11:08 am

more people should sign up for service projects. It’s a great way to help the less fortunet. I also think it was great that they do this. It was also a great story! 🙂

Stella • Nov 7, 2016 at 2:54 pm

Nice story Lucy! I think it was really eye opening to hear how we can help people less fortune to than us

Abby • Oct 24, 2016 at 4:51 pm

Good job I agree that together as a community we can do more to help.

Mrs. Schroeder • Oct 22, 2016 at 1:41 pm

Interesting article. I especially liked the introductory paragraph. It helped me to build a connection of how the people who are served must feel. I am happy to learn that the seventh grade students at St. Robert’s are improving the lives of others.

Jillian • Oct 21, 2016 at 10:51 am

Loved this Lucy! Great job with all the details! It was very inspiring!

Jillian • Oct 21, 2016 at 10:48 am

Great article Lucy!! I love all the details that you put into it! Although I haven’t been on service yet, I look forward to going and making connections to this.

Madeline • Oct 21, 2016 at 10:42 am

This story is really well written! You used the quotes really well.

Sylvia • Oct 21, 2016 at 9:44 am

Great article! My mom works at the open door cafe. I’ll recommend this to her!

Natalie • Oct 21, 2016 at 9:20 am

Love the story honey!!! Your story is inspiring to all

Cat • Oct 21, 2016 at 9:19 am

I like your details! Your article really shows how some people and less fortunate than us so we should help them out.

Katie • Oct 21, 2016 at 9:17 am

Great story Lucy! I haven’t gone on the service trip yet but I am glad to hear it was a useful trip.

becky womack • Oct 15, 2016 at 3:35 pm

you have inspired me lucy. as a parent and adult I need to make more of an effort to be of service in my own life.

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The Way We Do: Faith & Science

Dear plnu: katrina cloyes, plnu at the 2022 san diego regional edc annual dinner, explore san diego, summer research at plnu.

essay on helping the poor and needy

John Wesley on Homelessness and Poverty

In this issue of the Viewpoint, which focuses on homelessness, we have asked Mark Mann, director of the PLNU Wesleyan Center, to provide some historical and theological perspective on the issue. In this essay, he especially addresses the theology and practices of John Wesley, who is a significant figure in the history of the Church of the Nazarene.

“The poor you will always have with you,” Jesus foretells in Matt. 26:11. Thus far, history has proven Him correct. And the same goes for the homeless. At least since Jesus’ time, homelessness has been a problem that societies have sought to address but have never succeeded in solving.

Throughout history, the causes of homelessness have been manifold: poverty, war, migration, famine, unemployment, mental illness, urbanization – the same that we find in today’s world. If one were to walk the streets of San Diego, or any other major city in the United States, one would find immigrants from famine and war-stricken regions, veterans who could not fit back into society after serving their country, single mothers who cannot pay the rent after losing jobs in the recent recession, men and women suffering from various forms of mental illness.

But if the fact of and reasons for homelessness have generally remained the same, attitudes toward the problem, and especially toward the homeless themselves, have varied widely over time.

In ancient Rome, Cicero is notable for referring to the homeless as “‘the poverty stricken scum of the city,’ who should be ‘drained off to the colonies.’” 1 With the rise of the Christian church, attitudes toward the homeless changed drastically. No longer “scum,” the poor and homeless were people for whom God cared deeply and with whom He identified in profound ways. Rather than exclude them as pariahs, as the ancient Romans and Greeks had, they were to be embraced by the church, to be treated with care and charity.

Of course, Christian charity had its limits during the medieval era, especially during periods of great upheaval and dislocation, such as times of famine and war, which were rampant. The Black Plague, for instance, left countless women and children without means and in search of new lives and new homes at a time when none were to be found. Following times of war, roving bands of former soldiers might turn to banditry and violence. In such times, local authorities were actually more likely than not to act against those who threatened social stability, even to the point of, for instance, forcibly returning to their failing farms those who had come to towns and cities for work.

