Category Archives: kindness

Aug 24 2012
Leave a comment
california, clothing, kindness, MEND, MEND Poverty, school

MEND’S ANNUAL “HEAD TO TOES” EVENT PROVIDES MORE THAN 200 THIRD GRADE STUDENTS WITH BACK-TO-SCHOOL ESSENTIALS

♥♥♥♥ @MENDPoverty ! This is how they meet the needs of local school kids!

Students from Pacoima’s Vaughn Next Century Learning Center Receive Donated Dental and Vision Screenings, New Backpacks with School Supplies and New Shoes

 (Pacoima, CA) – MEND—Meet Each Need with Dignity, the San Fernando Valley’s largest poverty relief organization, will host its 12thannual “Head to Toes” Event, which provides approximately 220 third-grade students with full back-to-school care.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 29, 2011

There will be two shifts: 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; and 11:45 to 2 p.m. Children will line up for busses at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., which is when they will receive their new backpacks.

WHO: Approximately 220 third-grade students from Pacoima.

WHAT: Students will be divided into 5 to 6 stations to participate in the following: dental screenings and fluoride treatment, vision screenings, an exercise activity, arts & crafts, and new shoe selection. Finally, at the end of their shift, each child will receive a new backpack, donated by the Walt Disney Company, and new basic school supplies donated by the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation.

***Photo Opportunity: 200 third graders receiving vision and dental care (a first-time experience for some) and participating in activities. Photo release waivers signed by parent(s) will be available.

 WHERE: The MEND Center – 10641 North San Fernando Road, Pacoima, CA 91331

Jul 19 2012
Leave a comment
california, Child Services, children, education, employment, employment opportunity, entitlement, foodstamps, GAIN program, government, health insurance, jobs, kindness, medical, poverty, Social Work, unemployment, welfare

Wicked Witch of the Welfare Office

 ImageUsually I feel pretty good about my job. Today I am disenchanted. I had an imaginary conversation with myself.

I am the evil witch lurking…ahem…working in the welfare office.

My Inner Angry Republican pitches a fit about 50 times a day. And with good reason too.  But my out Professional Social Worker tries to seek better solutions and keep it all in check.

