Reddit User Sparks Debate On Whether Poor Kids Deserve ‘Luxury’ Items After Heartwarming Post

By
Shawn Ambrose
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Life isn’t fair.

Some people are born into luxury while others grow up impoverished.

There are some children who are able to get the latest phones and gadgets, while other families can’t even afford school uniforms for their children.

Thankfully, there are organisations out there that help families in financial need through donations from those who are better off.

You and I, for instance, wouldn’t think twice about giving a little money if it’s for a good cause, such as shoes or stationary for a poor child.

But what about a scooter?

Reddit User Sparks Debate On Whether Poor Kids Deserve ‘Luxury’ Items After Heartwarming Post

A Reddit user by the name of beadsandbaking recently shared a post on Reddit about an experience he had with a Christmas charity drive for needy families in his neighbourhood.

Here’s the post:

Image: Reddit
Image: Reddit
Image: Reddit

In case you can’t see the post or are too lazy to read, here’s the gist of what the Redditor said.

Two years ago, beadsandbaking’s neighbourhood has something like a charity drive during Christmas, where neighbours could donate gifts to needy families in their area.

Beadsandbaking agreed and received a wishlist on the neighbourhood’s WhatsApp group chat.

On the list were things you’d expect, like new school bags, stationery, water bottles and so on.

But the last item on the list surprised the Redditor. It was a kids’ scooter.

Want vs Need

The Redditor said he and many others were surprised at that addition as it seemed like more of a “want” than a “need”.

As he put it, “why would a kid from a needy family want something like that rather than something useful, like a pencil case or a water bottle?”

Both the Redditor and his dad realized that all the “needs” on the wishlist were already taken care of by other families, and that the scooter was the only item remaining on the list.

So, beadsandbaking’s father decided to buy it. And when the Redditor asked his dad why, he gave a touching answer.

“We don’t really know the background of the kid, so why do we judge what the kid put in their wishlist? Maybe the kid already has things we think they need, and coming from a child probably not older than 8 or 9, they would want what most kids do at that age – toys. Maybe they really wanted it for a long time but their parents couldn’t afford it, and since we can afford it, why not just bless the kid this Christmas?”

Beadsandbaking’s dad believed that even though these kids were less fortunate, they should still have what every other kid wants – toys.

And he reasoned that if he had the ability to make this kid happy by buying a scooter, why not?

According to beadsandbaking, the child was “very excited and happy” to receive the gift that year.

He said that made him reflect on how blessed he and his brother were growing up, as they got a lot of toys from relatives.

Netizen response

Many netizens were moved by the post and agreed with the father’s decision.

Image: Reddit
Image: Reddit
Image: Reddit

Some, however, felt that there was a limit to how much “luxury” the poor should ask for.

Image: Reddit
Image: Reddit

Does everyone deserve a little luxury?

I think the word luxury may be a little misleading here. I’m not talking about Gucci bags and BMWs. I’m talking about the little luxuries that we all take for granted, like our phones, laptops, or even scooters.

These are not things that everyone can afford, but just because it’s not exactly a necessity does it mean that needy families don’t deserve these things as much as we do?

What do you think?

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Shawn Ambrose
Email: [email protected]