With the rise of modern nation states in Europe, governments once again took over responding to homelessness – sometimes in charitable ways but more often not. In early 17th century England, a series of “poor laws” were enacted that would serve to guide British dealings with “vagrancy” – as homelessness was called at the time – for the next two centuries. These laws sought to distinguish between criminal and non-criminal vagrants and to respond to each accordingly. Those deemed criminal (lazy and unwilling to work or find homes) might be imprisoned, beaten, branded with a “V,” or even executed. Those deemed not to be criminals (the truly destitute) were often placed in bridewells – hospital-type facilities where they could live, eat, and find work and education until regular work and housing might be found.

By the 1730s, when John Wesley’s ministry began, vagrancy in Great Britain had become increasingly criminalized and homelessness simply not tolerated. Those from the countryside seeking work in the cities (typically London) were arrested and forcibly returned to their home parishes to be dealt with by local authorities while those who had no other place to go were locked up in bridewells, which by this time had become more like prisons than the hospitals and work houses they had been intended to be. In fact, the one explicit reference to a bridewell we find in Wesley’s writings is a journal entry detailing his visit to the Bristol bridewell to visit a soldier awaiting execution in which Wesley also notes there being “several desolate ones that were confined in the same place.”2

During the 1700s, these practices were supported by a series of “vagrancy laws” that cast an increasingly wide net in defining who could be arrested for vagrancy. A 1714 law listed as vagrants not only wandering beggars and men who had left their families, but also even those considered a threat to leave home. A 1744 law went on to include all traveling actors, jugglers, and minstrels, as well as anyone found traveling with a dancing bear! This was the strange and troubling context in which John Wesley lived and sought to live out the call to fully love both God and neighbor.3

While there is nothing in Wesley’s writings that provides explicit reference to vagrancy, there is much that we may put together about his view of homelessness based upon his work among the poor and his writing about how his fellow Methodists should join him in response to their plight. Indeed, if we are to say one thing about Wesley and homelessness, it would be that one of his chief aims was to assist the poor in avoiding homelessness or vagrancy.

From his time as a university student at Oxford, Wesley felt called to work among and on behalf of the destitute. He would regularly visit local prisons, especially the infamous Newgate, where many were on death row. Wesley would often preach and read scripture to and pray with those awaiting their executions in this terrible place. He would also fast regularly, dedicating the money he would otherwise have used for dining – as well as all the money, food, and clothing he could solicit from others – for the poor, whom he would regularly visit. This was not the kind of behavior one expects from a university student but exactly the kind of radicalism that led to him being derided as a “Methodist” and “Holy Clubber” by fellow students.

Wesley would continue these personal commitments the rest of his life. When it came to money, he lived by the adage: “Earn all you can, save all you can, and give all you can.” And earn, save, and give he did. One of the most recognizable figures in England through much of his adult life and a successful author and preacher, he perpetually lived on the verge of abject poverty. In fact, it is estimated that he gave away roughly $6 million (in current USD) over his lifetime while dying with less than $2,000 to his name!

He also regularly “begged” for the poor. Such was his continual insistence to fellow Methodists that they give more for the needy that his brother Charles complained that John would soon have them, too, numbering among those needing charity. Begging, for John, could also take on extreme forms. In his journal, he famously tells of five long, cold mid- winter days spent trudging all over London’s snowy, slush-filled streets begging for money to help clothe and feed the poor, stopping only once he had become quite sick. Wesley was 81 years old at the time and succeeded in raising the equivalent of $100,000.4

As leader of the Methodist movement, Wesley was also able to help develop larger programs for the poor. In 1738, he purchased an old, dilapidated munitions factory, later called the Foundry, which became the base of Methodist operations, especially on behalf of the poor. Out of the Foundry, the early Methodists provided much that a contemporary rescue mission might: food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and even financial support in the form of small loans to those without work wanting to start their own businesses. Wesley also founded a home for poor widows, a home for orphans, and several schools aimed especially at the education of poor children.

Even more striking than Wesley’s own work on behalf of the poor were his teachings about why Christians should engage in such actions. Central to his teachings, Wesley believed that all Christians are called to lives of holiness, by which he meant hearts filled to overflowing with love for God and neighbor. Wesley also believed that God’s grace both empowers acts of love for God and neighbor and transforms our hearts and lives through such actions, which is why he would come to call any such actions “means of grace,” and actions directed toward the poor, the imprisoned, the hungry, the widow, and the orphan “acts of mercy” that were also “means of grace.”

