Treat All Contributors Equally

To the Editor:

Arthur C. Brooks’ opinion column, “Welfare Helps to Depress Giving by the Poor” (May 30), poses some intriguing issues.

Participation by the poor in civic activism is not only limited to traditional charitable contributions. Many poor individuals are involved as volunteers in their communities, often serving on quasi-public advisory boards for schools, planning committees, and other advisory roles. Many involve themselves with food pantries through their local churches, mosques, or synagogues.

Futhermore, many are active contributors to their place of worship, which is often the central place for all their affiliations. Too often larger charities make no effort for small contributions. That is a mistake. When the Israelites were counted by Moses in the desert after the Exodus, each was required to contribute a half-shekel, a modest contribution!

We should learn that all our contributors should be treated equally, no matter how modest their contribution.

William E. Rapfogel
Executive Director
Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty
New York