We have a problem with friendship and the poor. We don’t do it enough. We think it is money that is needed in the fight against poverty. But it is time that is missing. Time from people willing to mentor and be friends with the poor.
Life skills and encouragement
We are all a product of being helped to become self-sufficient. The guidance usually comes from loving mothers and fathers. Many become self-sufficient without loving relatives teaching them, but the route is more challenging. But no one makes it without help, instruction, advice, and key mentors along the way. No one makes it without friendship and encouragement. There is just too much to learn about money, spending, budgeting, saving, hard work, attitude, personal hygiene, interviewing, job skills, career paths, personal interests, personal skills, education, study skills, testing skills, government programs, child-rearing, child education, etc.
Mentoring is essential but equally important is encouragement, interaction, and involving the poor in the community. In other words, friendship. People need to hear they are important, that they matter, that their effort is appreciated and that we know what they are up against. They need to know we are pulling for their success.
Friendship with the poor is an old practice
A Handbook of Charity Organization published in 1882[i] put it this way: “We hold that the chief need of the poor today is not alms giving, but the moral support of true friendship ….”
That was in 1882 and is still applicable today. If enough of us believe it, we can lower poverty in America. If we think it to be untrue, we are destined to have distinct social classes in America that don’t care about one another. If you aren’t sure whether it is true, find a person outside your social class and interface with him. Introduce your friendship to the poor. Most likely, good things will happen to both of you!
A great source of inspiration on how to help the poor are quotes from Mother Teresa.
This blog supports the Ultimate Guide on How to Help the Poor – The philosophy
[i] Stephen Humphreys Gurteen. A Handbook on Charity Organization. Published by the author, 1882 and republished by Bibliolife, LLC. Page 176.