Every month I get over 100 pieces of mail in my mailbox from all over the country — and they all want money. All this mail includes a picture of some destitute person, along with a sob story designed to make people feel guilty if they don’t help them.

I believe charity begins at home and that Maine has its own share of needy people, so I never donate out-of-state. Each state should just take care of its own people. So, I put all that mail in the trash and I don’t feel a bit guilty. There is no difference between this kind of mail and a scam call; it all comes from strangers. Why would a stranger want to give us anything — especially money?

I never answer my phone if I don’t recognize the number. We can help each other and that’s good enough.

Terrence Casey
Randolph