The Untied Way, early (Jon Carroll)

[EFerrari]

The Untied Way, early



Jon Carroll
Friday, November 20, 2009

I blame Aunt Estelle. I don't actually have an Aunt Estelle, and neither do you, but you know the archetype. She's someone who was important in your childhood, a thoroughly nice woman, but you haven't seen her in 20 years and you don't often remember her. And suddenly a nice present arrives in the mail, some wreath created by nuns in New Hampshire or a fine basket of pears from Harry & David, and you think, oh God, I have to send her something.

And because times are tight, really absurdly tight, and you have already bought presents for your near and dear - modest presents, street-fair gifts, flea-market specials - you really aren't sure where you're going to find the extra dough unless by stiffing PG&E for two weeks, and you know how they hate that.

And because of Aunt Estelle - lovely woman though she be - you really don't have anything left over for the Untied Way. And the Untied Way really needs your help. So I thought maybe I should pitch it a little earlier this year.

Let's think of it this way - with just a tiny turn of the wheel one way instead of the other, you could be one of the people in need of the Untied Way. As we know, many people on the street this winter were not on the street last year, never expected to be so close to the street, still wake up in the morning with a nice secure feeling until, oh Lord, they realize they're sleeping on Ed's couch - Ed's old couch, the one in the basement, not the one in the living room, and Ed is beginning to show signs of impatience. Hell, you'd be impatient, too, if the positions were reversed.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/20/DDI11AMM0A.DTL

(I probably can't do it this year but still a big fan of the Untied Way. :) )

[lapislzi]

1. This deserves a kick

I love the idea of completely non-judgmental giving.

[Brother Buzz]

2. I support action somewhere between Untied Way and United Way

Local, efficiently run, lower overhead charities deserve our support all year round.