The survival of individuals, communities, and societies depend on mutual aid giving. When disasters, disease, disability, and death strike, we need one another. Helping the hungry, the thirsty, the poor, the homeless, the widow, the orphan, and the sick are espoused by monotheistic world religions as a way to show our love of God and of one another.
The importance of doing good deeds, being neighborly, and being good citizens is taught to youth by parents, religious groups, schools, and the media. Seldom is the question -- "To Help or Not To Help?" -- raised. It is assumed that making efforts to help others should take place regardless of our preparedness to be helpful or the potential consequences of those helping efforts.
This website explores ways we help, why we help or do not help, and what can get in the way of being effective helpers. This exploration includes the personal, professional, organizational, and societal perspectives as well as the moral, philosophical, or religious works that influence these.
To aid you in finding the web pages that interest you most, click on Index-Links. After you have reviewed the pages of this website, feel free to share your thoughts and comments with an email to helper@tohelpornot.com .
Helping -- Personal
The Personal section includes Self-help,
Helping Family, Helping Friends,
Helping Neighbors, Helping Older Adults, Helping People with Disabilities, and Cultural Diversity.
A useful outline of ways to help yourself and others in retirement can be accessed by clicking here.
Helping -- Professional Helping -- Societal
The Professional section supports the helping professions and encourages youth to pursue them with a balanced view of the helping professions. Web pages related to professional helping include Helping Skills, Helping Relationships, and Professional Ethics.
Helping -- Organizational
The Organizational section overviews corporate social responsibility, charities, and volunteers. Volunteering has a separate expanded page.
The Societal section includes overviews of efforts to Reduce Poverty and Reduce Homelessness. Other societal issues will be added in the future.
The Religious section highlights major influences on our collective desire to help others. Seven world religions are presented in an overview format with samples of text related to help giving, help seeking, or help receiving. Click on the religious thought that interests you: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam. Compare their similarities and differences.
Emergency
The Emergency section includes information on government and private organizations involved in responding to disasters. It also provides access to how roles and responsibilities are divided among emergency workers representing government and private organizations.
Legal
The Legal page overviews Good Samaritan Laws, Civil Rights Laws, Disability Laws and Court Rulings that influence our help giving.
Other
The Glossary defines selected terms. The References provides an overview of materials used in creating this website as well as resources for further study.
