Years ago, a company that I worked with used to select a family to adopt for Christmas. This went well until the last year we did it... On this particular year, we had selected a family (referred by a local charity organization) with a disabled mother and several pre-teen children. We gathered all the items for a wonderful Christmas dinner, probably several months of canned and non-perishible foods, cleaning supplies, hygiene items and a few gifts (within the paremeters suggested by the organization) for the children.
There was so much stuff that we had to deliver it with my pickup truck and a subaru station wagon! Four of us showed up at the house, a low income subsidzed apartment. The children and mother were all home. Mother had her bed in the living room across from the TV. As she was disabled we did not expect any help moving the items in. The children however, were perfectly capable but just sat there while we hauled in load after load of items. Then she started *****ing because we were blocking her view of the TV...
The kids gifts were last. They asked if that was all...
No "thank you" no nothing.
Ingrates beget ingrates... But here's the deal, Wayne.
Don't let the unworthy spoil the help you are willing to give to those who genuinely need a hand. Find someone (or something) else to benefit from your kindness. Volunteer work rocks. Teach someone to read, mow an elderly widow's lawn, make home made blankets for the homeless shelter, cleanup a national park...
My company has all the concessions at Lake Powell. Every winter we have a cleanup day. Go out on the boats to Rainbow bridge, etc., and pick up every piece of trash on the site and shoreline. Make a beautiful place beautiful again - and have a great family together day in the bargain.
angela