Blog Action Day 08 - Fighting Poverty - What Can One Person Do?
Cute, isn’t she? Yeah, that’s me…little Bella, in her sailor outfit and hat. Kids are so adorable, but just looking at this picture, you really don’t get 1,000 words…just one: cute. But if I could share 1,000 words with you, one of them definitely would have been: poor. Very poor.
I was raised by a single mother. We were on welfare, paid for our food with food stamps. Bought our clothes at thrift shops. Free lunch at school. We lived in the grossest apartments in the bowels of the big city, Detroit, Michigan. We took busses or walked to wherever we needed to go. We carted our dirty laundry in a folding shopping cart to the laundromat, even in the snow. And yes, I know what it feels like to go to bed hungry.
Fast forward a few decades and I am now in a much better place, and am so blessed to have a roof over my head, in a safe neighborhood and food on our table every night.
Today is Blog Action Day 08. And the focus this year is poverty.
When I read about it, I thought, “What can I do?” I am just one person, after all. But then I thought I owed it to that little girl that I once was to at least try to make a difference, even if only for one day.
So, what will I do?
I will make a donation to our local charity to help feed the hungry right here in my own community. Surely many folks did this for me when I needed it, the least I can do is return the kindness.
What else will I do?
I am asking you, my readers, my blogging friends, to do the same. Make a donation to any charity of your choice, that will help a child who needs a warm meal, some decent shoes, or a gas bill paid so that they won’t be cold.
I am also asking you to write a blog post today, to promote Blog Action Day 08…the more of us who get involved, the more people we can help.
We can make a difference, we really can.
I am also asking you to write to your senator and congress person and tell them that you want them to support poverty issues. They will listen, especially if they hear from us in numbers. I know that times are hard right now, but it is still a shame that any child in a rich country such as ours goes to bed hungry…it’s really unacceptable, don’t you agree?
What will you do today to help those in need? I would love to hear what you are doing!
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart,
Bella
PS: Please watch this powerful video for more inspiration:
More Blog Action Day Blogs To Visit:
Being Frugal
Everyday Baby Steps
Green Your Decor
Michelle Wegner
Monroe On A Budget (SE MI)
Remodeling This Life
Sanctuary Arts At Home
The Inspired Room
Writer - Mommy