The Root

On TV there is a commercial which shows that "Tide" or the persons behind the manufacture and promotion of "Tide" laundry detergent took a flatbed truck to New Orleans loaded with washers and dryers to help out the persons who were affected by Hurricane Katrina. They even commented on how people's outlooks were much brighter when they had clean clothes. I would certainly agree with such a statement and then I thought, who is doing this or something like this for those in crippling circumstances in Jamaica?

Presenting an individual with the opportunity to feel that better must come, or that they can try to reach out for more legitimately and that there are people that care and they can aspire to lift themselves out of despair is imperative. Then I thought that the way to get this done is to advocate support for the organizations that are already established to be their brothers keeper and have existing channels available for distribution of resources (no need to remake the wheel!)

In this I am speaking of the charitable organizations. What if all Jamaicans of any means were encouraged to send support to the school alumni associations for needy children, or to their church welfare fund, or Food for the Poor (if it still exists,) Citizens Advice Bureau, Maxfield Park Children's Home, or any of the archdiocese that exist throughout the island etc. (it is often said that there are as many Jamaicans or descendants of Jamaicans outside of Jamaica as there are inside yard)? Would change be imminent? I think it would and maybe violence would be a last resort option. Best of all, these organizations are transparent or as close to transparent as one could get, that one could see where the dispatched resources are, how they are being utilized and if necessary get a full accounting of income and expenditure surrounding same.

You know this might seem a bit Pollyannaish and I know many Jamaicans already do these things but we need a concerted consistent effort to show underprivileged folks that they matter, their plight is not going unnoticed and change is in the air. I mean in the United States the folks who give to charitable organizations are rewarded by being given a tax break which leads to money in their pocket and fosters a spirit of altruism. I am my brothers keeper and a refund. Great!!

Food for thought.