Giving Overseas

Hello,

Saturday in the neighboring county there was a large packing and sending of food to Tanzania. A group called Kids Against Hunger organized this. Before we left we talked to Sarah in Kenya. When she heard what we were going to do she said, “After five years in the business I know that it is always better to send money than things. It costs $5000 to send 4.8 cbm.”

On the way and afterwards Leroy and I had some discussion about this. I have heard before how it hurts the local economy if things are not purchased locally. As we worked I got to thinking that they could surely buy most of the food in Tanzania or some of their neighbors. It was rice, dried vegetables, soy, and some type of vitamins. Money could even be spent to pay people to assemble the kits thus giving them a wage.

The flip side of this is that so many people came to help with this effort. The county is very small with the largest community numbering under 2,000. As Leroy said, “It seems that half of the county is here helping.” People do want to help and it gives them a good feeling. So how are the two forces to meet and really be the best for both? Somehow just giving money is not quite so satisfying.

I know that our church does not generally send food, but buys it locally. We do make quilts and send them. Again could people there make them as well? People here sew donated material and volunteer time feeling that they are doing a real service. I know that they have material in Africa and other places. Should they buy material there and hire people to make quilts in the many countries that receive them? I do not know the answers.

Paula