| To the Editor: It's time to help homeless |
| Written by Barbara Brunner |
| Wednesday, 08 August 2012 08:51 |
|
I read an article in the Sentinel about the Wood County Homeless Task Force learning about the Family Promise program, where churches open their facilities to house the homeless. I did some research: in 2010 over 50,000 homeless were served by over 140,000 volunteers at 171 affiliates in 41 states, including one in Toledo. I haven't heard anything since about either the task force or Family Promise, which really concerns me, because homelessness seems to be increasing at an alarming rate. I have been volunteering at the local Salvation Army for about a year now (and only one afternoon each week), and I have seen an increase myself. On some days, over 50% of the people we see are homeless. Just last week a young man and his girlfriend (who has Aspergers Syndrome) walked in. They were from another state, hadn't eaten in three days, were hungry, dirty, and had been sleeping behind Kroger.
I gave them each some peanut butter crackers and a cup of water. A woman waiting to be seen for assistance herself went out to her car and brought back a fruit bowl she had just purchased at Kroger and gave it to them. Her heart, and mine, broke for this young couple. I thought, "This happens in America?!" So what are the task force and the local churches doing these days besides having meetings (no doubt in their comfortable air-conditioned offices, and probably with coffee and snacks, I might add.) I don't mean to be critical, but time is wasting. It is past time to stop talking and start acting. Now. Barbara Brunner Bowling Green |
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Comments
No everyone is able to 'help themselves.' You blatantly disregard the discrimination and difficulty experienced by millions of poor.
One of the youths mentioned in this article has Asberger's syndrome. Why don't YOU (voter) try getting a job and supporting yourself alone in this world with a disability, you heartless elitist!
Also: many people in 'entry-level' jobs cannot afford food if they have to pay rent too. Wake up and learn what really happens in your backyard, you hater!
Just because "Millions" of people choose to be poor, doesn't make it MY responsibility to provide for them!
I'm glad I make you sick. I'm in your community and I'm working on human rights and I will not quit.
You are useless and your income does nothing for our society. The homeless are FAR more valuable contributors than you could EVER be.
You can call me a 'do-gooder' because I DO GOOD. You on the other hand, only hate and fear human beings.
REAL people.
Try it sometime.
You must be a very unhappy person to be that way, I pity your lack of humanity.
Without understanding hardship, your hate-driven views are meaningless and irrelevant.
Kate,I think we are talking about kids,or very young adults here..Do you know that its a fact half of our people who graduate from higher instutions can not find jobs at present?Americans need to get into the here and now..Kate,this could happen to you in the future.How many people are one pay check away from the street?Do we sweep people under the rug these days?
You don't have any compassion to begin with.
Individualism is destroying your culture. Kiss it bye-bye, hater.
The top feeders are culpable and can justifiably be blamed for the nastiness you wrote of.
We WILL hit back....
Life does not HAVE to be nasty. SOME people are decent. Most of them are less fortunate then opportunists who exploit others.
We WILL hit back at our exploiters!
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