BBC reporter Rebecca Wearn published an article yesterday that raised my eyes. But it was only about the risk of passing on 'covid-19' to charity shops. I am more interested in the deeper thoughts about 'charity' as a whole.
I do believe in 'thinking (and perhaps praying) before giving'.
Two recent conundrums.
1) Our friends have been volunteering at a foodbank. A couple came to them. Originally from India, the wife is doing a Masters degree in Engineering at DeMontfort University and would ideally like to find work in the UK. Having taken out loans to study (haven't we all) they arrived in the UK during lockdown, and have not found any work to pay from living costs. So now they live off charity. Who is responsible here? DeMontfort gave them an opportunity to be in the UK when their situation is not secure. We know Lockdown has has offered limited work, especially for foreigners. We don't know how or what the couple have done to find work. The foodbank means their situation limps on with the daily threat of eviction.
2) A year ago a friend (who has since returned to Indonesia) introduced me to a man he found sleeping in the university library. My friend helped him out and gave him accommodation. I met him. He is a graduate from Israel. He does not want to return to Israel, as he finds the culture stifling. He is in the UK on his wife's visa. Recently he returned to his wife, but again the relationship broke down, and she kicked him out onto the streets. He was no right to public resources because he is a foreigner. He now comes to me. If I let him stay with me, this will be quite a commitment, because he has no where else to go. My family are not happy about this. On the other hand it's cold outside. This person knows they have messed up because their difficulties were solved, and they have irresponsibly returned to the old problems.
In both these cases the official response is 'return to your country of origin'. This is based on the strong message from the majority of this country that immigration to the UK is only for the very rich and privileged. David Cameron promised that he would reduce immigration to the 'tens of thousands'. Hence the system has become xenophobic. Even the Windrush generation found this chill wind blow.
Charity is the 'best of times, and the worst of times'. So much charity covers the cracks of inequality, exploitation and greed. Charities often maintain the 'Status Quo'. But charities also provide the heart to society. They stimulate creativity, sacrifice and altruistic motivation. It is one of the 5-ways, to promote mental wellbeing. Charities are 'flowers in our concrete garden'.
Let's keep thinking.
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