The places that lottery cash ends up and the human impact of giving
In all the commotion that goes into running and winning lotteries, and the constant debates on whether lotteries are good or bad for society, one major beneficial aspect of lottery profits always seems to be ignored. And that is the human side of the lottery.
And that refers to the people who actually benefit from lottery income, and it is not the winners. It is the less fortunate, the poor, the lower middle class and below, who find living day to day a challenge in financial, physical, or mental issues. The human side are the people who benefit from charity and government programs and assistance that receive lottery funds to be able to help those in the community.
Say what you will about the lottery, good or evil, scam or opportunity, entertainment or addiction, the money that lotteries make really do go to support a large number of people in your community who need extra help.
Some lottery profits go towards education. Everything from scholarships and grants to post-secondary schools, to after-school programs, school lunch programs, and school sports and music opportunities is supported by lottery profits to help kids get not only a full and proper education but also to learn and experience things outside of normal school curriculums.
Health is another sector that benefits from lottery profits. Money goes to hospitals to maintain and purchase new diagnostic equipment or care for an additional amount of patients through more rooms and beds. Elderly care is one of the growing sectors of health care as people live longer new. So the increase in seniors means an increase in senior care not only on the physical level but, unfortunately, on the mental level as well with a growth in the numbers of seniors with Parkinson's, Alzheimer’s, and dementia.
Agencies and organizations that help the blind, the deaf, those who have Autism, and others such as muscular distrophy or cerebral palsy are able to provide more services to more people through lottery profits.
Amateur sports and other recreational activities also benefit from lottery profits to provide their services to those who would normally not be able to afford to participate or have any opportunity to participate.
Some people may find that funding arts, culture, and national heritage programs a waste of lottery profit spending, but in reality supporting these sectors of society are very important. Arts and culture, be it paintings or sculptures, murals or performance art, classical music symphonies or music education and appreciation programs, are important to our community and its citizens. Heritage is also an important sector that tells us about our history, how our villages and towns and cities came to be, where we come from and how we got here. What foods and clothing are common in our originating countries. Our music, songs, festivals, beliefs, myths, legends, and a cornucopia of other things that make us who we are are important for us to learn and experience and lottery profits help to keep our past alive and in our minds and hearts.
So whether you think lotteries are a good thing or a bad thing, just remember that lottery profits go to help, treat, cure, immortalize, and give dignity to so many of us, the actual human side of lottery profits.