article spotlight : TOMS rethinks handouts ... and so do I

Kristen Howerton (@kristenhowerton) has done it again - she's captured my rage and put it into words ... finding this article about TOMS (the shoe company) and how they're re-thinking their charity. 

[image clipping from: http://rageagainsttheminivan.tumblr.com/post/63609857206/toms-shoes-rethinks-its-buy-one-give-one-model-of]

In South Africa (around the 2010 World Cup time), we had a company come and donate a TON of shoes to our community's children. The Non-Government Organization (NGO) that I worked with at the time allowed the company to come with their staff and give these handouts in a unique Christian model. Before giving the children their new shoes, they washed each child's feet and told them that they were loved - giving them one-on-one attention that these children crave. It was beautiful ... until ... some negative things started happening because of this "gift." 

We heard one child tell his younger brother to hide his shoes when he got home, because "mom will sell them if she knows we have them." We knew these children and understood their fear - knowing their mother and her habit. 

Then, we noticed a few weeks later, no one was wearing their "gifted shoes." When asking about it ... a few said, "they liked going barefoot better" or "the shoes are already torn up." The worst was hearing kids say that they were made fun of because the "handout shoes" were just that, charity. The kids were being teased because they were wearing free shoes - implying they couldn't afford new shoes on their own. Or, the teasing ensued because the shoes weren't so "cool." This shoe donation had a short life-span in our community.

What seemed like a fabulous idea to provide shoes to "the needy," became a source of tension. The donors left and didn't have to deal with the after-effects of their gifts.

How many times have we given donations and not thought about the whole picture? There are many questions to be asked before being charitable. A more strategic, researched approach is needed. 

That's why full-time field workers are crucial! Trust them! They are the eyes and ears that short-term mission groups and charitable givers need. Inquire about a community's needs and how you can help without hurting.

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Original story and interview with TOMS here: 

http://pri.org/stories/2013-10-08/toms-shoes-rethinks-its-buy-one-give-one-model-helping-needy

Another reminder about one of my favorite mission-books: When Helping Hurts

http://www.whenhelpinghurts.org/

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Melanie Dill
Serving in South Africa
Cell: +27 (0)72 398 1985
www.melaniedill.com