At the risk of getting tarred and feathered - -
#41
Originally Posted by ptquilts
I will join you in getting tarred and feathered for this, bear, but why whenever there is a tragedy involving kids, people end up sticking stuffed animals on a chain link fence somewhere?
I always think, gee there are kids in foster care/hospitals who would like those stuffies...
I always think, gee there are kids in foster care/hospitals who would like those stuffies...
to express our grief. If a someone dies on the street in a particularly sad way we want to be able to express to the survivors that we are touched by their pain. Since we would not ordinarily ever meet or speak to them we leave something concrete to symbolize our sympathy. Hence, cards, flowers, candles, stuffies. We hope if the family sees a large display they will be comforted to know that their community shares the sadness of loss, or a survivor will see a common outreach for their recovery. It also I believe comforts the community members to come together in some sort of way to share the bewilderment and dismay that such a thing could happen. Like when there was the shooting in Arizona and the little girl and others died and so many were wounded. I felt a deep grief that we had such a world where things like that happen over and over, again it happened in Norway just a few weeks ago.
I guess it is the same rational that we use to leave flowers at a loved ones grave....we are hoping somehow our grief will be comforted at the thought that on some level somewhere the lost one will know and understand. I am not trying to belittle anyones need to reach out or their belief system just trying to understand the impulse. I guess giving a donation to the food bank in their name would not have the same communal healing effect.
#42
Originally Posted by meemersmom
Originally Posted by bearisgray
For many of us, the very first response to almost any emergency is "He/She/They need hand-made quilts"
Interestingly enough, some of us are willing to spend $20+ and hours of time on a quilt and donating it - but not so willing to send $20 in cash for mundane things like water and food. (Assuming that the cash would go for what it was intended)
Wonder why?
Interestingly enough, some of us are willing to spend $20+ and hours of time on a quilt and donating it - but not so willing to send $20 in cash for mundane things like water and food. (Assuming that the cash would go for what it was intended)
Wonder why?
And, no tarring and feathering...you just asked a legit question.
Thank you for that website! I'm forwarding THAT to my friends.
#43
I agree with you, sort of. I am not a stuffie lover, although I know many are and kids do love something soft to hang onto. I think all the candles, flowers, and stuffies at a site of tragedy goes back to our need to do something tangible
to express our grief. If a someone dies on the street in a particularly sad way we want to be able to express to the survivors that we are touched by their pain. Since we would not ordinarily ever meet or speak to them we leave something concrete to symbolize our sympathy. Hence, cards, flowers, candles, stuffies. We hope if the family sees a large display they will be comforted to know that their community shares the sadness of loss, or a survivor will see a common outreach for their recovery. It also I believe comforts the community members to come together in some sort of way to share the bewilderment and dismay that such a thing could happen. Like when there was the shooting in Arizona and the little girl and others died and so many were wounded. I felt a deep grief that we had such a world where things like that happen over and over, again it happened in Norway just a few weeks ago.
I guess it is the same rational that we use to leave flowers at a loved ones grave....we are hoping somehow our grief will be comforted at the thought that on some level somewhere the lost one will know and understand. I am not trying to belittle anyones need to reach out or their belief system just trying to understand the impulse. I guess giving a donation to the food bank in their name would not have the same communal healing effect.[/quote]
What a BEAUTIFUL way of expressing this! THANK YOU!
to express our grief. If a someone dies on the street in a particularly sad way we want to be able to express to the survivors that we are touched by their pain. Since we would not ordinarily ever meet or speak to them we leave something concrete to symbolize our sympathy. Hence, cards, flowers, candles, stuffies. We hope if the family sees a large display they will be comforted to know that their community shares the sadness of loss, or a survivor will see a common outreach for their recovery. It also I believe comforts the community members to come together in some sort of way to share the bewilderment and dismay that such a thing could happen. Like when there was the shooting in Arizona and the little girl and others died and so many were wounded. I felt a deep grief that we had such a world where things like that happen over and over, again it happened in Norway just a few weeks ago.
I guess it is the same rational that we use to leave flowers at a loved ones grave....we are hoping somehow our grief will be comforted at the thought that on some level somewhere the lost one will know and understand. I am not trying to belittle anyones need to reach out or their belief system just trying to understand the impulse. I guess giving a donation to the food bank in their name would not have the same communal healing effect.[/quote]
What a BEAUTIFUL way of expressing this! THANK YOU!
#45
I give $$ to my local pregnancy crisis center and a few other Christian organizations where I know the money is used wisely but most $$ go thru my church. Our church is really good at helping members in need as well as those in our immediate community.
#46
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Lorain,oh
Posts: 642
a few years ago, my mom & I stopped at LONG JOHN SILVERS for lunch. There was a woman begging-"starving to death" MOM offered to go back in & buy her a whole meal. She refused, BUT asked what it would cost. We could JUST GIVE HER THE $$$$.I think not!Several weeks later same woman, same story, same general location. I told her how, IF you was hungry, she would've taken the food. That it was apparent what she really wanted was $$$$ for booze or alchol. Not giving up my $$$ for someone else's bad habit. When you give a quilt or a bag of food, at least you know where your $$$ went.Many fund raisers, only a portion actually goes where you thought! The local FOP, calls & raises$$$- didn't know until my husband was laidoff, that the calls were made by a HIRED bank of telephone solicitors& they hired ANYONE to be runners to go p/u the donations(husband got hired as a runner) Thought we were dealing w/cops--but -no - just anyone off the street, no background check. Its things like these make people leary of just handing out money!--There are ALOT OF LIGIT CHARTIES out there, that most of the $$$ does go where you intended!
#47
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: near Peoria Illinois
Posts: 1,638
Do we have time and the resources, but not necessarily the $$?
While $$ is necessary, when i see a handmade item, I know someone thought about it, put their resources into it, and gave of themselves. that is my preference.
While $$ is necessary, when i see a handmade item, I know someone thought about it, put their resources into it, and gave of themselves. that is my preference.
#48
Originally Posted by nhweaver
I am with you, it is so hard to understand, that people will put stuff like this where a tragedy took place, but never think about giving money or food to a food pantry, so a kid will not go hungry.
Originally Posted by ptquilts
I will join you in getting tarred and feathered for this, bear, but why whenever there is a tragedy involving kids, people end up sticking stuffed animals on a chain link fence somewhere?
I always think, gee there are kids in foster care/hospitals who would like those stuffies...
I always think, gee there are kids in foster care/hospitals who would like those stuffies...
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
barnbum
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
653
06-17-2010 07:46 PM