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It's Cold Outside, Don't Forget to Give

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 12:03:25 AM EST
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Denver hasn't dipped to 15 degrees below zero since 1901. Wind chill factor is 36 below. I didn't even open the door today.

Our homeless shelters are operating above capacity. The Rocky Mountain News reports the Salvation Army may cut services despite increased demand due to lagging donations.

Yet, Senator-elect Mark Udall and his competitor broke fundraising records this year, taking in $20 million between them. At his first fundraiser for 2010 last week, Sen. Ken Salazar raised $400k in one night.

Politics over charity? Priorities, anyone?

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    It's Cold Outside, Don't Forget to Give | 20 comments (20 topical)

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    I live in Minnesota (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by reslez on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 07:52:02 AM EST
    and I agree that's cold. Here it's -6F with 22 MPH winds... "feels like" -37F. Wish I didn't have to go anywhere today, I dread walking out to my car!

    I remember hearing... (5.00 / 3) (#6)
    by kdog on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 07:53:43 AM EST
    that the true judge of character is how you treat people who can't do anything for you.

    Lavishing donations on politicians is giving to those who can do something for ya, the hungry and homeless, otoh, cannot.  

    Something to think about...character.

    And/Or (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by cal1942 on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 08:20:38 AM EST
    how you behave when you think no one is watching.

    Both true tests indeed.

    In school I knew someone who treated people according to how much good they could do him. He became the CEO of a fairly large corporation.

    Parent

    Karma has a way... (none / 0) (#12)
    by kdog on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 08:52:00 AM EST
    of catching up with such people....at least that is what I like to believe, helps keep me semi-sane in this unjust and cruel, yet beautiful, world.

    Parent
    We've had a 53 degree temp drop (5.00 / 3) (#7)
    by txpolitico67 on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 08:01:50 AM EST
    It was 75 yesterday in Fort Worth.  This morning it was 22.  I guess we progressives think alike because the homeless (people and animals) immediately came into my consciousness.

    I for one donated good $ to Hillary and others I deem earn my donations (TL included), but yes, JM has a point about priorities.  Let's help our fellow men and women in shelters as opposed to political fatcats.

    Yes - same here (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by The Poster Formerly Known as cookiebear on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 08:50:56 AM EST
    Brief monsoon rains with thunder and lightening moved in and dropped the temps 20 degrees in maybe 10 minutes. W/i a few hours, they'd dropped another 30 degrees.

    The good news is, soil temps are still high, so it shouldn't get too bad - I hope. Except that it will be even colder tonight, so those soil temps might be zapped by the end of it.

    Parent

    Over 50 in NE Penna today (5.00 / 3) (#13)
    by BarnBabe on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 08:52:33 AM EST
    What a strange weather pattern so far this year. Snow storm in Oct. Rain in December.

    In Penna we have the OIL LIHEAP program that so many people do not know about. Please make sure your aging relatives on limited income know about this program. In fact, a single person can earn up to $23k, and that includes renters, and qualify for $300 and then up to $800 crises money for heat. Hopefully the same programs exist in other cold states. Sometimes a person has a roof over their head but no way to warm it and this helps. There are many seniors who can not afford heat when oil takes up their entire SS check.

    And don't be afraid to call the Humane Society when you see a animal chained up outside in the very cold temperatures. Some people do not want to interfer. We rescued one dog last year but thought the other one was being brought into the house at night. It got left out and died. Some people were not meant to be pet parents.

    Are there any charities that aren't religious? (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by splashy on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 02:53:35 PM EST
    That do the same thing?

    I would like to donate, but not to places that will preach at people, forcing them to pay for their help that way. When I was homeless, the Salvation Army was the last place we all wanted to go. Many of us were refugees from religious pushiness.

    I generally feel the same way (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by nycstray on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 03:25:44 PM EST
    I'd google different types of services in your area and see if some non-religious ones show up.

    I do give to one "religious" one now. The pastors work with rival gang members, feed low income families and help the children. We give them our "leftovers" from our CSA distribution and helped with their toy drive. I'm now fine with finding small individual charities like that, that are more about changing the direction of the neighborhood and helping the young people have a future.

    Another thing I've done is go straight to a homeless "camp" and hand out warm blankets, hats and gloves. That was actually fun. Went with a friend and had a nice time chatting with folks and seeing their spirit. Nobody wanted to take too much as they didn't want to take away from others.

