I work in a social orphanage. The kids lead a rough life and don't have much.You would think it would be a good thing for groups of foreigners to come in a give them boxes of goodies. And to some extent maybe it is but, during the course of this school year, I have seen the aftermath of those visits. All those toys and trinkets so gleefully gleaned from The Dollar Store and packed up to bring joy to an orphan quickly become the cause of fights and eventually end up as so many pieces of shrapnel littering the hall floor.
We learn in Matthew 25 that we are to feed the hungry,clothe those in need and care for prisoners. Nowhere are we instructed to give gifts just because we can. I know that sounds harsh. But, ultimately the greatest gift we can give someone is the love of Christ and I am sure no one would willing want to prevent that. So am I saying don't donate to these kinds of programs? No,but please stop and think as you pack your box. If you wouldn't want your kids running through the house with a whistle, don't send one into a classroom where the teacher already has 25 kids with every kind of psychological damage too deal with. If something seems really "nice" then it is probably too nice. Only the strong survive and if a younger,weaker kid gets the nicest toy, he will become the target of the stronger,meaner kid who wants it. Follow Jesus' example,stick to the basics .
An even better way to meet the requirement to help others is to invest. Invest your self in caring. It not as easy and sanitary as donating a few items but its what Jesus did. He talked to them, got to know them and their needs. Mother Teresa said "Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat."
