Friday, Dec. 20, 2002 | 3:37 a.m.
WE PUBLISHED A STORY by Sun writer Timothy Pratt in early November that pointed to our state as being uncharitable. This information, derived from a national report, caused several responses from local helpers of the homeless and needy.
Pratt reported, "The Generosity Index, compiled yearly by the Boston-based Catalogue for Philanthropy, a group that educates donors, measures charitable deductions from individual tax returns and ranks each state on how much its residents give compared with how much they have.
"The index is compiled from data the Internal Revenue Service releases in the spring that include adjusted gross income and deductions for charitable donations, state by state.
"Though Nevada ranked 12th nationwide in terms of per-capita wealth, it was 40th out of 50 states in generosity. Seven of the 10 most generous states were from the South, including Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and Louisiana.
"Nevada has not done well in the past five years. Its best showing was in 2000, when it ranked 27th. The worst before this year was 1999, when it was 39th.
"Experts consulted from different charities attributed the state's low ranking primarily to the large number of newcomers living in Nevada as well as factors such as the carefree image that Las Vegas sells to the world."
The conclusion reached by the Generosity Index shocked me because these aren't the Nevadans I have come to know. I have been impressed by the number of people, from all walks of life, who go to the streets to help or send donations. Many of these contributors and volunteers have lived in Nevada for but a few years. Most likely the numbers of poor and homeless have increased more rapidly than the numbers of volunteers and contributors.
Two weeks ago this column was dedicated to the homeless and some individuals who spend their lives helping them. The response to that column was much better than columns about water shortages, war, taxes, traffic problems, pets or foreign relations. Not everybody agreed with me. One letter writer stated that if I am so concerned about the homeless, a trip downtown to bring them into my home would be a solution. Several phone calls asked how they could contact Linda Lera-Randle El, director of Straight From The Streets. These calls came from people who wanted to help.
Lera-Randle El's comments to Pratt in November remain on my mind. When she was told that six of the 10 poorest states in per-capita income were among the top givers, she remembered that, "Nobody knows what the poor go through more than the poor themselves. I've had formerly homeless people send me $5 of the first $10 they've earned to help someone else."
The homeless are actually only one segment of society that needs help. The working poor also should be on the minds of people seeking to help. Thousands of our fellow Nevadans work long days and nights but can never catch up enough to own or even rent a home for their families. Health insurance and care are not even on their scope of life. Their children also deserve gifts, clothes and food to celebrate the holidays. On the way to work I heard a plea over the radio for additional gifts because of the growth in need. It will be a real shame if these youngsters and their families are forgotten.
The nation's mayors tell us that our country is experiencing a crisis in providing for the needy. The New York Times reports that the mayors are worried about "growing evidence that the lack of food and adequate shelter for the working poor is becoming an endemic problem. There has been a steady rise in emergency food and shelter requests in the nation's cities since the mayors began their survey in 1986, with no sign that the problems are abating." Christmas is but three days away and there is time to offer your help to organizations designed to provide for the needy.
Just as important is our own responsibility to visit nursing homes and make that all- important phone call to people we know are hurting. Sometimes just a phone call or a visit can turn a dreary day into one of sunshine and happiness. It may be cold and blustery outside, but a friend, relative or acquaintance remembering them could be the most valuable gift they receive.
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