The NYTimes has a program where they give $1000 to people to assist with a variety of expenses where that amount of money can really make a difference to someone - keep them in an apartment when they are behind on rent, pay for a class or two at school, etc. They feature the stories of the recipients. It is nice to read people’s actual stories of what they struggle with and how fortune can turn on this little bit of cash.
My family grew up struggling but I was around wealthy people because my parents really valued education so I went to excellent private schools. I have really gotten sick of people who have the good fortune of families where everyone is mentally well and everyone has the blessing of good health, where they were born with money in the bank and stocks they can liquidate if times are tough, looking down on people who have thin resources where one wrong thing can take them off track. Sometimes you can have all the spunk and drive to make a change but your car breaks down all the time, or you can’t find child care, or you have a family member to care for, and I believe that if we are privileged enough to have a little something to give we are supposed to do that.
