In my book we've already had our family Thanksgiving on Saturday. This week we'll spend the actual holiday with some friends and their children playing croquet until the sun goes down. But I'm also thinking it's almost Christmas and there is so much to do for the holidays. Gifts to make and to purchase. Where should we get the tree this year? They're so insanely expensive in this area, it's worth the drive to another state to chop it down yourself.
But I stopped and took a moment today and donated to America's Second Harvest. I'm thankful for many things. As a kid we had rough times but my mom still managed to feed us and sometimes my friends who, let me just say, where I lived in rural Virginia at the time (early 80s) a schoolmate of mine still lived in 1920s era shack and her source of running water was a hand pump in the kitchen. Her family had nothing. There were times when we had nothing to eat but homemade noodles and potatoes because we had the flour, had grown the potatoes, and kept chickens for eggs. It could also explain why we had breakfast a lot for dinner. (Hmm, that just clicked.) My mom also canned anything that moved. That root cellar got us through our share of hard times.
So to me, the modern root cellar has become such places like America's Second Harvest, a group that I totally recommend. Charity Navigator is such a great website, please before you donate to a charity please check them out on this site. Charity Navigator is an independent charity evaluator who uses public information to show you how much of your donation is being used to pay for a charity's bills compared to how much of your money is being put to work for the actual mission of that charity.
I know there are poor and hungry folks all over this world, but we forget how many there are in our country. They're hidden away, only brought out for political purposes. An agenda here or there, but there are kids who still go to bed hungry because there wasn't enough on the table or live on a diet of hot dogs and macaroni and cheese. When you're poor, downright poor and work for a living and only get minimum wage and work three jobs just to make rent, the healthy food options aren't there. Think about it: 40 hours a week times $5.15/hour before tax equals $206. You live in a rural area, no public transportation. You have to drive to get groceries, to get to work, etc. and gas is now over $2. That's how much more of that $206 that's gone? The word organic doesn't fit into the budget.
Did you know that there are discount food stores that sell slightly expired frozen/canned goods for cheap. People make their budgets by buying and eating expired food. Did you know that? In Pennsylvania I know of one in Lancaster and another in Mansfield.
Not everybody grew up meaning to be poor, broke, homeless, jobless. When my father left my mom, he took all of the money out of the bank and left her with three kids and rent that was due. Granted I think at one point, if the story is right, my grandfather beat him senseless with a baseball bat. I'm not sure when that occurred, before or after. But all I know he also quit every job he had when his wages were garnished for child support. Nice. And you know what, I know we're not the only ones who had this happen to them. But we also had family to help us through, not everybody does.
But no matter what the problem or reason why people are poor and can't support themselves there are children out there who through no fault of their own go to bed hungry and wake up hungry. I'm not rich, but I make my ends meet. A great majority of us in the US live from paycheck to paycheck and things happen and the ends no longer get met. So even if it's only a few dollars, donate wisely, even if it's only a donation of your time. Lots of charities need volunteers to help them everyday, not just the holidays.
So it's a bit early, but Happy Thanksgiving. May you and your families and friends be safe and sound.
Wow. Deep. But you're totally right. I was reminded how bad some folks have it this morning as I was walking to work and stepped over a homeless gentelman that was curled up on the sidewalk. I fear that he may have died during the night because the homeless in Philly will always move prior to the am rush. However, given my medical background, and where I have to work, I couldn't do anything without proper protection (ie - gloves). I tried to find a doctor or a cop, but there were none around. Every other morning the place is crawling with these folks, but not today. And once again, irony prevails.
So, yes, everyone, remember that we are the lucky ones and give thanks for all you have - every day.
Posted by: LMMS | November 22, 2006 at 08:53 AM