How To Provide Charity Inconspicuously

Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
March 2010

Providing charity during a long term disaster can be seen as a blessing to those in need. But to those providing the charity, it can be seen as a security nightmare. There may come a time when a person feels the need to help their fellow man. After all, it is human nature to want to help.

But, desperate times call for desperate measures. If the person in need is neither a family member or a friend that can help on the homestead, what can be done? If there is a group of displaced persons, do you risk it? Survival during a long term disaster depends not only on making the right choice, but the smartest choice.

Maintain Anonymity

Provided that a person has enough provisions to support his family for the long term, and has enough extras to give out, it would be wise to be as inconspicuous as possible when providing the charitable items. In a situation where people know that you have a lot of supplies, dangerous situations could occur. If a person were desperate enough, they could try to overtake your home to get to the supplies, or get a group together to attack your home. A person can never be too paranoid in a situation like this.

Many are conflicted with how they could provide charity and still maintain good OPSEC and home security at the same time. Going through a third party to give out the charity would eliminate the danger involved in face-to-face donations. This method would also eliminate the risk of people talking and spreading the word around that you have extra food at your disposal. A third party could be a member of a church, or a family member. A person could drop the donation off at the church door and tell the church leader to give the donation to who he/she feels needs it the most.

Charity during a long term disaster is quite a conundrum for those that have the means to assist. But there is no “one size fits all” answer to this question. It truly is a conundrum that each prepper may be faced with in the near future. Whatever decision is made regarding charity, keep in mind that in a post -SHTF world – the rules have changed, and there will be more dangers out there. So, make sure if you decide to give to charity, play it smart, and keep your family safe.

Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: March 25th, 2010

Related Categories: Home Security, Preparedness Mindset

5 Responses to “How To Provide Charity Inconspicuously”

ep says:

March 27, 2010 at 1:56 pm

Good article.
Have my experience with helping others and there for I learned my lesson.
I will give nothing to the charity because I have to take care of my own family.
I’m prepared and getting more stuff to survive.God help us all.
Tess says:

March 27, 2010 at 4:36 pm

Good Point EP. We must take care of ourselves and our family before we can even begin to think of helping others out during a SHTF situation. Some feel that the minute survival begins, charity ends. And, it is every person’s choice whether they want to provide charity for others. What is important is that if one decides to give charitably, they should do it as safely as possible so that their family can continue to thrive. Thanks for you comment.
Mary says:

February 9, 2011 at 1:57 pm

I’m concerned that my neighbors are not prepping. During survival time, I’m also concerned about how to cook inside without killing ourselves with fumes. If you cook outside, neighbors and animals will smell both the fuel used to cook with and the food.
I’ve decided to buy extra bulk buckets of food, and deliver them to the neighbors anonymously – at night maybe? But then that will probably be dangerous too.
Tess Pennington says:

February 9, 2011 at 5:01 pm

Mary,

There are different ways of preparing food and maintaining opsec. For instance, look into purchasing a sterno stove. Sterno fuel is used for this type of stove.

Sterno Fuel a jellied petroleum product, is an excellent source of fuel for inclusion in your back pack as part of your 72 hour kit. Sterno is very light weight and easily ignited with a match or a spark from flint and steel but is not explosive. It is also safe for use indoors.

A Sterno Stove can be purchased at any sporting goods store and will retail between $3 and $8, depending upon the model you choose. They fold up into a very small, compact unit ideal for carrying in a pack. The fuel is readily available at all sporting goods stores and many drug stores. One can of Sterno fuel, about the diameter of a can of tuna fish and twice as high, will allow you to cook six meals if used frugally. Chafing dishes and fondue pots can also be used with Sterno.

Sterno is not without some problems. It will evaporate very easily, even when the lid is securely fastened. If you use Sterno in your 72 hour kit you should check it every six to eight months to insure that it has not evaporated beyond the point of usage. Because of this problem it is not a good fuel for long-term storage. It is a very expensive fuel to use compared to others fuel available, but is extremely convenient and portable.

You can find more information and videos on you tube if you do a keyword search for emergency bug out stoves.

For safety reasons, camping stoves such as colemans and charcoal grills should not be used inside the home due to their gas emissions.

You have a very kind heart to begin preparedness endeavors for those in need. I have also begun a stockpile for charity. My largest concern in giving food to those in need is that they know that I am the one providing the food. Therefore, I have decided to go through third parties such as churches and organizations.

If I hear that a person is in need I will give food anonymously through another person. In my humble opinion, I wouldn’t step on someone’s property at night… think of the heightened emotions going on in an emergency situation. People may think you are trying to steal from them.
KC Berk says:

February 9, 2011 at 5:03 pm

Mary you could set up a donation area in your neighborhood.

I heard of a story about a woman during the Great Depression. She would leave food in the alley way with a note saying that Jesus loves them and to not give up hope. Word traveled fast about that kind woman’s generosity. The homeless would come to alley every day. Sometimes the woman had bread or cookies, or some peas.

Just a thought.