FAQ
A: FAQ is an acronym for "frequently asked questions."
Q: Who can give?
A: Anyone can give. For more information see “Who Can Give?” tab in the navigation bar. It is under the parent "The Organization" tab.
Q: Why do you do this?
A: Why we do this is because many people want to help the homeless and poor, but for some reason they don’t want to do so directly themselves. Perhaps they are afraid of the homeless, as many people are. Or, maybe they are too busy.
Q: So why don’t I just take my used clothes to other charities?
A: Many people are unaware that when they donate their clothing to the other charities those charities often sell the clothes you donated to the homeless and to others to obtain money to run their organization. We do not charge anyone anything. We use a direct-to-the-streets system. That is, your items goes right from you to the homeless on the streets within minutes.
Q: Do you have drop off centers?
A: Not yet, but we are working on it. Once we establish drop off centers we will post them on our websites.
Q: What are your requirements from the homeless?
A: We have few requirements from the homeless. However we ask them three things generally. First, please do not litter. We insist on keeping a clean town if we are to continue services. Second, please do not waste items. If you do not need the item don’t take it, and if you already did take it, please give it to another homeless individual who does need the item. Third, please don’t take advantage of us. There are cases where individuals who are not homeless or not in need get in to our lines to steal goods meant for the poor. We will not supply those who are not in true need and we will take measures to protect ourselves, the homeless who are deprived and our donors from fraud.
Q: What about line jumpers?
A: A “line jumper” is one who aggressively butts ahead of others in supply lines in order to be the first served. We do not tolerate line jumpers as personal experience proves to us, the non-aggressive individual is likely to go without and those are the individuals we intend to service first. Anyone who line jumps will be prohibited from ever participating in our charity, ever. First time you try it you are out. No exceptions. Period!
Q: Is there anything we should know?
A: Yes, many of the volunteers either are currently homeless or are formerly homeless. So, we know who is who on the streets and we know who is in need and who is not in need. It is our mission to help those who are most in need. If you have any questions, about your qualifications simply ask, we'll be glad to help you. We want to make sure those in dire need get served first
Q: How do you control first come, first serve?
A: We are working on a fair system that will assure first come first serve, but also we reserve the right to recognize anyone in critical need and serve them first, served by need.
Q: Why are you doing this, helping the homeless, hungry, needy and poor?
A: Because God dictates for us to do this as we are disciples of Jesus Christ.
Q: Why are you doing this, helping the homeless, hungry, needy and poor?
A: Because God dictates for us to do this as we are disciples of Jesus Christ.
Q: Why do you even invite non-Christians and secular individuals to join you?
A: Because we can. Before we can stop hating one another, we must start loving one another. One of the best ways to do that is to see the lives of those who are less fortunate than us. To see how there is more humanity among the homeless and the poor than there is in the greater society. People of different races and religions get along quite well when they have nothing and nothing to lose.
Q: Are you a 501(c)(3)?
Q: Why aren’t you a 501(c)(3)?
A: We have no desire at this time to become a 501(c)(3) or in the immediate future. First, we are very politically vocal in our advocacy for the homeless and poor and that hinders most 501(c)(3)s. Second, we really have no reason to be since we never exchange money of any kind and do not have operating expenses. Everything is entirely volunteer, there are no paid staff and we work as a team providing our own monies and time as well as our purchased and collected items we share with the homeless, hungry, needy and poor. We basically are individuals and groups pooling our gifts together to contribute to those in destitution. So, there is no need for us to be a 501(c)(3).
Q: So, my donations are not tax deductible?
A: In most cases probably, no, they are not. You can always check with a lawyer or tax accountant to be sure, but since we do not operate under the IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization as defined by the IRS tax code, tax deductions usually are not allowed. However, it is usually most likely such a small amount you donate, your donation would not bring a significant tax deduction anyways. And we do not hand out “donation sheets” for donors to fill in the amounts themselves for the items they donated so they can artificially inflate their donations for tax purposes like some charities do. That would be in violation against what Jesus Christ teaches us. So, we prefer to remain as we are, all simple volunteers working as a team to get food, clothing, shoes, hygiene products, survival supplies, comforting items and the like to the homeless, hungry, needy and poor without asking for fundings for other purposes. So, 100% of what you donate goes to the homeless, hungry, needy and poor. 100%!
Q: Will you ever become a 501(c)(3)?
A: Probably not. We tend to buck the system, if you will. We are not anti-government, we are anti-bad government and we feel for more than fifty years the true poor have been neglected for the benefit of those who are suppose to help them. We are quite displeased with our government and our non-profit organizations as well as some churches in that we feel if they all did their jobs that they are paid to do there would not be any homelessness or even poverty in America. So, the short answer is no, we have no intentions of becoming a 501(c)(3) BUT if we ever do, it would most likely be under a completely different affiliated organization with this one continuing as it is.
Q: I live thousands of miles away from where your charity and humanitarian organization is based. Can I copy what you do in my own community without getting into trouble?
A: Please do! We encourage you to. One of our purposes is that others do follow our lead and do what we are doing. You won’t get into any trouble with us, unless of course you distort what we set as an example and do something entirely different, such as provide yourself with a salary. Our examples are easy to follow elsewhere here in the United States, in Moscow, Russia or anywhere else in the world where there are the homeless, hungry, needy and poor. Just don’t tweak what we do. Follow us exactly. It’s easy and simple. And constantly review our communication media; our websites and blogs. Let us know how you are doing by keeping in touch with us by e-mail. We’d love to hear from you and to feature your stories and photos on our world-viewed sites. GOOD LUCK! GOD BLESS!
Q: So, why not just have the government do all this, take care of the poor?
A: Great question to make our point. We are Christian Conservatives or Conservative Christians, if you will. We don’t believe people should be forced to “take care” of others by being so heavily taxed to support social service programs which often send more than 75% of the tax dollar to administration and often less than 25% to the recipient. What we have built is a nation of welfare workers in government who retire and have all the fringe benefits of retirement and health insurance--that the common people don't have--for the rest of their lives paid for on the taxpayer's dollar. Some government workers will live through retirement longer than the total number of years that they worked making it a true taxpayer-sponsored welfare. We believe, through Christian work, that those same people (the Christian Conservative taxpayer) can and will volunteer to help their fallen brothers and sisters, but should never be forced to as is the norm now.
Q: What else do you believe in?
A: Well, for example, as a rule, we don’t believe in forcing people to do anything, basically. Jesus is about giving people choices, not forcing them. Businesses, for example, waste or throw away mega tons of food and items daily that the homeless and poor could use. We don’t believe in creating laws forcing them to give that food or commodities and retail products to the poor, but to encourage them to do so. We invite people to learn from us, to copy us and to take their charity Direct-to-the-Streets as we do in a Do-It-Yourself charity.
Q: What are your future plans?
A: In short, we want to provide all of the before mentioned services to the poor, but then later connect the unemployed with employers, create “unrelated businesses” to fund the larger organization(s), provide employment for those we serve and to make the organization(s) completely independent by constantly expanding businesses and itself in size and service. In other words, businesses we own in the future will generate revenue for our organization to support our Christian church and our humanitarian organization and charity cause, rather than for individual men to profit.
Q: Are there any other services or programs you are currently working on?
A: Yes, we are attempting to find employers willing to take a chance on the homeless and give them an opportunity to become self sufficient. We are also working on a resources and referral guide to better educate and equip the homeless and others with the tools they need to progress.
Q: Will there be more Questions and Answers added here?
A: That is likely. From time to time swing back and scan the lists to check if there are any added Qs & As.