Many have no choice. You worked hard, but you were also very lucky. You were lucky in the family you were born into and the genes you inherited. You were lucky to be born in a time and place where your skills could be developed and there was a market for them. You were lucky that you had the physical and mental ability to do what you did. Not everyone is lucky. Be grateful, not condescending.

As the old saying goes.
"If you want to get rich, start a Church or a Charity!"

Do you live in a vacuum? Those that lost their jobs will also receive a stimulus check. They are entitled to unemployment which has been raised substantially. Businesses can apply for loans that will not need to be paid back if used to pay employees. Young or older makes no difference. Distribute your stimulus as you wish not at the behest of someone else and be careful who you point fingers at for being unintelligent.

As Gary Player once said.
"The harder you work, the luckier you get."

Welcome to the new TOTV.. Where every thread has to be an argument..

And another example is the Surgeon General of the U.S. who is also black and was raised by a poor family.

I agree with you and think this could be a great help to those in need however it would require a lot of people to carry it out as you would need people to do all the legwork and research who needs the money the most then , then some would have to decide what portion of the money goes to each recipient, then you would need people to do all the legal work then people to do all the government and state tax work... The list of helpers needed would just go on and on. If you could find maybe 10 or 15 helpers who have experience in all these areas it would be fantastic but otherwise it would probably just be better to collect the money and then send it to some local agencies who already have the expertise in dispersing funds. I applaud you 4 thinking about this and if you get it going with enough helpers I think you could help so many people in need. Good luck and thanks for caring about those around us who are in desperate need for so many things. Meanwhile the food banks need food donations they also need cat and dog food donations and the GoFundMe fund needs money to continue to provide food for the school kids who aren't getting their meals at school anymore. The list of those needing financial help to pay their bills just goes on and on. I hope all villagers read this and if they are financially able please donate food or money or whatever you can to any organization or fund that can help so many who are suffering right in our area. Happy holidays to those who are celebrating at this time of year and remember it's always better to give than receive.

Wow, the compassion expressed here by so many is heartwarming. I understand the OP’s intent, even if not thought out in every detail, and I would support it. Maybe this forum is not the place to try to get something like this going.

I plan to do exactly what the money was intended for.....SPEND IT.

Thank you for your most thoughtful reply.

Thank you for your response and yes, I do understand that there are many who continuously provide support through a variety of charities. However, there are just as many, probably more who do not. There are Villagers who think it’s fine to provide tiny tips. There are villagers who don’t fully appreciate the struggles that the service industry goes through on a daily basis. I wish everyone in our community was as generous as you.

You can place people on your "ignore List".

I am all for paying it forward. I think a lot of people might prefer being able to control where their money is going. My stimulus check, when it arrives, is already earmarked for charities and working people I know who have been laid off or out of work due to the pandemic; my hairdresser, housekeepers, extra big tips for servers/delivery people, local animal rescue groups, food pantries, etc. The last bit (maybe 10%) I am SPENDING on legal MJ because I can. I love the irony of being given money by the Federal government to buy something the Federal government doesn't approve of. It's the principle of the thing. LOL

Gary was right for some, not for all.

I see the OP is not trying to re-invent the wheel, but rather create a new wheel "made by the Villages." Yes there are other community foundations. Are there other Villages-specific community foundations? I know of one Villages-specific organization that helps people living in the Forest. I wonder how much flack they received when they were first trying to find interest for the creation of their organization.

I think a Villages-specific community foundation is a great idea, if one doesn't already exist. If it does perhaps someone could tell us who they are, how to get in touch with them, and what is their website. Because it sounds to me like none of you have ever heard of one - since if you had, surely it would've been named in this thread by now.

I would not be in a position to donate significantly - perhaps just $10-25, since we are here too early for Social Security, we have a very modest pension, and I still have to work in order to qualify for affordable health insurance.

But I do support the idea and thank the OP for suggesting it and offering to get it started.

Also as an FYI - you can't tip Publix employees. They're not allowed to accept them and can be fired if they are caught.