Put a bit differently, according to Wesley, we are to act on behalf of the less fortunate for two deeply intertwined reasons: first, God calls us to do so and we should be obedient to God, and second, such acts of mercy are necessary for our own growth in grace. In other words, God’s grace works in such a way that when we seek to offer grace, love, and compassion to others, we are every bit as much the recipients of God’s grace, love, and compassion.

One of the pivotal passages of scripture that guided Wesley’s thinking on this matter was Matthew 25:31-46, often called the “Parable of the Sheep and the Goats.” In this passage, Jesus defines the goats as those receiving judgment because they failed to provide Him food, drink, hospitality, shelter, or clothing, or failed to look after Him when He was sick or imprisoned, and the sheep as those who have succeeded in these ways. Both groups ask Jesus when they had failed or succeeded in loving Him in these ways, and Jesus replies: “Truly I tell you, whatever you have done (or not) unto the least of these you have done (or not) unto me” (v. 40, 45).

This was the main reason that Wesley continually encouraged the Methodists to give sacrificially to the poor and to seek out solidarity with the poor by spending time with them and fasting and begging on their behalf. If one wished to give to Christ, one needed to give to the poor; if one wished to spend time with Christ, one needed to spend time with the poor.

It is worth noting one additional reason Wesley advocated that the Methodists spend considerable time among “the least of these”: it would assist those with means from becoming too attached to their worldly belongings. Many of Wesley’s sermons concern the temptations of wealth and the appropriate use of money. Indeed, he believed, the more time one spends with the poor, the more likely one is to realize one’s own spiritual poverty and continual need for grace and the more likely one is to give freely of what one has been blessed to possess. This was, felt Wesley, the only reason any have been blessed by God with wealth – that it be given away freely to those in need.5

Throughout his ministry, Wesley felt that he was fighting an uphill battle in calling the bulk of his followers to the kind of radical poverty and solidarity with the poor that he modeled. He was oft to say that the Methodists had proven exceptional at following the first two parts of his essential teaching on wealth (earn all you can and save all you can) but an utter failure at the third (give all you can).

Late in life, he feared that whatever links of solidarity he had achieved in forging between Methodism and the poor would be completely lost after his death. In the end, his fears turned prophetic. Although Methodists would play a leading role in many of the important social reforms in 19th century Britain (including making slavery illegal, establishing child labor laws, and enacting laws that provided greater protection for miners, factory workers, etc.), Methodists would quickly move into the mainstream of middle and upper class society. This would especially be the case in America, where by the 1850s, the Methodist church had become the largest and wealthiest denomination in America.

The question that haunts me today is: to what extent do we in the church in the early 21st century embody the spirit of Wesley in our work with the poor? Ours is a society gripped by an addiction to success and wealth. Unfortunately, this addiction even fuels much of the theology and preaching of the church today. Many of the most popular preachers in America proclaim what has been called the gospel of wealth and success, which states that the chief sign that a person is “right with God” is that God has blessed that person with prosperity. And, such preachers argue, such blessings are intended for our own benefit and enjoyment.

Wesley would find this to be a sickening betrayal of the true gospel of Christ. For Wesley, material blessings are never given for one’s own enjoyment but only to be used for God’s kingdom and especially for the benefit of and in solidarity with the homeless and poor. Indeed, I don’t think it much of a stretch to imagine that Wesley’s chief concern about the church today would be that we, too, have done a great job of earning and saving all that we can but have miserably failed in giving all we can.

Dear God, have mercy on us all…

By Dr. Mark Mann

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essay on helping the poor and needy

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How ‘Poor Laws’ Tried to Tackle Poverty in Colonial America

By: Lesley Kennedy

Updated: June 29, 2023 | Original: March 15, 2023

George Whitefield preachingGeorge Whitefield preaching. English Anglican priest and a founder of Methodism. Preached during the Great Awakening in 1700s in Europe and American colonies. 16 December 1714 – 30 September 1770. (Photo by Culture Club/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

Long before subsidized housing, food stamps and Medicaid, early American settlers implemented their own forms of public assistance and policy regarding the poor, including taxation, auctioning off the destitute and building government-run poorhouses.

