The stories about Flint Michigan have me thinking today. I've actually thought this way a long time. Identify a community that needs help. Gather a group of people from around the country if needed. Respond to that community en masse and go to work. Get damn brooms and mops and clean the schools. Repair community signs. Climb roofs and repair houses. Repeat in other communities. No government money, just people that want to help. Could you imagine what 2,000 to 3,000 volunteers could get done in just a weekend? A week? A tremendous amount. I've thought of this a long time and I am considering acting upon it. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
If it was that simple, it would be being done everywhere. I think the issue is getting 2000 or however many people to agree on priority of what needs to be done. Pretty much every place has things that could be done, so people think, why should I go to a neighboring city/state to work when there is so much in my own hometown that needs work. or are afraid that once they go and help, that the favor will not be returned. I also think lots of places don't want to ask for help for what ever reason. There are also just people who think they or their time are to important to be given away. I'm proud that my older daughters have taken it on themselves to go on "Mission Trips" through the church. Two years ago they went to Idaho, last year Virginia, this year they are going to New Orleans. We can see what we are capable when their is an emergency somewhere, if only we could keep that going when there isn't an emergency.
No it is not that simple the empathy that lead to the breakdown of conditions will not maintain after the crew comes in and cleans it up.
Doesn't teaching pride in one's self lead to personal improvement? Start out small and it will catch on in communities?
I wouldn't have anyone agreeing on anything. Show up. Help as you wish. Leave. No money being stored. No directions being given. Just working together to help without strings.
That's the problem. Everybody and everywhere has things to do and different priorities. There need to be some type of coordination to get things done other wise everybody is going on different directions which is worse than everybody just worrying about themselves. Also when referencing Flint. People have issue with having to go and do something when their tax dollars already should have taken care of it. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
Great idea....you start.....in inner city Chicago.....(and there, my friends, is the problem) Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk
Considering you can get in trouble for filling in a small pot hole in the road I don't think city officials would be too keen on non employee's doing anything to public property. Don't get me wrong, I love the concept but the execution will be difficult.
No government money? So 2000-3000 people will just pay out of pocket to for major home and building and infrastructure repairs? I think your underestimating the cost involved. Good idea though, but unfortunately it all comes down to money.
Brings up some other interesting road blocks. Even if for the pubic projects that all materials required were purchased and paid for by tax dollars, and only labor was supplied voluntarily. We would be looking at putting how many public employees on the unemployment line. first I can't see unions or the workers agreeing. Memorial weekend, my youngest daughters softball team volunteered to clean up a local park and plant flowers. We hit the park with a dozen girls and another dozen or more parents. We got the flowers planted, raked and picked up garbage and butts, cleaned weeds and grass where they shouldn't be growing, everything except mowing the grass. but we couldn't just go and do it ourselves. The municipality required its employee be there with us so she didn't lose out on her wages.
"Just do it" I've been helping with Habitat for Humanity builds for about 25years...others mission trips, handy man groups (e.g. Hearts and Hammers) or even truly helping your neighbor (e.g. the elderly lady next door/down the street/cross town). Flint's water problem is a slightly different scenario as it requires licensed plumbers and a lot of capital ($) to eliminate lead in the water/pipes...
Hate to be the one to say it, but your not changing people. Not the way the live or the way they think. The people of those communities need to be the agent of change, an outside source is not going to win the hearts and minds and change the way they think. That's what we have been trying to do in the middle east for decades and it's only created more dissent.
I never said that and im not underestimating the costs. People would show up with what they have...leftovers, skills, and equipment. It may be simple guidance and education. I'm not looking to replace major cities....make a dent and improve. Hard work and more importantly caring. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
The execution is just show up with whatever you have and help as much as possible. Extra wood, the desire to work hard, educate, network, and show people we all care. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
See there is part of the problem. Always worrying about big government and getting in trouble. That mindset is killing our country. A bunch of sue happy cry babies. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Some friends of mine do this when storms or tornados hit. They load up their chainsaws and other tools and head out. As for me I have a full time job and bills and fam to support. Not that I don't want to help, if I hit a big lotto I could see myself doing that sort of thing all the time Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
To Build on Brett's original point...I do think it would have a huge impact on many people's lives if folks would/could volunteer their time in some way which they were able. I'm sure in Brett's line of work he sees needs of all sorts and due to a variety of circumstances, but many other of us could also. I've thought on, and wish I could execute on, the concept of 'tithing my time'...the closest I came was one former employer that would pay us for a volunteer day per month which I thought was a cool way to give back...
Here's the issue, IMO It's about hope and a way out. We have to get to the kids who have no hope, and show them there is a way out. Besides football, basketball or any sport. We can fix the outside of Flint and make it look nice again, we can fix the water, we can fix the infrastructure, but Flint will end up right where it is today within a year. What's broken is the soul of the city. We can say Liberal/Conservative values broke it, but it does not really matter, the soul is broke in Flint. Remember just 60 years ago the highest median income in America was in the Detroit/Flint area. How do we fix a soul of a city? Step 1 is cleaning it up, Step two is fixing the schools and showing a way to improve yourself besides sports. I don't know what the next step is, because we cannot do 1 or 2 here in America anymore.
