“Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.” Nelson MandelaPeople usually feel more inclined to donate to charitable organizations, or volunteer at community centers, during the holiday season. At the thanksgiving feast, family members express their gratitude for the blessings they have received, and look for ways to share their blessings with the less fortunate. Each year as it gets closer to Christmas, donations to charity increase. Whether people donate because of guilt, just to get their tax deductions, or feel obligated to it, charitable giving benefits a great number of people. But as good as charity is, it never has been, nor will it ever be, a sole solution or mechanism for reducing, let alone eliminating, poverty.
Simply considering the distribution of wealth in the US, the proportion of the US population in poverty (15%), and the amounts and distributions of charitable donations, make it obvious that charity is not sufficient to lift people out of poverty, and keep them from falling back into it. Not only is the dollar amount not sufficient, but also the allocation and distribution of the donated monies or resources are not coordinated in a systematic and efficient way to meet the actual needs of the poor. The poor are lacking nutrition, education, safe neighborhoods, jobs, transportation, healthcare, and even housing. There are no charitable organizations that can provide all or even one of those things for all of the poor.
