Day of Action: A Volunteer’s Perspective
By Katania CastanedaÂ
When I was asked to say a few words about poverty, I decided to focus on the most extreme aspect of poverty, and that is homelessness. A few weeks ago, I stopped off at convenience store to purchase some gasoline for my car, when a man came up to me and asked me for some spare change. I told him that I did not have any money but that I’d be willing to buy him some food. He seemed grateful and told me that he had not eaten all day. So, I went inside, grabbed a few items and proceeded to approach the register. The attendant, who had witnessed what had happened, told me that I should not buy food for that man. He said: “Those people out there, all they do is sit outside and smoke crack all day.†I said, “Yah, but he asked me for food, and I can’t deny someone food. Besides, we don’t know what got that man into that state.†He proceeded to tell me all sorts of convincing arguments as to why I should not spend my money. He said that that man should go out and get a job just like everyone else. I must admit, I was torn. I was unsure what to do. But I purchased a few items anyway.
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The issue of poverty is widespread. Even in this land of plenty, more than one in 10 citizens live below the poverty line. In our own neighborhoods in Houston one in three children goes hungry each day, and Houston is second only to Detroit in the number of hungry children. While helping to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the Kid’s Meal Project, it was heart-breaking to learn that the lunches we were putting together may be the only meal of the day for many children. Kid’s Meal Project provides 300 lunches for at-risk and special needs children of age 2 – 6 Monday through Friday between 9:45am and 12:30pm. To volunteer, please contact