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Op-ed: Mike Butler: Longmont Public Safety Chief: Ideas to help the Homeless in Our Community

The following is an email forwarded to the Longmont Observer from Deputy Chief Jeff Satur. The original email came from Public Safety Chief Mike Butler. The email was sent in hopes to add clarification to the term "Toxic Charity.
mike butler
Mike Butler, Longmont Public Safety Chief (Photo courtesy of Mike Butler)

This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

The following is an email forwarded to the Longmont Observer from Deputy Chief Jeff Satur. The original email came from Public Safety Chief Mike Butler. The email was sent in hopes to add clarification to the term "Toxic Charity."

Good Day Everyone,

There has been some mixed reaction to the phrase “Toxic Charity.” For those of us who use this phrase, it does have meaning and purpose that we believe can help all of us determine our best course of action in serving and helping others.

The phrase, “Toxic Charity” comes from a book entitled curiously, “Toxic Charity,” written by Robert D. Lupton.

Attached are some excerpts from the book. As one will see from reading these excerpts, there is a heavy dose of compassion mixed in with encouraging responsibility.

It is also in alignment with the phrase, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”

Mike

The following is the attachment sent along with the email.

Download Ideas-to-help-the-Homeless-in-Our-Community.pdf

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