June 26, 2002

9:55 AM

As heard on NPR this morning"Every month until I die or the Internet becomes obsolete, I have set aside $400--about 12% of my gross monthly income--to help individuals meet small financial needs that they simply cannot afford on their own. "
posted by GernBlandston (13 comments total)

On MeFi April 1st.
posted by eyeballkid at 10:00 AM on June 26, 2002

the .org may have thrown off the search
posted by ColdChef at 10:02 AM on June 26, 2002

It's interesting to read the old thread, seeing how so many people were cynical about the whole thing, or didn't believe it at all. Now it's seemingly worked out well, proving all those people wrong.
posted by cell divide at 10:10 AM on June 26, 2002

I gave Modest Needs $5 a couple of weeks ago. Now I feel all warm and fuzzy.

Next up, donate some books to booklend.
posted by ODiV at 10:25 AM on June 26, 2002

I guess that means the Internet isn't obsolete yet. Who knew?
posted by RJ Reynolds at 10:52 AM on June 26, 2002

pure human kindness. we're all going to hell - except for that guy.
posted by luriete at 10:59 AM on June 26, 2002

and me. :)
posted by ODiV at 12:47 PM on June 26, 2002

I have set aside $400--about 12% of my gross monthly income--to help individuals meet small financial needs that they simply cannot afford on their own

Hell, I do the same thing...only the individual happens to be me.
posted by rushmc at 12:54 PM on June 26, 2002

I guess this has come full circle now -- the original post here was what led to all the attention Modest Needs got in the beginning (and, ultimately, from NPR as well, I imagine), wasn't it?
posted by mattpfeff at 1:24 PM on June 26, 2002

Nice concept. It demonstrates that people are, essentially, benevolent and charitable, and operates on a purely voluntary basis.
posted by davidmsc at 3:48 PM on June 26, 2002

Hey, you can donate to me. I need some food. Paypal me mone at cokere at hatori42 dot com

thanks.
posted by delmoi at 11:21 PM on June 26, 2002

Reminds me slightly of some of the charity schemes that have been run in the developing world to give small loans to people who would be refused loans by conventional lenders, which have had an incredibly positive effect. Can't find a reference right now though.
posted by kerplunk at 2:36 AM on June 27, 2002

They are called microloans. Here's the typical success story:
http://www.wired.com/wired/6.02/neweconomy.html

And here's a sobering update of how people abuse the system:
http://www.urban-renaissance.org/urbanren/index.cfm?DSP=content&ContentID=1541
posted by richcasto at 10:01 AM on June 27, 2002