Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Let My People Go!

So, yesterday I attended a conference put on by Feeding America to address food shortages in poverty-stricken areas in West Michigan. These are generally pretty good events and I like seeing the different ways in which needs are being met across the area. But as I looked around the room, I noticed something I hadn't before: every one of the volunteers were very blue collar and the youngest person there besides me was 30 years older.

This got me to thinking: I represent two demographics in America - white collar professionals and 20-somethings. Unfortunately, these are not two demographics that are keen on serving in areas like food distribution or poverty alleviation. Maybe its because we graduate from college, get married and are so focused on our careers, buying houses and starting families that we just forget to help the poor? Or maybe its that we're willing to volunteer, just not help organize? Or maybe its what an older pastor said to me once (and it made me throw up a little in my mouth): Well, you're in your 20's....you need to focus on you now and you can start giving when you're 30.

Now, I'm not saying all white collar 20-somethings need to go out and sell all their possessions and give the money to the poor (although Jesus did to a rich young man), I'm just saying - lets lend our financial resources and expertise to help do poverty alleviation better. Have you ever volunteered at a soup kitchen or food pantry and thought to yourself, wow - this could be run MUCH more efficiently? I know I have. Have you ever thought, why is this place only open from 10 AM-noon on weekdays when those who are actually working need to be at work? I know I have. Have you ever walked into a massive mega-church and wondered how much good they could do if they even threw 10% of their personnel/ministry resources at poverty as well as money. I know I have.

Of course its easier to give money than volunteer your time, but think about this - how much farther would everyone's money go if a few of us with organizational talents helped out just a little - making programs more efficient, using technology to make processes easier. Perhaps it is the case that those who have been closer to poverty in their own lives feel more of an obligation to the poor, but denying your expertise and skills to an organization simply because you can throw money at it just ensures that the cycle of poverty will grow larger and larger until, eventually, it rolls us all over.