Oct 15 2008
Blog Action Day Post
I wanted to participate in Blog Action Day for 2 reasons. The first is that I am a blogger, and working in the non-profit sector, I am curious to see how many of my fellow bloggers will participate and what the impact will be. The second reason is that I have been seeing more and more people in this wealthy area of Southern California that I live and work in falling into poverty, and have recently had conversations with people I know that disturbed me greatly. These recent experiences make me want to raise awareness about this topic.
Poverty is affecting all of us, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not. The easy thing is to give in to apathy, to continue in our daily lives and never even think about something so unseemly and ugly as poverty. It makes life so much easier when we can pass by that homeless person on the corner, and just not care. Why should we? We work, we pay taxes, and contribute to society. What do we care about some bum, or addict, or drop-out from society? My answer to these questions has a strange answer.
In this troubled economy, poverty wears a different mask. The face of a single mother trying to raise kids on a minimum wage job; a grandmother trying to survive on Social Security, a family whose sole provider is laid-off or injured, and can no longer work. A man who, after 30 years on the job finds out one day that his company has shipped their business overseas, and along with it, his retirement and medical benefits. These are all the face of poverty in America today.
The most disturbing aspect of poverty I see in America is that for many people who are able to make a living and sustain themselves; the sad reality is that many of us are only a lost job, a storm-damaged home, a medical crisis, or a broken car away from total devastation. We think it cannot happen to us, but through no fault of our own, and a series of negative circumstances, we too could end up in poverty. Ask yourself; would there be somewhere for me to turn for help if it happened to me?
With the economic crisis we as a nation are facing, and several months to wait before the financial rescue is in place, families unable to pay their mortgages are being foreclosed upon at an increasing rate. Where will these families go for help? How will they house and feed their children? What about Seniors? Who is looking out for them?
These people on the brink need you and others like you who still have a heart and a mind to give. We know that volunteers make a difference, and so many organizations are working so hard behind the scenes to fight poverty, disease and ignorance. Silent heroes are making a real difference in the lives of hungry and hopeless people around the country. Programs like Senior Nutrition, and Meals on Wheels exist in some cities, and there are local shelters and food banks in place throughout the U.S. The problem is; most rescue missions, food banks and soup kitchens are donor funded, and rely on gifts to keep them open and volunteers to staff them.
I could quote a bunch of statistics about hunger and poverty, demographics and Census data. What I really want to do is to prompt people to give more! How do you make a nation grow a CONSCIENCE? I still haven’t figured out how. I can only hope that my small contribution will make a difference to someone who reads it.
I feel my mission as an online representative of my charity is to interest people in possibilities. To prompt them to think, and to give. I want people to realize that even the smallest gift will, when added to other small gifts, become someone’s life changing salvation. I want to help people develop a giving spirit, knowing that their gift is making a difference where ever they give it.
So, I issue a challenge to you, after all, Blog Action Day, denotes taking some sort of action, doesn’t it? I challenge you to take action. If you are not currently doing anything to help with the problem of hunger and poverty in your city, start! Everyone has something to give. If you don’t have money, give of your time, talent, and other resources. Start a food drive in your office, do some hours in your local shelter or soup kitchen. Give to a Senior nutrition program. Hold a fund-raiser for a local charity that helps the homeless. If you are a professional, give free consulting services to non-profits who can benefit from your particular expertise.
There are so many ways you can help. Find one that you can feel passionate about. Whatever you give, you will make a difference!
If you are already giving, volunteering or donating money, give more! Those of you who are doing well are needed in all areas to help impoverished people and those on the brink. Apathy is a killer, and nothing is just that. Do something, give more!
