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Making a Difference: Changing the World One Penny and One Minute at a Time
By Rhonda Hackett, PsyD, MBA
As the country's economy continues to struggle, thousands upon thousands of men, women, and children, find themselves in need of even the most basic of things to survive. More than 3.5 million people are currently homeless, with a shocking 39% of those being children. Even more alarming is the fact that every year at least 60% of new cases of homelessness are single mothers and their children.
The 2001 survey of 25 cities by the US Conference of Mayors reported a 19% increase in requests for emergency food with the requests for food having increased by 17% for families and 19% for seniors. The survey also found that 48% of all people requesting emergency food were families with children, with 38% of all requests coming from people who were employed at the time.
Despite the efforts of food pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and the like, hunger continues to increase at an alarming rate in our land of the free and the brave. According to America's Second Harvest, a group dedicated to ending hunger and starvation, one in every four people in food lines is a child. Providers of emergency food supplies such as the food pantries and soup kitchens report an increase in demand by 30-50% over the past three years. Talk to any of them and they will tell you they see a rise in the number of people needing their help virtually on a monthly basis.
Beyond those of our citizens living on the streets and suffering from a persistent state of hunger, millions more live at or below the poverty level. Between 2000 and 2001 alone, poverty rose to 11.7% of the population or 32.9 million, up from 31.6 million. Imagine, at least an additional one million people a year join the ranks of the poorest among us. As employment rates increase and costs of living ramp up from one year to the next, it is expected that the number of our citizens living in poverty will continue to increase at alarming rates.
Even more sobering than all of these statistics is the fact that as need grows, many resources dedicated to addressing those needs experience drastic cuts. More than 35 states have made cuts in programs offering food stamps, housing assistance and the like. President Bush's January 2005 budget included marked reductions in food stamp and similar other social assistance programs.
Without a doubt, the level of need in this great country has reached a staggering level with no end in site. Indeed, most industry experts will tell you they predict the problem worsening for many years to come. Lest we feel overwhelmed and paralyzed by these bleak numbers, know that there are many great resources in our cities and towns that are dedicating efforts toward addressing the need and helping folks in any way they can. As you might imagine, there never seems to be enough help to go around. That's where you come in! Regardless of the size, degree, or timing of your contribution, know that it will make a difference in someone's life.
Inexpensive And Powerful Ways To Help
Conduct an online search of the various types of social service agencies in your community. Type a list of shelters, soup kitchens, food banks, and similar other resource centers. Include telephone numbers and addresses along with general directions or cross-street locations. Keep several copies of the list in your vehicle's glove compartment and distribute to panhandlers or other people in similar need. Oftentimes people who need resources are not necessarily aware of them.
Opening Your Eyes And Heart
While driving through downtown one sunny afternoon last summer I noticed a young woman standing next to her car that apparently had a flat tire. She was bouncing a child on her hip that looked to be no more than eight to ten months old. I figured that since we were downtown and there were lots of people around it would be safe for me to pull over to see if I might be able to help.
I've never changed a tire in my life, so I wouldn't be much help in that regard but perhaps she could use my cell phone to call someone, or at the very least I could offer to hold her baby while she changed the tire. Nothing is ever at it seems, is it? While one of the car's tires was indeed flat that was the least of the lady's worries. Apparently, the young woman and her baby had been evicted from her apartment the week before (her ex had demolished the place and was now nowhere to be found). Without any family in the area or friends who could take her in, she was grateful to at least have the car. She was able to use my phone to call a friend who would come help her with the flat tire; however it was with another matter entirely that I would prove to be most helpful. As we chatted while waiting for her friend I learned she had run out of diapers for the baby a few days prior and was using old t-shirts instead. This resulted in a nasty diaper rash that was really bothering the baby.
Being familiar with the city's various resources I was able to give the woman directions to a soup kitchen where her and her baby would not only be able to eat but would also find a supply of diapers and diaper rash ointment as well as the locations of some shelters she might be able to utilize. The lady was so grateful, particularly for her baby's sake. Since the friend had not yet arrived I volunteered to go to the nearest store to pick up a package of diapers and a tube of ointment. Imagine, I stop my car thinking someone might appreciate using my cell phone and in the process end up helping a woman and her child who were new to life on the streets. In this case the usage of my phone would have been a big help - use caution when choosing to offer a helping hand in this manner - your safety is paramount! The diaper resource was an added bonus. Had I not been able to purchase the diapers that day, the fact that I was able to tell her where to do to find some proved just as critical. Become familiar with resources in your area so that you too can refer people in their time of need.
"Tommy"
'Tommy' is an 18 year old male who left a physically violent home at the age of 14 for life on the streets. The first time I met him he was talking about a job-interview he had the following day and that while this was a great opportunity for him he was not at all excited. As we got to talking 'Tommy' confided the shelter where he normally took showers was all out of disposable razors and he was upset he would not be able to get clean shaven for the interview.
Some people may read this and think that having a shave was the least of 'Tommy's' worries and that he should be more focused on performing well during the interview. Regardless, the fact was 'Tommy' was preoccupied and overly anxious about this one detail. When I asked him what difference shaving would make, 'Tommy' stated he would feel more presentable and more confident in his approach to the interview. Off to a discount store I went, where you can purchase 10 disposable razors for .88 cents or less. For .8 cents I was able to get 'Tommy' the razor that he was convinced he needed. Sure enough, 'Tommy' landed the job. Yes, I know you are saying there is no way I can prove the razor was the reason he was offered the job. But what I do know is this. The razor helped 'Tommy' prepare and approach the interview with confidence, and it was the best .8 cents I have spent in a long, long time.
About the Author
NOTE: The foregoing is an excerpt from Dr. Rhonda Hackett's just released book "Making a Difference: Changing the World One Penny and One Minute at a Time" available at: http://outskirtspress.com/makingadifference
Dr. Hackett is a devoted humanitarian who has personally reached out to those living in poverty in more than 100,000 instances in an effort to make a true difference in their lives. She may be reached at rghackett@earthlink.net
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| Some other articles by Rhonda Hackett, PsyD, MBA | |
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