10.21.01
A few weeks ago, Overlord Carol participated in a charity walk for Alzheimer's. She had several weeks in which to raise donations, but had a miserable time wrangling money out of people's wallets, because everyone had already given a fat wad of cash to the American Red Cross, or the September 11th Fund, or one of the other wonderful and altruistic organizations out there that have been helping people in the wake of national tragedy, and didn't have a dollar to spare.
However, I found it particularly irritating that the same people that couldn't give her ONE STINKING DOLLAR, could go downstairs and get a cookie or a mocha latte as a snack.
I don't care how broke you say you are, if you have enough money for overpriced, fattening snacks, you can give a dollar to a worthwhile cause like Alzheimer's research.
Besides, Overlord Carol is never particularly beneficent with her time, and the idea of her giving up a morning on one of her precious days off to go do something for a good cause is more than reason enough to pony up a buck.
Hell, even I gave her $20*. So, I skip a few trips to Subway for lunch. Maybe somebody's grandma can live a little better quality of life thanks to that.
And the other day, my beloved Jilly Bean was telling me about how her friend that works for the United Way is taking a temporary lay-off of sorts, because the quantity of donations has shrunk so greatly that it was either pay her, or provide a safe place for low-income children to go after school, and feed them, and do all of the other wonderful things that the United Way does on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, this isn't some weird anomaly, either. Charitable organizations are suffering because of funds being diverted elsewhere.
And that makes me sick.
Yes, a terrible thing happened, and our nation has pulled together in a way that most people never dreamed possible. But there has been another unforseen tragedy in all of this zealous outpouring of charity to the victims of the September 11th Attacks -- soup kitchens don't have food to give out, children don't have places to play after school, shut-ins aren't getting their meals-on-wheels, people aren't participating in charitable activities, and agencies that exist to help people can't, not because they don't want to, but because they can't afford it.
People aren't turning up for AIDS walks, for criminy's sake. I guess they aren't in vogue right now.
I'm not saying that people shouldn't support the victims of terrorism, I'm just asking that they not forget the other worthwhile organizations out there.
And the next time someone asks you for a dollar for Alzheimer's research or breast cancer awareness, or for a donation to the United Way, please consider it.
Starbuck's won't miss you that much for a week.
*And before I'm accused of being some sort of commie pinko, yes, I also gave a generous donation to both the Red Cross and the 9/11 Fund. I'm also making my regular contributions this year, too. Charity is good for the soul. And, if I had time, I'd donate some of that, too.
