Think about it: the last poverty statistics (2017) show that 39.7 million people of all ages in our country are suffering from the ravages of poverty. These are men, women, and children off all ethnic backgrounds. They are healthy or unhealthy, mentally unstable or perfectly stable, families or individuals, unable to work or have been “downsized” and can’t find work. In short, poverty can strike anyone at any time–and it has. We can’t fix our economy overnight, but those of us who are fortunate enough not to be part of the 39.7 million can help through our donations not just of money but of time.
Everyone has a little time to give. If serving at a soup kitchen takes more than you have, how about spending a few extra minutes while you grocery shop to shop for food items for a local soup kitchen or food pantry? Bake extra cookies for the kitchen or a shelter while you’re baking for your family? You probably have some time to help an organization serving the homeless by packing sack lunches for distribution to them or sorting clothing at an organization’s clothes closet for people in need. If not, there’s no question that you have a minute to smile and say “Hi” to the homeless man outside the store, thus letting him know that he’s recognized as a human being rather than an objectionable object. After your daughter’s softball game, when you go with the team to pizza, you have a second to invite along as your family’s guest the girl who can’t afford to go.
In other words, poverty can be fought on the human level–one human being to another. And you fight the battle in little ways. As I always say, Small things really DO count!
