We live in a poverty stricken area.......sad, but true. Tonight, Rick and I played a fundraiser for a program called Backyard Blessings. The program was started by a friend of ours, because we have so many children
in our school system who have no food when they are home on weekends. At school, they get breakfast and lunch, but for many different reasons almost 300 children (just in our local elementary and middle school)
go hungry on the weekends.
How can that be? Poverty, drugs, alcohol, no jobs the list goes on and on. So each Friday, Leneda and her volunteers pack bags of juice boxes, raisins, peanut butter, microwaveable mac and cheese, fruit, crackers, cereal, etc and the bags are discreetly placed in those children's back packs. Sadly the numbers are growing.
Tonight was successful, local businesses and folks who live in the community pitched in, donations of money and food were given and our friend Leneda was smiling. One of the things that I have noticed about our county, and the small communities scattered around, no matter how great the need and no matter how little some may have......everyone tries to step up to the plate. Many of these communities are the same ones who were hit by the April 27 tornadoes last year. Lots of kids came tonight, free movie and popcorn,
free jump jumps, and they all were having a large time.
Being on stage in the heat......it was nothing......Rick and I have plenty of food, but knowing that in a very small way, we helped to feed a child......that meant so much. When I tell friends in other places about Backyard Blessings they often don't believe that children in America are hungry. To hear the politicians talk, we all live in the land of milk and honey......they should all come to Walker Co. Alabama and take a good long look at reality. Honestly, I figure this problem is widespread, it's just not talked about.
I am exhausted, a treatment this week, hours in the heat this evening......but you know, I'd do it all over again tomorrow.
Goodnight, Sweet dreams
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
What a great thing to do, poverty is a terrible thing my and hubby raised three daughters while being techinicaly being under the poverty line but we always managed it wasn't easy but we did it.
ReplyDeleteVery inspirational! Kudos to you and Leneda and all the volunteers. It is wonderful that you saw a need and took some action instead of just saying 'bless their hearts' or 'what a shame.'
ReplyDeleteIt's so wonderful that you do this. It's such a good cause. Yes, there are children who go hungry every day in our country...people need to open their eyes and their pocketbooks to this problem. Thanks for sacrificing your time at a time when you're dealing with your own health problems.
ReplyDelete