How Does Your Church Handle Charity Requests? How Should It?

General Faith
1

I’m the church secretary, among other hats. A couple weeks ago we had 2-3 voicemails from someone asking for a call back, no subject given. I called back; they said they were in a bad financial position and requested financial help. They were a stranger, not connected to our church.

We have a budget item for “helping hands” - grocery gift cards, etc. for such circumstances. But we had used our budget. I told him that. He seemed incredulous and hurt that I wouldn’t be able to help him. I felt like a cad.

How does your church handle such requests? Do they “vet” the people somehow? Is there ever a point where your church does not give? How should a church respond to such requests? Does it make a difference if the church is small, without personnel tasked to interact with them?

2

We have a food pantry and will give groceries to those asking for it. We do not give cash to anyone other than active members. We have paid bills for folks not in the fold like rent, power bills, etc. But when the help runs out, there is nothing we can do.

Some in our church want to stop it altogether, having realized one person was selling food we gave them in order to buy cigarettes. Another person, related to church members, sold gift cards we gave them. Not sure what the answer is, but vetting to see who is worthy of help is difficult answer that may not reflect Jesus.