The Pilgrims and colonists may have envisioned the “New World” as a land of endless opportunity, but, as in England, the poor, sick and unemployed were also prevalent in America. And so they soon looked to the Elizabethan Poor Law Act of 1601 as a guide to handling the needy in their new homeland.

Elizabethan Poor Laws

Widespread unemployment, famine, natural disasters and other factors led to an increasing number of destitute people in England during the  Elizabethan era . And with rapidly growing concerns that poverty would lead to crime, protests, disease and more, national legislation was enacted in 1601 to provide relief for the poor.

“New social arrangements were required to mitigate these hardships, to reduce uncertainty, and to stabilize community life,” writes Walter I. Trattner in his book  From Poor Law to Welfare State . “It was in this context that the modern institution of social welfare emerged.”

The Poor Law Act, which remained largely intact for nearly 250 years, declared the government responsible for aiding its poor citizens, who were separated into three categories: able-bodied, “impotent” (the blind, elderly, disabled, etc.) and children. “It further conceded that there were helpless or needy people who not only deserved such assistance but who had a legal right to it,” according to Trattner.

Local church leaders or other appointees were charged with overseeing the relief and a mandatory tax rate system was installed, with failure to contribute resulting in jail time. But the act also stated that vagrants who refused employment faced prison, whipping, branding stoning or death. Additionally, a ban against begging was enforced and poorhouses were opened.

Bringing the Poor Laws to the Colonies

It quickly became clear that poverty was not restricted to European borders. By the mid-17th century, on American shores, Trattner writes, “so many indigent colonists were about–idlers, misfits, tramps, criminals, widows, the sick, and so on … that their care had to become a community function and responsibility.”

Pulling from the Poor Laws Act, colonists soon initiated local poverty relief taxes, and differentiations were made between the “worthy” and “unworthy” poor, leaving it up to town leaders to choose who would receive help and in what form.

“In time, colonial legislatures and later state governments adopted legislation patterned after these English laws, establishing the American tradition of public responsibility for the care of the destitute while also requiring evidence of legal residence in a particular geographic locality (i.e., town, municipality, county) as a prerequisite for receiving assistance,” John E. Hansan writes in “ Poor Relief in Early America .”

Two common forms of relief for the poor were the contract system, in which a farmer or homeowner agreed to care for a person based on a fixed price, and auctioning, where a person or family was assigned to the lowest bidder. The individual then put the poor person to work in exchange for reimbursement of what it cost to clothe and feed them. According to Hansan, the system “essentially legalized abusive behavior and near starvation existence.”

It was during this time that transiency laws were also introduced to keep strangers from moving from town to town to collect public funds. “The Rhode Island Assembly empowered town councils to expel all nonresident vagrants and indigents,” Trattner writes. “Those who returned after having been expelled were subject to heavy fines and severe whipping.”

The Rise of Poorhouses

Men sitting down to dinner in the poorhouse, 1840. (Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

As poverty rates continued to grow in the colonies, reformers looked to new options, especially alternatives to assistance in the form of money, food, clothing or goods, as a way to slow incurred costs and demands for aid, according to Michael B. Katz in his book  In the Shadow of the Poorhouse .

Their answer?  Poorhouses . Also called workhouses and almshouses, these institutions became a popular form of public aid and “were supposed to check the expense of pauperism through cheaper care and by deterring people applying for relief,” as well as even the tax burden between urbanites and those in rural areas and decrease vagrancy, according to Katz.

“In many areas, poorhouses became a refuge for the sick, the severely disabled, frail elderly and homeless children who were unable to work and had no one to care for them,” Hansan writes. “Complicating the use of a poorhouse for the care of all destitute persons was the necessary mixing of the worthy and the unworthy poor. Often living in the same congregate setting were able-bodied adults as well as dependent persons such as children, the aged, the sick and the disabled.”

It didn’t take long for reports of inhumane poorhouse conditions to emerge: violence, filth, disease, starvation, abuse, death, corruption and more.

“Miserable, poorly managed, underfunded institutions, trapped by their own contradictions, poorhouses failed to meet any of the goals so confidently predicted by their sponsors,” Katz writes.

Eventually, poorhouses were phased out, as the  Social Security Act was signed in 1935  and more public assistance was offered in response to the  Great Depression . 

