www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I have read the post about donating cell phones.

Would this be something good to do? Go to local fruit and vegetable stands and by a car load of fruits and veggies and give it to poor people. We would be buying from a small farmer etc and it goes to the poorest. There is a shanty town or whatever just across from the airport and it is loaded with poor. Might be some danger in just showing up and giving stuff away but that could be worked out.
Opinions?

I have done a slight version of this already....About 2 years ago, I took a chica to Central Mercado. She wanted me to buy her some fruits and vegetables. I ended up buying 5 large bags of various produce....was barely able to make it to the street for her to catch a cab. The next day, I went to her house in Desemperados so she could make dinner for me. One look around, and it was obvious the produce was not there. When I asked her what she and her little girl had done with all the food, she said "we ate it." Oh well....I'm sure it went to good use. No doubt, she shared it with her needy neighbors.

Good going Zebra. I think that to avoid disapointment a person should have the attitude that once you have given something you shouldn't get all upset with what they do with what you gave away. When something happens with what you gave and you don't like it just don't so that anymore. Try a different way.
Giving cash can be degrading etc. Giving them a load of veggies and fruit should i hope not be degrading. Should the individual i gave it too want to sell it and keep the money; then so be it. Hopefully some of it will trickle down and be consumed instead of being sold.

Thank you for expressing another option to helping the poor in CR.

Anything that we do for the poor of Costa Rica is greatly appreciated. From what Johanna expressed that the administrator said, she was shocked that the "gringos" were doing something.

Having spent some time with Johanna this past week, she will set up a foundation, if we can generate enough interest in helping.

The many responses have been over whelming.

When one of the members ( I would like to use his name, but haven't been given his O.K.) heard Johanna and I discussing donations, he started the fund at the SL, with $60.00. He had also donated money to the New Year's fund raiser this year.

I apologize if you all are tired of seeing my screen name appear in relationship to helping in CR. I hope that one day you will have the opportunity to see the absolute astonishment, and joy, on the people's faces when receiving something.

More to come soon on how those that choose to can contribute, both time and money. I had a great time in CR, and donating part, and the responses from the CRT brotherhood, made it even sweeter.

Health and happiness to all......

Steve - Santas Bro

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It's not the size of the wand that put the rabbit in the hat, it's the magic in it!!!

A couple of ideas:

Roadtrip: A bunch of guys rent a van and driver and take a roadtrip committing random acts of kindness.


Bicycles: Could you imagine the look on a Tico/Ticas face when you pull up alongside as they are doing a daily long walk and give them a bicycle?

Pictures of locals: We all take pictures. I am confident that many families cannot afford very many photos. Somehow someway you take a bunch of photos and have them developed and then track the subjects down and give them the photos.

Is there a level of interest in doing some type of fundraising fiesta? I have helped put these on for the last few years in TJ, and we have raised alot of money for needy Ch*ldren in Tijuana. If you guys have the cause, I would be willing to help put on a great event. One that every board member would enjoy, would help promote CRT (with admins blessing), and most importantly, raise alot of money for the cause. Was looking to something like this in April in TJ, but if the CRT guys want to do it, why not in San Jose? Give back to the ticos.

YO Givers:

I know your hearts are probably in the right place but the reality of this suggestion is more of a "feel good" moment for those who venture into helping the so called poor.

From my experience over many years in third world countries....it is a bottomless well. And one that has many tributaries flowing to to who knows where.

If you have the monetary means to throw the cash or product out to the first hand that grabs it.....then do as you choose. I've been there and done that.

What I have found is even when one "adopts" a poor family and sees to their needs.....it becomes a what can you do for me later thing.

I finally restricted my benevolent givings to families in my own neighborhood or area. That way I could see the final results.

Even that becomes "feel good" to a degree.

These small donations to "said poor" are just a micro second in the so called "my making a difference."

Save your dinero and use it wisely for your own satisfaction with ladies south of the border. You can't save the world but you can save some fond experiences of closeness with a latino hot lady.

In simple terms......wait until you can't Phuck much anymore and have more dinero than you need to live on. You might need that "feel good" sensation even more in you older age.

My 2 cents worth

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Damn if I'm going to repeat this shit again. I need a drink.
I've been drinking vodka every day for 45 years and I have certainly never found it to be habit forming.

I think a "Feel Good Moment has it's place in this world. The help might be fleeting but any hand to those desparate or not even desparate but in a constant struggle just to have the basics. No i don't plan on adopting anyone at all. I go for only one week at a time. I can understand where Circuis is coming from. If you stick around then without a doubt what he has said will most likely occur.

I have reservations about a large campagin etc. I prefer to just do it as an individual and stay under any type radar. I see nothing wrong at all with the ideas i have mentioned or hey! just give a guy a ride that you see walking along the highway 5 miles from any where. Sure this might be dangerous near SJ but what about way out in the campo? Won't cost you a cent because you have already rented the vehicle.

About 10 yrs ago i became "legal guardian" for a buddy i grew up with that is a "Chronic Paranoid Schizophrenic" BIG TIME. I hadn't seen him in ten yrs and found him alongside the road eating out of a McDonalds sack. It turns out he had been living in the woods 1/4 mile from my farm for about the last two months. And he had not eaten for two days. He would stay up at night to prevent the monsters and the Chinese Mafia from getting him.
It was amazing a to the treatment i was given for helping this man out. I have been called a queer and many other things for it. i have been investigated by the court twice and vindicated each time( his family said i was stealing his money). Only twice has anyone said thank you to me for what i have done and do. I didn't expect anyone to nor did i really want it. I feel i was just doing what a straight up man would do. Without me i am confident that he would be very jacked up in the criminal justice system by now. As it stands at this time he is on medication and doing as well as can be expected.

The choice is yours. I pass judgement on no one.

To each their own.... It is all good.

I was a secret Santa to a California Fire Fighter that lost his house fighting to save others houses. They said he could have saved his if he was home. A single father of three boys, that lost everything. Did I feel good about helping his boys have something for Christmas, yes. I made a point of being a "secret Santa" for I wanted no glory from them, other than for them to realize that people in this world will do small gestures for those in need, especially those who have given to others.

If others think that I am a fool for giving one percent of my pay to others, oh well. I get called worse, and probably daily. I piss off way more than that chasing poosie in CR, strip clubs, and AMP's. If it makes a Ch*ld's life better, for even a moment in time, I'm happy with that.

I have seen the orphanage and their needs. I will continue to raise money for their support, even if it is just me. Should no one else care to, I do not judge you. Call me a fool, but I also donate to Toys for Tot's in the U.S.

To all of those that have offered support so far, thank you. To those of you who think I am a fool, you are right, but a happy fool. Whatever path you choose for yourself, be happy with it.

Health & happiness to all...

Steve - Santas Bro

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It's not the size of the wand that put the rabbit in the hat, it's the magic in it!!!