ways for Individuals to Help
the prejudices so many still carry about the poor. How often do you hear the terms welfare and bums used in the same sentence?
In truth the word itself has been much maligned, yet when you think about it, originally it was intended to be associated with doing good for others: What happened to the WELLNESS of it, and the FAIRNESS of it ?
There are many small, but significant ways that individuals can begin to change their beliefs about the cause of poverty and the reality of it. Awareness must lead to understanding and these two are especially necessary in the war against poverty. This is I believe where the winds of change can begin. A more understanding 'Public' will be more motivated towards demanding more appropriate actions from politicians. Remember that it is largely the Political Will that is responsible for poverty in our country. And their will must be changed before we can hope to start seeing real efforts being made toward change and solutions.
Instead of sneering at the panhandlers, wallk a mile in his shoes before passing erroneous judgements and promoting prejudices. Toss him a coin, and don't concern yourself with what he will do with it. Recently I heard of one individual who carries a small change purse with her as she walks to work each day. When someone asks for coins, she simply digs some out of her purse and willingly hands them over. She then carries on without being harrassed. Kudos to her.
It's all about perspectives. Change your perspective and and the perception of reality changes as well. Try standing in line just once to register at the Food Bank, even though you don't need it, just so you can share with your friends what that actually feels like. Try
to exist on the minimal allowance provided to welfare recipients, for just one month, and see how well you can do.
Rather than buying that lottery ticket make a few donations of food to the Food Bank bins in your local grocery store. Everytime you do laundry in the comfort of your own home, toss $5 into a collection bin, and at the end of the month donate that to the Food Bank. [If you had to go to a laundromat it would cost at least that much].
There are many small ways that individuals can raise their own awareness of what it must be like to be poor. There are many small actions that can be taken to help other less fortunate people within our own communities.
Just so you know...
Remember that list of necessary food items required to make up a healthy diet, according to the nutritionists in
Canada ? Forget about it.
Most grocery bags offered on a drop-in basis at the Food Bank will generally provide enough food for one
decent meal or possibly a couple if you really stretch it. Families will usually get a little more food, but still it is only enough for a couple of good meals. Some food banks are only open a couple of times a month, or at the very best, one day a week. What about the rest of the month?
Free bread is often available through the food banks, one loaf per person. The basic contents of their remaining allottment typically include Kraft Dinner, tuna, spaghetti and spaghetti sauce, maybe some beans, soup mixes and/or a tetra pak of juice. What is not included is the MILK and Margarine required to make the Kraft Dinner.
Smaller communities seldom offer vegetables, fruits, eggs, meat or other perishables. Packaged pastas and canned foods are the usual fare. And while it is true that 'beggars can't be choosers' and that the Food Banks
are doing their very best to help those they can, what is typically provided is but a very small band aid.
A local supermarket chain now carries pre-made food hampers that you can purchase, in either $10 or
$15 amounts. Again what is included are the typical items: spaghetti, a jar of spaghetti sauce, a can of tuna,
a can of beans, a box of Kraft dinner and a container of apple juice. I think you get one extra item in the
$15 package, a can of mixed fruit, I believe. Again the people who need food assistance are definitely grateful for whatever they get, but can you imagine yourself living off of these same foods dayin and day out for a month.
Sometimes I look in the food bins at the grocery store to see what is offered there, and sometimes it is interesting to see what is actually being donated: A can of artichoke hearts ? A cake mix that requires eggs and oil to make. Hamburger Helper but no hamburger.
The one item that really confuses me, is the tuna. Families are being cautioned not to offer tuna very often to their children, due to the mercury contents which can cause developmental difficulties, yet THIS IS THE STANDARD STAPLE that people tend to donate. Apparently it doesn't seem to matter if the poor consume
large quantities of a food item that is now suspected to be harmful and dangerous in large amounts.
This is not to say that we should not contribute to Food Banks; I am merely musing on the consideration that perhaps it would be nice if there was a little more forethought given to what is being donated.....perhaps a little
more thinking 'outside of the box' would be welcomed by those on the receiving end of our donations.