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30 Motivational Quotes about Helping the Poor and Needy

essay on helping the poor and needy

Introduction

essay on helping the poor and needy

30 Quotes about Helping Those in Need

In life, nothing can satisfy and please your soul as much as helping others. Not only helping the needy will make a difference in their life, it would have a lot of benefits for you as well.  Why is that you may wonder? Let’s try to find the answers in these quotes about helping the poor and needy.

Everyone should play his part in helping others.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Do it yourself, person to person.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Let's help poor people.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Make a life!

essay on helping the poor and needy

Make sure you do something for someone.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Charity sees the need. 

essay on helping the poor and needy

Help to feel alive.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Let's take the initiative to bring poverty to an end.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Be the givers!

essay on helping the poor and needy

You must have the heart of a giver to help the needy.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Kindness is to lend a helping hand to those who need it.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Giving wouldn't make you poor.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Helping others is a good way to thank God for his blessings.

essay on helping the poor and needy

You have two hands. Use them for help.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Doing little things for others make big difference.

essay on helping the poor and needy

You must listen to the cry of the poor.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Don't send him empty handed.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Believe in helping others.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Charity must never end.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Poverty is a man-made thing that can be removed.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Don't hesitate in helping others in their need.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Giving is a luxurious trait.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Poor people have the most generous souls.

essay on helping the poor and needy

God repays you for the help you offer the needy.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Helping is the most satisfactory thing to do.

essay on helping the poor and needy

We need to help each other.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Help the needy, if not, at least do not harm them.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Be there for helping them getting over it.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Don't look for a reason to help.

essay on helping the poor and needy

Learn something good with these quotes about helping the poor and needy to prove, there is still some goodness in this world.

essay on helping the poor and needy

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  3. How Important It Is to Help Others Who Are in Need Free Essay Example

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COMMENTS

  1. Helping the Poor and Needy: [Essay Example], 583 words

    The act of helping the poor and needy holds profound significance in fostering a just and compassionate society. As we navigate the complexities of modern life, it becomes increasingly imperative to address the challenges faced by marginalized individuals and communities. This essay delves into the multifaceted aspects of providing assistance ...

  2. Essay on Helping the Poor

    The moral grounds for helping the poor are deeply rooted in empathy and compassion. The understanding that all humans deserve a decent standard of living regardless of their socio-economic status is fundamental. When we help the poor, we are not just giving them a lifeline, but we are also affirming their worth and dignity.

  3. PDF Why Assist People Living in Poverty? The ethics of poverty reduction

    we analyse how ethical perspectives help understand key design features of anti-poverty programmes, and provide three case studies (Brazil, South Africa and Ghana) exploring the role of ethical perspectives in the development of poverty reduction policy and programming in these countries. The paper is divided into four main sections.

  4. 7 Ways You Can Help Fight Poverty in Your Community

    3. Donate funds and time & find volunteer opportunities. One of the most straightforward ways to help fight poverty in your community is to donate funds to organizations whose mission it is to end these economic disparities. No amount of money is too small or too large. As these donations add up, organizations can put the funds toward fixing ...

  5. Paragraph on Helping Poor

    So let's make a commitment to helping the poor and needy whenever we can. Not only will it make the world a better place, but it will also enrich our own lives in the process. There are a lot of ways to help the poor, and no one solution is perfect. ... Essay on Fundamental Rights for all Classes in | 100, 150, 200, 300 and 400 + Words ...

  6. We Can Help Poor People by Treating Them With Respect

    Travailler et Apprendre Ensemble ("Work and Learn Together"), or TAE, is a small business started by ATD Fourth World to provide people in extreme poverty with permanent jobs. One winter ...

  7. Helping Poor People Essay Example

    There are good causes, to which one can donate towards, the environment, saving animals, medicine, famine-relief, the list in exhaustible. I chose to help poor people incapable of meeting their basic needs such as proper feeding, housing and basic clothing. It is the right of every human being to achieve a life of some decency.

  8. Bless the Poor and Needy

    By all means let's continue to pray for the poor and needy, the sick, and those who mourn. But let's all—every one of us—do more than pray. Let's do what we can, according to our circumstances, to lift those arms that hang down. Let's act in a way that will bless the poor and needy. My first memory of staring poverty in the face ...

