We’ve been reading Nod’s posts about the veteran scam organizations and high salaries of those who feel entitled to pay themselves well for their efforts to help veterans.  It’s hard not to be distrustful of most of them. Do you trust yourself to do better (or, sorry, anything)?  Many of us would like to take action to help others in need but don’t have the financial means to do so.  Or perhaps physical energy is lacking.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Mother Teresa (1910-1997) didn’t let age and disability stop her from giving aid.  She used to tell people who wanted to volunteer in India to stay home and work with the lonely and poor in their own communities.  And she was right.  Most people are happy to overlook differences in religious beliefs when they feel a charity is really helping vulnerable people. The Salvation Army, an evangelical group, comes to mind at this time of year.

We can’t expect the federal government alone to alleviate poverty.  And they are making it easier for community groups to partner with them.  If feeding people is something you want to do, the USDA has an Emergency Food Program that works through state state agencies.  Organizations like churches can get commodity foods for cooking with or to distribute.  A church could cook up healthy meals like chili with these food commodities.  And HUD will sell properties to local governments organizations for $1 for rehabilitation for low income folks.  This is something small communities, through their town councils, can actually do to help veterans and widows get shelter.

Kent W. Keiths maxims/poem was reportedly hung on the wall of one Mother Teresa’s  Calcutta orphanages.

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

Have a great weekend and email this post to someone who might be inspired to create a no-permission-needed DIY VSO.