Do-Gooder Trips?

[powellrj]

I just wanted to add another reason the kids leave town is to get them out of their comfort zone.

We live in a small community and while the kids call different areas "the getto" and "the hood", until these trips the kids had never really seen a true getto or hood. It can be a real eye opener for them.

 

[vhoffman]

I think that's a pretty far reach, in my opinion. My girls have done lots and lots of local community service with school, church and Scouts, and it never occurred to me to feel that they needed to be kept "safe" from the people they were helping. And Elizabeth Smart was taken by someone who was hired to come to her house, not someone she met in the course of community service work, for what that's worth.

I just think kids see these trips as a great opportunity, if the family can afford it. Who wouldn't rather go to Africa than spend a week down at the local soup kitchen?

I realize Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped by someone hired to come into her house, but that person was a homeless bum "willing to work for food". Apparently he was in the house several times, got familiar with the floor plan, and struck up a friendship with Elizabeth. I personally, wouldn't want my young daughter striking up any type of relationship with such people who live nearby. If she volunteered at a shelter/mission type place on a regular basis that was in our town, it would be fairly easy to figure out where she lives and somehow follow her home. Its just not worth the risk--you don't expose an attractive young girl (or boy!) to such circumstances. So, if being a "do-gooder" is now the thing for college resumes, I could perhaps see the wisdom in doing good from a safe distance.

Wonder if all the money the parents pay for the trip is a tax/charitable deduction? Could argue a case for it!