The Importance of One on One Service

I think it is important to offer direct service to the poor and disadvantaged. While there is certainly benefit given by writing checks and sending food and clothes, these actions are too removed from the actual act of sympathy and assistance one is trying to give. I certainly don't think that taxes are a substitute for personal charity. One teacher I had in highschool once described the reality of the social welfare system particularly well. He said that whereas before a man in charity goes to his needy neighbor's house and gives help to him freely, willingly, and generously. But through taxes the government becomes the forced mediator in this process and stops the charity from being a gift and turns it into a forced transfer of money. If those that benefit from this system actually had to go to their neighbor, knock on his door, and hold out his hand to demand money the welfare system would not be abused the way it is. Also, those who have money and are being forced to hand it over are often less generous because of resentment that they have been forced to give what they worked for to perfect strangers.
The inadequacy of this system makes real charity today all the more precious. When people take time out of their lives to stop and offer assistance to their fellow man it makes the kindness of the action all themore poignant. Furthermore, I think it would encourage more people to try to work their way out of their situation. If they see that their neighbors care enough about them and their welfare to personally lend a hand to help them, than surely there would be a hope that those neighbors will be there to lend a hand to help them out of their current troubles in more long-term ways. Also, they will be encouraged to do what they can to help others themselves, as best they can.
In addition to this, the personal gratification that one gets from helping people on a one-on-one basis is far greater because a person can see the immediate effects of their assistance. That same satisfaction is not present in the flourish of your signature at the bottom of a check. And that snese of satisfaction will go a much further way in encouraging one to help again than a check will ever do.