    Parent

    Good Comments. I had the same (none / 0) (#1)
    by hairspray on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 01:13:24 AM EST
    thoughts about the 600 million that Obama raised, and that the amount of money would have gone a long way to starting up our alternative energy programs. Where does this money come from?  Americans must have more disposable income than we realized.

    O.M.G. (none / 0) (#2)
    by nycstray on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 01:29:55 AM EST
    I sure hope if that type of weather is moving this way, the jet stream stays NORTH!!!!

    I feel like I'm abusing my dog when I take her out (coated!) in below zero wind chills. I can't imagine the temp being -15 before wind chills. YIKES!!!

    For anyone in the NYC area, remember, it's the annual NY Cares coat drive going on right now. Have a spare? Check the NY Cares website for drop off locations. If you work for a large company, they may have one on site. Extra blankets, canned/packaged food and toys for tots, check the churches and other community orgs in your 'hood. If you have blankets, towels and sweaters that you feel are too 'used' for people, your local animal shelters will welcome them. They're going to be hurting also this winter. The critters would welcome some warmth and softness also ;)

    When we had our "holiday" (none / 0) (#3)
    by Fabian on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 02:54:24 AM EST
    ice storm a few years ago, it went from above freezing to mixed precipitation to negative F in about twelve hours.  It took most people at least two days to get their heat back.  One of our friends lost power, their pipes froze, and when the heat thawed the pipes, water from a broken pipe ran into their furnace and took it out.

    The dog and I were okay.  It was a fine,clear  moonlit night in the negative teens when I loaded up the car praying the roads were clear enough to get us to Cleveland.  Good thing I didn't need gas!

    Parent

    North! (none / 0) (#8)
    by cal1942 on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 08:05:04 AM EST
    I sure hope if that type of weather is moving this way, the jet stream stays NORTH!!!!

    Hope you mean north of Lake Superior.

    Parent

    ....and how's the COLA there? (none / 0) (#9)
    by Fabian on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 08:13:52 AM EST
    You pay no matter where you are.  Here we pay with actual seasons.  No "snow days" in Hawai'i!

    Ha! (none / 0) (#14)
    by cannondaddy on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 09:12:51 AM EST
    We're going to be just over 70 here in Charleston today.

    Warm in Boston (none / 0) (#15)
    by CST on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 10:07:00 AM EST
    This is weird.  It snowed in LA and MI already, but up here in Boston we haven't seen a flake yet.  Meanwhile, 20 min to the north was out of power b/c of an ice storm, and I didn't have to wear a winter coat today...

    In Denver you are approaching - feels like Celcius.  At -40 farenheit and Celcius are the same temperature - Bloody Freezing.

    Contribute to the energy assistance fund (none / 0) (#16)
    by MikeDitto on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 12:27:23 PM EST
    One way to help is to contribute to the charitable organization that helps low income people pay their heating bills in Colorado. It's tax deductible, too.

    I'm just learning (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 12:54:44 PM EST
    what it feels like to be without heat. I woke up this morning freezing, went downstairs and saw the thermostat read 55 degrees. I have to stay home from work to be here whenever the heating people show up-- likely the ignitor went bad. They said it's happening all over town.

    I have three sweaters on, a hat and double sweat pants and I'm still freezing. (No gloves or I couldn't type or get any work done.)

    Heat is really a necessity of life - I don't think I'll take it for granted again any time soon.

    Parent

    Don't I know it... (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by kdog on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 01:06:19 PM EST
    that's why I'm feeling pretty secure in my job... boon-times, recession, or depression...ya gotta have heat and clean running water.

    Parent
    I used to live in a building (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by nycstray on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 03:14:34 PM EST
    where the heat went out often in the winter along with the hot water. I'd wake up in the morning and if my nose was cold, I knew I was screwed.

    Where I live now, my LL lives downstairs and checks with me often to make sure I'm warm enough when we have arctic temps. Such a nice change from the prior building!

    I used to turn the oven on with the door open and also boil pots of water on the stove to try and raise the temp in the kitchen and then work at the kitchen table. I also boiled water to try and make a semi hot bath. Ahhh . . . the days I don't miss, lol!~

    Parent

    It's Cold Outside, Don't Forget to Give | 20 comments (20 topical)

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