AmeliaBloomer
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,842
Location: USA
Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
|
Post by AmeliaBloomer on May 9, 2018 21:38:19 GMT
Background: I’m doing a huge empty nester purge. I like to donate to specific recipients, e.g. office supplies to a non-profit, children’s books to a literacy program, DVD movies to the senior center, etc. Anywho, refugee resettlement organizations often want household goods, and I’m in a big city where there‘s always a need. I emailed one agency today and offered eight place settings of dinnerware. Reply: Because of new government policies, we have no new refugee families, so we’ve stopped accepting donations. We really like your dishes, though <Fiestaware. LOL.>, so please drop them off and tell the person at the desk I approved it. We’ll store them for the first new family. We just have no idea when that might happen...
How sad is that? What does it say about 2018 America? (I’ll tag this “Political,” but I’d prefer to tag it “Humanitarian.”  ) |
|
None
Full Member
Posts: 456
Sept 17, 2017 13:10:30 GMT
|
Post by None on May 9, 2018 21:42:28 GMT
That maybe we are trying to take care of American families in need, first.
|
|
|
|
Post by AN on May 9, 2018 21:46:03 GMT
Wow, that's pretty crazy.
Sort of on the flip side, at an HOA meeting last weekend, someone questioned what we're spending for landscaping for the common areas. A discussion ensued about how much landscaping costs have gone up recently because a lot of people who were doing the labor went back to Mexico and are now not able to return to the US due to new policies/enforcement. I'm not familiar enough with what's going on, but several people confirmed their landscapers had told them the same thing. Major labor shortage right now and the guys doing basic yard work are commanding $20+ an hour according to them. I would say the people discussing the topic likely are fairly conservative and had little to no motivation to exaggerate, plus I've seen it myself with the landscaping company at our last house -- rates went up fairly substantially this spring.
I'm not necessarily taking a position if it's good or bad, but just on the topic of things people don't think about related to changes in immigration & refugee policies...
|
|
|
|
Post by Skellinton on May 9, 2018 21:47:21 GMT
That maybe we are trying to take care of American families in need, first. And we are doing that how, exactly? Those massive tax cuts? The fabulous and affordable health care we all get? The fantastic funding public schools get? The wonderful and compassionate care mentally ill people receive? |
|
|
|
Post by librarylady on May 9, 2018 21:47:39 GMT
In the Dallas area, construction workers are in very short supply and buildings/homes are behind initial schedule.
|
|
georgiapea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,846 
|
Post by georgiapea on May 9, 2018 21:48:17 GMT
Maybe watch for news of a house fire where the family lost all their possessions.
|
|
|
|
Post by lucyg on May 9, 2018 21:48:23 GMT
This breaks my heart. Just awful to hear. He is a monster. That maybe we are trying to take care of American families in need, first. We do not help American families in any way by turning our backs on refugees. |
|
|
|
Post by AN on May 9, 2018 21:49:23 GMT
In the Dallas area, construction workers are in very short supply and buildings/homes are behind initial schedule. I'm in the Dallas area, too (re: landscape workers). |
|
|
|
Post by stacmac on May 9, 2018 21:50:44 GMT
That maybe we are trying to take care of American families in need, first. Aren't some of these refugees your new american families in need? |
|
|
|
Post by mustlovecats on May 9, 2018 21:54:51 GMT
Bless you for thinking to give your nice items to people who need them. Whoever they are.
|
|
AmeliaBloomer
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,842
Location: USA
Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
|
Post by AmeliaBloomer on May 9, 2018 21:55:19 GMT
That maybe we are trying to take care of American families in need, first. Did you see any evidence of this reasoning behind the new refugee policies? Since then, do you see any evidence that there has been an uptick in support to struggling “real” American families? |
|
|
|
Post by workingclassdog on May 9, 2018 21:55:45 GMT
To me that response sounds like someone likes your dishes and they are going to keep them... LOL..
|
|
|
|
Post by hop2 on May 9, 2018 22:00:27 GMT
That maybe we are trying to take care of American families in need, first. Which policy of this administration helps US families in need? |
|
|
|
Post by bc2ca on May 9, 2018 22:04:21 GMT
I liked your OP because of your plan to donate, but it makes me really sad that government policies are restricting the number of refugees we are taking in.  |
|
MaryMary
Pearl Clutcher
Lazy
Posts: 2,976
|
Post by MaryMary on May 9, 2018 23:55:58 GMT
That is really, really depressing.
|
|
katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,610
|
Post by katybee on May 10, 2018 0:10:12 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Merge on May 10, 2018 0:11:51 GMT
That maybe we are trying to take care of American families in need, first. Aren't some of these refugees your new american families in need? Sure, but you know, they're brown, and they don't speak English well, and some of them practice a religion we don't like. The hubris of people who can't seem to remember that we Americans are a nation made almost entirely of immigrants and refugees is astounding to me. And now I'll get smacked down for telling people they're guilty of hubris. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ |
|
jayfab
Drama Llama
procastinating
Posts: 5,748
|
Post by jayfab on May 10, 2018 0:12:43 GMT
This makes me incredibly sad. For so many years America was a beacon to others, a place for them to dream of, to yearn for, for oppressed people to gain freedom with it's citizens welcoming them. I no longer believe that is so.
