ined, provided the needy person with dignity and a sense of self-worth, while the personal interaction provided the needy with an incentive to meet the payment requirement. According to Payne, charitable workers said that effective help, required genuine, voluntary, personal relationships between helper and helped, not giveaways of material assistance, for these, they believe perpetuated or even compounded misfortune. Their aid was future-oriented, directed at improving the character of recipients and their ability to thrive and achieve. The systems of assistance organized by charity workers operate as a hand up. One example Payne uses to illustrate the difference in the two types of giving is the Toys for Tots program which collects toys at Christmas to give to needy children. People believe they are doing a good thing; however, Payne argues that this type of program is our typical approach of providing for the poor which is pervasive in our public assistance programs. The parents get something for nothing and, as Payne argues, "The children's realization that their parents are not supplying the toys can undermine parental confidence and authority." In contrast, Pride for Parents, a program in Raleigh, North Carolina, offers toys parents can buy at a reduced price which allows the parents to feel good about providing for their children. The children can also feel good about their parents. Payne believes we must get personally involved with those in need. He thinks that providing material things alone is not the best way to help people but providing opportunities and guidance is the answer. We tend to give money to compensate for our lack of effort to get involved, but this type of giving perpetuates the idleness and "give me" attitude prevalent among recipients of welfare assi...
