Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Brought thoughts of the Food Bank to mind
The television news report about Santa in July to raise awareness and donations for the Vancouver Food Bank set me to wondering how our local Abbotsford Food Bank was faring. So I asked the Food Bank Coordinator what the situation is.
The number of people accessing the Food Bank have stabilized somewhat. They are however averaging a couple of new people per day and while a few of those are homeless most aren’t.
I am not surprised that most were not homeless. With the cost of housing in Abbotsford and the increases in what it costs to live (especially gas), more and more families are faced with having less, little, or no money to buy food with.
I would be interested in knowing at what point the addition of a couple of new people every day ceases to be “stable” and becomes a worrisome increase.
The Food Bank is already buying pasta and by Thanksgiving, two short months away, it will be slim pickings. The coordinator is planning to put the word out to his sources this week about the need for funds and/or food donations.
I know it is a busy time of year for many, but by remembering those in our community who need the communities help to have food to eat, we can make sure that come Thanksgiving the Food Bank shelves are stocked - giving all something to be thankful for.
With school looming a food drive would be an auspicious and philanthropic manner to start the school year with, don’t you think?
Please take the time to share and help feed the hungry by supporting our Food Bank.
The number of people accessing the Food Bank have stabilized somewhat. They are however averaging a couple of new people per day and while a few of those are homeless most aren’t.
I am not surprised that most were not homeless. With the cost of housing in Abbotsford and the increases in what it costs to live (especially gas), more and more families are faced with having less, little, or no money to buy food with.
I would be interested in knowing at what point the addition of a couple of new people every day ceases to be “stable” and becomes a worrisome increase.
The Food Bank is already buying pasta and by Thanksgiving, two short months away, it will be slim pickings. The coordinator is planning to put the word out to his sources this week about the need for funds and/or food donations.
I know it is a busy time of year for many, but by remembering those in our community who need the communities help to have food to eat, we can make sure that come Thanksgiving the Food Bank shelves are stocked - giving all something to be thankful for.
With school looming a food drive would be an auspicious and philanthropic manner to start the school year with, don’t you think?
Please take the time to share and help feed the hungry by supporting our Food Bank.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Shame as she should not be homeless.
There is a woman who volunteers on Wednesday evenings to help prepare, serve and clean up after the meal for the homeless and other hungry citizens of Abbotsford.
Last week she was not at her best because she had just lost her home to fire. But this week she was back helping with dinner although she is now living in her car.
She is living in her car because, like far to many others, she has a very limited budget which sets severe limits on what she has to spend for rent and has been unable to find any place within her budget.
Governments can come up with whatever plans they want to help people find housing, people can utter whatever platitudes they want about “they’re homeless because they want to be” but the reality of homelessness for many is that there simply is no places available at a price they can afford.
And while that is a reality that politicians and the public need to recognize it is not the reason I sat down to share this story.
I am writing it because the homeless have expressed to me their belief, their concern that it is not healthy (in a variety of ways) for this woman to be living in her car and their anger that nobody in the Christian community of which she is a part is stepping forward to find or offer her a place to stay, even temporarily.
I leave it to you to ponder what it says about Abbotsford as a community that it is the homeless who are upset about the fact this disabled, not young woman is forced to live in her car while the rest of the community seemingly ignores her plight.
Last week she was not at her best because she had just lost her home to fire. But this week she was back helping with dinner although she is now living in her car.
She is living in her car because, like far to many others, she has a very limited budget which sets severe limits on what she has to spend for rent and has been unable to find any place within her budget.
Governments can come up with whatever plans they want to help people find housing, people can utter whatever platitudes they want about “they’re homeless because they want to be” but the reality of homelessness for many is that there simply is no places available at a price they can afford.
And while that is a reality that politicians and the public need to recognize it is not the reason I sat down to share this story.
I am writing it because the homeless have expressed to me their belief, their concern that it is not healthy (in a variety of ways) for this woman to be living in her car and their anger that nobody in the Christian community of which she is a part is stepping forward to find or offer her a place to stay, even temporarily.
I leave it to you to ponder what it says about Abbotsford as a community that it is the homeless who are upset about the fact this disabled, not young woman is forced to live in her car while the rest of the community seemingly ignores her plight.
Friday, July 18, 2008
When did they repeal the laws of common sense?
Watching the television news Wednesday evening I saw the report on the young lady with Cerebral Palsy who wished to use an inflated inner tube while swimming off a Vancouver beach.
She was not permitted to swim because the beach has a no use of an inflatable policy to prevent those who cannot swim or do not swim from getting in over their heads and perhaps drowning.