|
|
jayfab
Drama Llama
procastinating
Posts: 5,748
|
Post by jayfab on May 10, 2018 0:14:38 GMT
That maybe we are trying to take care of American families in need, first. Sure isn't going to happen with this administration. |
|
carhoch
Pearl Clutcher
Be yourself everybody else is already taken
Posts: 3,115
Location: We’re RV’s so It change all the time .
|
Post by carhoch on May 10, 2018 0:32:18 GMT
That maybe we are trying to take care of American families in need, first. Can you give us some exemple of some the great things you believe this administration is doing because I don’t see it . |
|
|
|
Post by MissBianca on May 10, 2018 1:14:27 GMT
That maybe we are trying to take care of American families in need, first. Because you couldn’t possibly do both at the same time?! Funny because I donate to several causes that include Americans and Refugees. |
|
|
|
Post by crazy4scraps on May 10, 2018 1:26:03 GMT
Background: I’m doing a huge empty nester purge. I like to donate to specific recipients, e.g. office supplies to a non-profit, children’s books to a literacy program, DVD movies to the senior center, etc. Anywho, refugee resettlement organizations often want household goods, and I’m in a big city where there‘s always a need. I emailed one agency today and offered eight place settings of dinnerware. Reply: Because of new government policies, we have no new refugee families, so we’ve stopped accepting donations. We really like your dishes, though <Fiestaware. LOL.>, so please drop them off and tell the person at the desk I approved it. We’ll store them for the first new family. We just have no idea when that might happen...
How sad is that? What does it say about 2018 America? (I’ll tag this “Political,” but I’d prefer to tag it “Humanitarian.” ) Maybe you could sell the dishes on Craigslist and donate the money you get from the sale to the charitable organization of your choice? It really is a pretty sad commentary on the current state of affairs in this country though. |
|
|
|
Post by mlynn on May 10, 2018 2:10:10 GMT
How about donating the dishes to domestic violence victims? They are very limited in how much they can take with them when they leave, and often have to start from scratch.
|
|
PLurker
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,890
Location: Behind the Cheddar Curtain
Jun 28, 2014 3:48:49 GMT
|
Post by PLurker on May 10, 2018 2:10:31 GMT
This breaks my heart. Just awful to hear. He is a monster. That maybe we are trying to take care of American families in need, first. We do not help American families in any way by turning our backs on refugees. exactly. we should be capable as a country and as human beings to do both. Multi-tasking. It's a thing. |
|
casii
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,588
|
Post by casii on May 10, 2018 15:03:33 GMT
That maybe we are trying to take care of American families in need, first. Oh that we were, but in point of fact, America is not caring for their own with the policies of this administration. My own very conservative family members are now facing the reckoning of their votes through loss of healthcare for my grandmother. She's 93. A few years ago, after my grandfather passed, the moved to a new town that had a senior apartment community, so she left her home church and due to age/infirmity was not able to establish a new home church. Three of her four children never planned for their own retirement and 2 of those 3 were so focused on keeping up with the Joneses that they will leave their children with their debt. My mom is the 4th who not only never saved a dime in her life, she also has poor health and depends upon Medicare. So, suddenly, they all feel the gov't isn't taking care of them or Nana. Nana had emergency surgery in March. She has colon cancer and a new colostomy bag. The costs are astronomical. Oh that we were taking care of our own, but we are not. And for the record, taking care of Americans and caring for refugees aren't mutually exclusive. I donate to several domestic charities as well as those who care for others around the world. |
|
|
|
Post by *sprout* on May 10, 2018 15:12:05 GMT
Could you donate them to a charity that helps homeless families find housing? There's one in West Michigan called Family Promise. They accept all types of household goods and then donate them to families when they move into their new house.
|
|
tincin
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,415
Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
|
Post by tincin on May 10, 2018 15:41:46 GMT
That maybe we are trying to take care of American families in need, first. But we aren’t. We’re cutting health services, food benefits, etc from r the less fortunate. The only people we’re taking care of in the USA today are the elite and wealthy. |
|
tincin
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,415
Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
|
Post by tincin on May 10, 2018 15:46:16 GMT
That maybe we are trying to take care of American families in need, first. Because you couldn’t possibly do both at the same time?! Funny because I donate to several causes that include Americans and Refugees. Not if you’re a trumpster. |
|
|
|
Post by lucyg on May 10, 2018 16:06:59 GMT
Maybe watch for news of a house fire where the family lost all their possessions. How about donating the dishes to domestic violence victims? They are very limited in how much they can take with them when they leave, and often have to start from scratch. Could you donate them to a charity that helps homeless families find housing? There's one in West Michigan called Family Promise. They accept all types of household goods and then donate them to families when they move into their new house. These are all very good suggestions for where to donate things if the OP had no ideas of her own. However, I don't think that was the point of this thread. At all. |
|
|
|
Post by femalebusiness on May 10, 2018 16:17:08 GMT
That maybe we are trying to take care of American families in need, first. Can you give us some exemple of some the great things you believe this administration is doing because I don’t see it . *Crickets* is the only answer that you will get to this question. |
|
