I live in a place where people range from comfortable to wow-is-that-a-Murano-glass-chandelier-in-your-toddler's-bedroom?-rich. And because of all the perks of living in such a place - the safety, the amazing public schools, the proximity to cultural events, the fact that no one wears house slippers to the grocery store - I try to ignore all the things that bother me about living in such abundance (I didn't say I always succeeded. I just said I'd try.)
But I can't ignore this one.
There are a few places that I tend to visit nearly every day. Because my life is exciting like that. Anyway, two of my local places have put out jars to collect change for the people in Haiti. Both places are reputable and reliable and will donate the money without a doubt. If they had any money to donate.
In one place, the jar is empty. In another, where it has been up for a week, it is nearly so.
I would like to think that all of my neighbors have driven their Porsche Cayennes and Ranger Rovers to their banks so that they can wire thousands of dollars to Haiti. I would like to think that they are all too busy using their credit cards to carry change to put in the jars. I would like to think that they just haven't noticed the jars.
But the jars are rather obvious. In one case, there was even an email about the jar. And who doesn't keep change in their car?
Every day, when I drop in all the change I can scrounge up, I keep hoping that the jars will be full. Maybe I'm obsessed with them because I can't write a huge check or volunteer for Doctors Without Borders. Maybe they just seem so important to me because helping to fill them is all I can do. Maybe this is why I'll never own a Range Rover - I can't save money worth a damn.
Would this bother you? Does the idea of the empty change jars in what is literally one of the wealthiest counties in the country bother you? Or am I just being bitchy again?
8 comments:
I would like to think that folks did their donations already. Hopefully they are confusing them with tip jars which I have a tendency to ignore. Have to admit when I ask for a donut or something small that is behind a counter I don't tip. A dinner on the other hand where someone is running around to serve me is another deal entirely.
In one case, MAYBE there could be tip jar confusion. But the other jar is where my kids going to school, so I think not.
This is very disturbing! I sincerely hope that they've already donated, or perhaps the establishment is taking out the money as soon as they get some.
Your making it really hard for me to pick my favorite post of yours. This is in the top five. I concur.
This would REALLY bother me. I hate the idea of people who have enough money to help and not using that money to help. Don't they feel guilty?
I want to say – thank you for this!
I have four children and live on a modest income and even I manage to give to good causes like raising money for Haiti so I do not understand why people who clearly have an abundance of riches can't be bothered to help out people who really need help. So, you are definitely NOT being bitchy...the end. :)
Sue - I really can't either. But at least we're not alone in our confusion.
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