Her mother was upset at this because her daughter does not swim well enough to swim without using her inflated inner tube. Apparently the reporter and her news organization agreed with this point of view to the extent they pressured the Park Board into meeting with mother and daughter to discuss this matter.
The rule is there to prevent people who cannot swim effectively from losing their inflatable support and drowning. The mother states clearly that the daughter needs the inflatable because she does not swim well enough to swim without it. This is exactly the situation the rule exists to address, in order to prevent someone drowning.
As asked, exactly when did they repeal the laws of common sense?
She was not permitted to swim because the beach has a no use of an inflatable policy to prevent those who cannot swim or do not swim from getting in over their heads and perhaps drowning.
Her mother was upset at this because her daughter does not swim well enough to swim without using her inflated inner tube. Apparently the reporter and her news organization agreed with this point of view to the extent they pressured the Park Board into meeting with mother and daughter to discuss this matter.
The rule is there to prevent people who cannot swim effectively from losing their inflatable support and drowning. The mother states clearly that the daughter needs the inflatable because she does not swim well enough to swim without it. This is exactly the situation the rule exists to address, in order to prevent someone drowning.
As asked, exactly when did they repeal the laws of common sense?
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Hedonistic Sloth.
Leq'á:mel warns off drug dealers; Close down junkie condo, says writer; Addict spoil park for experience; from the Times of July 11.
We have become spoiled children demanding instant gratification and seeking to do things the easy way. The addicts and dealers must go NOW and if the park is the problem – pave it over and make it a parking lot, problem solved.
We are building our society, our social structures out of twigs and straw because that way is Fast and Easy. It is not surprising then that these structures collapse and are blown away by the winds of challenge or difficulty or the big bad wolf.
To survive and deal with the storm winds of social ills and social problems we must build our social structures, our social support programs out of bricks and mortar.
This course will be neither fast nor easy, but it will provide a solid base to build a healthy, thriving society upon; a Society that seeks to deal with its problems in a wise manner.
There is a reason so many of our fables and tales stress spending the time and effort needed to do it right.
We have become spoiled children demanding instant gratification and seeking to do things the easy way. The addicts and dealers must go NOW and if the park is the problem – pave it over and make it a parking lot, problem solved.
We are building our society, our social structures out of twigs and straw because that way is Fast and Easy. It is not surprising then that these structures collapse and are blown away by the winds of challenge or difficulty or the big bad wolf.
To survive and deal with the storm winds of social ills and social problems we must build our social structures, our social support programs out of bricks and mortar.
This course will be neither fast nor easy, but it will provide a solid base to build a healthy, thriving society upon; a Society that seeks to deal with its problems in a wise manner.
There is a reason so many of our fables and tales stress spending the time and effort needed to do it right.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Don't worry - be happy.
This is just one of those things you just have to share.
I was speaking to a friend of mine who had been off work sick; I was glad to see her out and about and looking good. Appearances, as it turned out, were deceiving.
She had had a nasty flu and on top of that had picked up a virus that has damaged her heart to the point she needs a transplant. She is on the waiting list for a heart and transplant surgery.
Let me digress for a moment and say this is why I have always signed the documents for organ donation and made sure family and friends know I strongly believe in organ donation. Donated organs literally save lives. If you have not signed for organ donation please do.
Anyway my friend shared something that struck me as quite funny in a weird, somewhat twisted way and had my friend hastening to tell me how well everyone had treated her.
They had told her to go home and not to stress about it.
You heart has been damaged, you need a new heart, you are on the waiting list for a heart – should one become available, you would then undergo heart transplant surgery and … oh yes, don’t stress about any of this life/death stuff.
Life versus death, but don’t worry – kick back and be happy. Bizarre.
I was speaking to a friend of mine who had been off work sick; I was glad to see her out and about and looking good. Appearances, as it turned out, were deceiving.
She had had a nasty flu and on top of that had picked up a virus that has damaged her heart to the point she needs a transplant. She is on the waiting list for a heart and transplant surgery.
Let me digress for a moment and say this is why I have always signed the documents for organ donation and made sure family and friends know I strongly believe in organ donation. Donated organs literally save lives. If you have not signed for organ donation please do.
Anyway my friend shared something that struck me as quite funny in a weird, somewhat twisted way and had my friend hastening to tell me how well everyone had treated her.
They had told her to go home and not to stress about it.
You heart has been damaged, you need a new heart, you are on the waiting list for a heart – should one become available, you would then undergo heart transplant surgery and … oh yes, don’t stress about any of this life/death stuff.
Life versus death, but don’t worry – kick back and be happy. Bizarre.
