Everyday Baby Steps

Today is Blog Action Day, a day where thousands of bloggers will unite to discuss a sigle issue - poverty.  The purpose of this movement is to raise awareness of poverty and to encourage people to move to action and to contribute in what ways they can.  I really wanted to be a part of this cause, so I did some thinking on the matter.

Which led me to considering my own personal situation.  My family's economic status right now comes very close to falling within the guidelines of poverty.  We receive food stamps, WIC (Women Infants and Children), and free school lunches.  My children receive health insurance benefits from public assistance.  There's a real social stigma to admitting this.  People make judgments so easily and may ask, "Why aren't you working?" or "Why should my tax dollars pay your way?"

I don't know all of the answers to such questions.  With three children, the cost of day care is astronomical.  Even with my college degrees, a job in my field barely pays enough to make working outside the home worthwhile.  Thank goodness for my education and for my experience.  I know I can work hard on my writing business and begin making enough money to end the need for these services.  As a college counselor, I encountered people every day who were working toward the same goal of self-sufficiency, except they were doing all of this WHILE purusing higher education.  I feel so fortunate that I at least have my education behind me.

I'm not able to contribute financially toward the goal of ending poverty, but Blog Action day has a list of 88 ways to take action against poverty right now.  I will be finding items throughout my house to donate to the local Salavation Army.  I also added the Women Rock badge to my site to join in the pursuit to help women claim their rights and to end poverty.  There are so many great ideas listed. What will you do?

I found this wonderful site, dedicated to raising awareness of and ending poverty in our country, Poor People Economic Human Rights Campaign.  You can go there to learn more about their efforts or to donate to their cause.  Please take the time to do what you can in the fight against poverty, both in the U.S. and abroad.  Thank you.

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