(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Remembering a food drive, 40 years ago. Helping Humpday for Street Prophets [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags'] Date: 2023-05-17 Sometimes, often, we know when we’re helping someone. If it’s financially, as most of the requests in our Community Needs List are, we know what we’re giving, who we’re giving to, and what the intended use of the money is. That’s straight-forward helping. It’s direct and it’s necessary. But we don’t always know everything about our gifts and where it all may end up. Like a pebble dropped into a pond, gifts can send out ripples beyond what we thought we were doing, and helping beyond the person on the other end of the GFM or PayPal exchange. Something as simple as helping to keep lights on, for instance, means that a home has not only light, but probably computer access, power for cleaning equipment, the ability to keep (refrigerate) and prepare (oven/microwave) food, chargers for phones and medical equipment. All this in place allows someone to provide a place to welcome family and friends, to strengthen bonds with children and grandchildren, friends, and neighbors without the pressure of worry. Gas in a car, to get to work, and car repair, keep the larger worries of homelessness and dependency at bay. There will be money for pet food, for laundry, for necessities, money that’s earned. And dignity. When our gifts stabilize a situation, that allows the person to buy the small gifts for birthdays and holidays, to buy food to take to a gathering, to pass on a small gift to someone else in need. Forty years ago I was teaching in a middle school in a good sized city. As part of our fall activities, we had a food drive. No pressure, no glory. We didn’t make a production of who could bring food, unintentionally shaming those who couldn’t. But one young man, in seventh grade and the child of a mother who also struggled, didn’t bring one can. He brought a case. He and his mother had been without food the year before, totally without, and they remembered how awful that was. He didn’t want anyone else to feel that way. Stabilizing their situation gave them the dignity of being able to help lift others up. For people relying on SNAP, it’s taking a major downturn as the COVID supplement has dropped away, as bluePNWcats wrote in a recent diary, Lean times ahead. For people who are also getting social security, the reduction in SNAP negates the COLA and then some. If they aren’t getting social security, then it’s a huge decrease, while prices are continuing to climb. These community members need a little push to get over a hump. Maybe it’s an unexpected medical bill. Maybe there’s a life situation that has come up and requires resources beyond regular income. Maybe they just got behind and need help getting their footing again. For whatever reason they need help, Wednesdays are the day the Street Prophets diary focuses on those needs. Maybe you’ve skipped over this weekly diary, thinking the little you can give won’t make a difference. But you don’t have to meet a person’s entire need. If we all join together, the small amounts each person can contribute will add up to enough to make a difference in someone’s life. Even $2 or $5 or $10, when added to the mickle that others give, can be all that it takes. When sending via PayPal, be sure to select “Send to family/friend” to avoid fees on either end. Be aware, both donor and recipient, that GFM not only charges fees to recipients and asks donors to contribute to their organization, but also money received through that platform is treated as taxable income. You will receive a form 1099. If you are requesting help through GFM, also be aware that there can be delays in accessing the money. If helping financially isn’t the right choice for you at this time, you can still help. Tip and rec the diary so it stays visible. Share on social media: Twitter, Facebook, whatever platform you use, to bring the attention of others outside our daily readers. And offer words of encouragement to people who are struggling. It can be scary to be struggling, and it can feel lonely. This can happen to any of us. Today it isn’t me in need. If it isn’t you, either, please see what you can do to help. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/5/17/2169753/-Remembering-a-food-drive-40-years-ago-Helping-Humpday-for-Street-Prophets Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/