@judy dunn: I agree, sometimes money *is* the ticket, especially where group action is needed. One of the best things I’ve seen in a long time is the microlending that’s being done in Africa to build businesses and stimulate community economies. It’s awesome.

Technically, all approaches take *some* money because inherently you need money to survive and gain the ability to use your time to teach fishing.

However, I would much rather give my time than throw a $25 check in an envelope to a charity.

That’s just me – I don’t see donating money to charities as a bad idea at all, it’s just not my personal preferred method. :)

When I was a teacher (and a single parent), I scraped together the monthly tuition so my daughter could attend a private school, after she literally got lost in the cracks at her public middle school. Her classmates were sons and daughters of judges, doctors, corporation executives. Suddenly she considered herself from a “poor family.” She didn’t have a new car or designer jeans and had to make do with an “average” allowance. Funny how your perspective can change.

I do believe in the “teach a man to fish” concept, David, within reason. Sometimes money is needed to jump start a project that will eventually help people move to self-sufficiency. And sometimes, after a natural disaster, people need food an medicine to live long enough to learn how to fish.

I liked your drawings. To me, they showed that we in the “First World” have not been so deprived that we are grateful to have a sandwich to eat. And when we have lots, we just tend to want more.

Thanks for the thoughtful post.

I admire your philosophy, and share in that thinking with you. I don’t know if that says something about me, but I have a thirst to see people succeed – probably because if the do, I do in some way.

Giving of resources, talent and skill is just as valuable, if not more so than money. I have pro-bono’d for 4 non-profits this year alone. I love the work and does make me grateful for what I have.

Attitude of Gratitude is my motto, though sometimes it is hard to not slip into the opposite. Didn’t even know there was a Blog Action day!