I’ve been re-reading “Toxic Charity” by Bob Lupton. If you are reading Speak Up but haven’t read his book, get it now! He draws on four decades of experience as a worker among impoverished American and international communities to present his thesis that charity “often hurts more than it helps.”

To illustrate a point, he contrasts two organizations both serving the food needs of the poor.

The first group hosts a classic food pantry where each week church volunteers supply low-income people with bags of groceries—sometimes accompanied by a spiritual message. The volunteers feel good about their service and people are no longer hungry…at least for a week.

In the second instance, the church has empowered low-income people to start their own food co-op: the food recipients pay monthly dues and collectively buy large quantities of the food. The coop is managed and staffed by the food recipients. However, this model isn’t as fun; fewer church volunteers are needed and people are sometimes told “no” when they haven’t been responsible to keep up their dues.

The first model perpetuates a cycle of dependency. The second gives people the tools to break that cycle.

And that is what happens every day through Speak Up. Below is a snippet of how it plays out.

There is a weekly meeting to which all participants (vendors) are invited. Near the start of the meeting, they share about their successes, best practices and goals. There's laughter and learning, conversation and connection. But the best moment comes near the end when it is time for the vendors to buy more magazines.

This is where the standard "helping the homeless" dynamic is flipped on its head. Instead of Speak Up charitably giving them handouts or clothes or food cards or vouchers for free stuff, the reverse occurs. They give Speak Up money! It may be $2 or $20, but in either case, when they reinvest and resupply their micro-business, the dignity and sense of optimism of the transaction is tangible.

So many beliefs are wrapped up in that joyful moment when they invest their money: "I am responsible." "I work hard." “I am an entrepreneur.” "I will thrive." “I can do it.” "I have hope."

Your purchase of this magazine and support of Speak Up empowers people with the optimism and tools needed to break out of a dependency-based cycle of charity. Thank you!