Helping Out

Also, I just have one more questions about living in St. Thomas. The law firm I may be working for is located around Red Hook, what is Red Hook like is it a safe area? What are the prices for homes like in this area. Is it an uban area?

Lauren

Lauren: Are you sure you don't want to come for a look-see first? "Urban" doesn't apply to my way of thinking, in the VI...yet. A law firm in Red Hook!! There goes the neighborhood! There are plenty of charities and opportunities to volunteer. What are your interests? One side line, I am not sure how the attitude of "helping the poor people" is going to go over. Most Virgin Islanders are pretty proud, even if they are on the lower end of the income scale. Maybe if you consider sharing time or talents that you have...

Thank you East Ender for clarifying to Lauren about Virgin Islanders. Virgin Islanders of all races as stated by East Ender are very proud people and are not looking for pity. I do not know where your mother got the idea that there are so many poor people in the VI who are just waitng for some RIch sole to arrive to give them a hand out. Keep in mind Lauren the the USVI is a US territory and many of the social programs that are offered in the states are also offered on the islands.by just appearance on the street you wouldn't know who is poor from who is not. Lauren you are not going to find small children on the streets begging and harassing you every move you make. They would rather sell mangoes or kenips before they would do something like that and I know for a fact if they are seen begging it is frown upon. LOL Lauren come down to the VI there is always a need for smart and intelligent people in any society. good luck.

Hi Lauren,

East Ender talked about Red Hook and I agree... urban is not an accurate description. You mentioned in your other post that you came to St. Thomas a few weeks ago to find a house - did you not visit Red Hook and the East End? I am curious what areas you did visit; particularly because of your focus on poverty? In any case no urban areas, Red Hook is a safe area and prices for homes - well are you wanting to buy a house or rent an apartment or condo??

Real estate on St. Thomas: $49,000 to $3.5 Million for a house. The average price of houses on the market right now is $620,000; however the highest concentration of homes is in the $200,000 to $400,000 range.

As for your charitable mission; well I agree with East Ender and Rhea. To be quite frank it is very likely a Virgin Islander would take offense to the way you present your want of being helpful... "poor people, fix houses, hungry children, getting involved in upper levels of government because its very very bad" yikes that comment as honorable as it sounds in terms of helping is screaming for a local person to insult you or question who you think you are. You sound like you are describing a third world country??? If that is what you think of the VI then you need to read more and do more research so you get a correct picture.

As for organizations; Humane Society, Schools, Hospital, Fundraisers, Rotary Club, Girls and Boy Scouts, sports groups, Reading at the Hospital to Kids or at Library functions maybe or schools, donating kids gifts to the kids home for Christmas or maybe volunteering there. Donating food when there are can food drives. Donate blood at blood drives - red cross. There are organizations where you can help. You can donate cloths and items to Humane Society for their flea market.

2. Which island needs the most help? In terms of poor people, houses needing fixing, hungry children. > don't think of it in this way... move to which ever island you want to move to and then volunteer at organizations.

As for painting and fixing things up -that doesn't usually happen just like that... the only times I know of such things happening is through church organized fix ups or other organizations - sometimes its of a school, beach clean up ect. Church is another way you can help; and that is the way must locals do volunteering... for example donating food for thanksgiving meals for the Bethlehem House.

Getting a high government position, In terms of elected positions. - Not Likely.... live on the island for years and years and then you might have somewhat of a chance.

As for your friend and a hotel - the Virgin Islands economy is based on tourism... so not many over night visitors although there are some - many many 1-2 week visitors!! So yes its a good idea but an idea that needs to be properly researched in terms of locations, need, type, lenders, work force, business license....

One word of advice -get the idea of being extremely determined to help the poor people out of your head. I think it will cause you problems; you need to live here for a little bit and see how things work and where you can help and then just help - not help poor people or the hungry.... just help the community period in which ever ways you can and are comfortable doing.

All the best.

--Islander

Lauren,
It's very difficult to identify "needy" people here in the islands. Because of the climate, houses that would be virtually unliveable in the states are more than adequate here. The salt air and the winds make things look worse than they are. Like has been said in other posts, I find the locals to be both industrious and ingenious when it comes to supporting themselves. Here in St Croix, it's almost impossible to stop your car anywhere without some young man asking to wash it. While mine usually need it desperately, they take a friendly "no" very well. They do a good job and seem to make ends meet. Other folks sell some of the best fruits and vegetables you can find on the island from the back of a pickup truck parked by the side of the road. At first blush there does appear to be a lot of poverty and problems on the islands. But upon a closer look, you find that things are just different here. Not better, not worse, just different. Be very careful to judge the people and their situation. The islands and the islanders don't need to be rescued.