  9. The Working Poor: Helping The Poor And Needy

    The working poor means that working people whose income is below the specific poverty line usually have a minimum wage to work, or just above. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2019), the working poor are those who have spent at least 27 weeks or more a year in the labor force. These people either work or are looking for work, but ...

  10. Ways to Help the Poor and Needy

    Helping poor and needy people is vital to strengthen the whole society. We raise the entire community as we provide support and a helping hand to those less fortunate than us. Helping them lead a better life for themselves and their community later on in life. Helping the poor and needy is a duty of every Muslim to give Zakat and Sadaqah to the ...

  11. How to Improve the Lives of the Poor: 10 Helpful Ideas

    You can also: Make meals with groups like Orphan Grain Train or No Kid Hungry. Build homes with groups like Habitat for Humanity. Help out at a local soup kitchen. Volunteer at a homeless shelter [3] X Research source. 5.

  12. 4 Practical Ways To Aid The Needy & Create Positive Change

    Help the Poor 2. Tips for making impactful donations. Make your donations to people experiencing poverty in your social circle if you can. Focus on providing sustainable solutions for the poor, such as supporting them in obtaining job opportunities. Help children from low-income families complete their education.

  13. Helping the Poor

    Conclusion: Help the poor. This should be your goal. This brings blessings into your life. Do good deeds for these poor souls. At the end of the day, you will ripe what you sow. So walk carefully and always open your eyes and ears so you can see a needy. Dedicate your whole life in this good work and you will find peace and harmony inside you.

  14. Helping the Poor and Homeless

    He promises special reward for helping the poor (Prov. 19:17; 22:9; 28:27). The Old Testament prophets boldly spoke forth God's commands to care for the poor (Isa. 58:7-11). Jesus came to preach the good news to the poor and needy (Luke 4:18-19). Though he himself had little, Christ made a regular practice of giving to the poor (John 13:29).

  15. The Importance of Helping The Poor

    Doing service not only makes one a better person but improves one's faith life. Service can help people emotionally, physically, and improve their connection with God. Maggie said, "I would recommend it because it was a good experience because I got to help people.". Mr. Brehm, who has done past service including serving at a soup kitchen ...

  16. Essay about helping the needy

    A helping the poor help ethics: the poor people fall on hard times and needy! Category: Essays and Paragraphs On March 8, 2019 By Ananda Helping the poor means helping a needy person in terms of money or any other stuff e. In both articles, the idea of helping the needy is a heated topic among both writers.

  17. John Wesley on Homelessness and Poverty

    In his journal, he famously tells of five long, cold mid- winter days spent trudging all over London's snowy, slush-filled streets begging for money to help clothe and feed the poor, stopping only once he had become quite sick. Wesley was 81 years old at the time and succeeded in raising the equivalent of $100,000.4.

  18. Why Should I Help Children in Need?

    In 2022 alone , Save the Children programs and partners helped 118 million children in 116 countries become healthier, safer and better educated. As the world's leading expert on childhood, we believe that every child deserves a future. This belief is at the heart of everything we do. We know you share it, too.

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  22. 30 Motivational Quotes about Helping the Poor and Needy

    Helping is the most satisfactory thing to do. 26. We need to help each other. 27. Help the needy, if not, at least do not harm them. 28. Be there for helping them getting over it. 29. Don't look for a reason to help.

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    Essay On Helping The Poor And Needy People In English - Get Do Help ... Essay On Helping The Poor And Needy People In English - Get Do Help ... 2. The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Qualitative Research... A research paradigm is a way of observing the world. It is composed of certain philosophical assumptions that guide and direct action and ...

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    In this way, you ensure that you care for the needy while still giving within your means. "Do not forget the doing of good and the sharing of things with others, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.". ( Hebrews 13:16) Notice that besides "the sharing of things with others," we must also remember "the doing of good," or ...

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    Essay On Helping The Poor And Needy People In English - Get Do 1. Step To get started, you must first create an account on site HelpWriting.net. The registration process is quick and simple, taking just a few moments. During this process, you will need to provide a password and a valid email address. 2.