Money for nothing?! Not really – you have to work (or prepare for work) to be granted cash aid
But if the parents don’t work the family still gets money True – but we choose to believe the parents are not spending any cash aid on themselves and only on their children
You are on crack, right? At least tell me you are screening the welfare peeps for drugs. No. We don’t test the parents – but we do ask them 7 questions to screen them for substance use and abuse
Then you take their money away, right? Of course not. We schedule them for a Clinical Assessment and chose to believe they are not buying beer, weed, crack, coke, schrooms, uppers, downers, etc . We need to believe these drugs are DONATED to them.
Why do you believe that? Because a habit is expensive, if they could afford a strong heavy habit – they don’t need Welfare funds and we would have to cut them off
What’s bad about that? Because we know they are not magically “finding” the money and we sleep better knowing the money has at least made it into a parent’s hands and there is a chance that it is being spent on the family
Do you require receipts for how the cash aid money was spent No
Why not? Too much trouble
Don’t you believe that if people were accountable for how the money was spent, they would spend it on toothbrushes and rent etc and not on cat food, veterinary bills, drugs, strip clubs and gambling Did I tell you about the time I did ask for receipts and the person bought job interview clothes at Caesar’s Palace Shops?
Why did you ask for receipts that time? Well, because GAIN  – or Welfare to Work gives money for job clothing, school books etc.
Oh, so there is some accountability. How does that work out? One time a lady bought 7 pairs of shoes as her work clothing.
What, was she a stripper? Many of my clients are strippers or in elicit but legal trades. I give them credit for making the effort.
So you encourage this activity? I encourage work of any kind. They need to do 32-35 hours of work type activity a week.
Why only 35? I do at least 40 hours of work and 20 hours of volunteering and have up to 4 kids in my house. I don’t know. At 32 hours an employer is supposed to be offering benefits like health care so families can leave Medi-Cal Insurance.
What if they don’t want to work or train, etc? Then they can say they have mental health or substance abuse or domestic violence issues or are homeless and the requirement for these hours can be waived temporarily or permanently.
Are you serious? Of course, It is the compassionate thing to do. If someone is so stressed or overwhelmed that they really cannot function in society; I don’t want to set them up for failure
So you take their children away, right? Why would we? We take a licensed professionals word – or sometimes the client tells us – that this person cannot work or go to school or do community service. What does that have to do with parenting?
Well, a 40 hour a week job is easier than 24/7 parenting. Never the less. We trust that these parents are doing what is best for the children.
Does Welfare really look out for the WELFARE of kids. Kinda,. Sorta. We make food funds and cash aid and medical funding available to the family and trust they are being accessed on behalf and for the benefit of the kids.
That’s it? Also, we ask that once a year a report card or immunization card is turned in. See, we care.
But there is a time limit on this, right? Bill Clinton put a time limit. Yes, the Federal Time Limit is 5 years or 60 months of Cash aid per family
Whey. At least that is clear and simple But some people stay on Cash Aid from the 7th month of pregnancy until their child is 18 years old.
WTF? Or until the baby graduated from High School. 
How can you stay on Welfare for over 18 years Easy. Say you were in a domestic violence relationship. Or that you are too emotionally disturbed to hold down a job or really benefit from the program. How can we push you out of the nest?
OMG Oh, my goodness indeed. See me? I am saving the world over here.
Do you really feel like that? Of course.
You’re sick. No. no fever, I feel fine. Thanks for the concern.
How are you really helping them? I am not. I make sure they have the resources to help themselves. Poverty sucks. People will move on  at their own pace. All I can do is offer options.
Like what? I will pay for child care so they can work, or I pay for books, fees and supplies for vocational training or college.
Vocational Training? Sure – you know, so people can be hair dressers and such
Very few hair dressers live far above the poverty line and there are no medical, dental, vision or life benefits with that position usually Well, then I hope each of them is the next Vidal Sassoon or Jose’ etc. I realy can’t be bothered to make sure it will make them rich or middle class. I just want to say I have “X number of clients participating” and then hope they can keep their heads above water off Welfare.
Seriously? Seriously.
Why didn‘t I hear that you pay tuition? Are they required to use their cash aid for tuition? No. The tuition at a public Community College will be waived and Federal or other financial aid will cover it at other types of schools.
When I went to school, I paid Tuition Well, you should have had a child an not been able to afford it.
Speaking of that… when new children come into the family – what happens? Usually the Medi-Cal and Food stamps increase but not the cash aid. After all – birth control is free on Medi-Cal.
Did you say “usually”? Well yes,. Some children are exempt from the Maximum Family Grant.
Meaning they qualify for raising the family cash aid amount Sure, if they show proof they were on long term birth control like a shot or IUD – or they can say they were raped and then we take their word and cover the baby as well.
OMG I know. Aren’t we nice? And – we have thousands of families leaving welfare each year.
How many of them leave before their time limits are up?How many stay on despite the time limits

How many are forced off or “timed out”?

 I don’t know. But aren’t I nice?

 

 

 

 

Tagged , , ,
Dec 12 2011
Leave a comment
CHRISTMAS, hunger, kindness, MEND

Amen to MEND for the Merry Christmas Adopt A Family Program

as written about in @ladailynews. This is why I love @mendpoverty1.

Dennis McCarthy wrote this lovely story: http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_19521454 .

To be honest, this is not just a story of how two families connected – it is the spirit of MEND in Pacoima, and the reason I  (way out here in Arcadia) love the San Fernando Valley based charity/neighborhood service center/food bank/low-income medical center-clinic/ dental clinic/ eye clinic/ wellness center /  hot lunch location / place to shower & laundry so much.

MEND doesn’t do that thing where they count heads and then brag about how many poor people they know and ask you to praise them for stooping to help the needy with expencive ad campaigns. MEND quietly and sincerely embeds itself in the neighborhood and has become the heartbeat in the area.

I believe that all the families have been matched up, but call 818-897-2443 to ask.

If you feel like you have something to give but don’t even klnow where to start – start here.

Toys for infants, children 8-15yrs old, warm blankets, balls, hula hoops, and simple – battery free- toys would be greatly appriciated (unless you can give extra batteries too).

Donate canned food, fresh turkeys and fresh Ham (please, no canned ham or Spam) to MEND.

Donating to MEND is a great excuse to drive out to the big blue building on the corner of San Fernando Raod and see what love looks like.

Nancy Stone, left, and Monica Fregoso share a smile after a shopping trip in Northridge on Dec. 9, 2011. The two have become friends after Stone found Fregoso through MEND and began helping her four years ago. (Andy Holzman/Daily News Staff Photographer)

Tagged , , ,
Sep 30 2011
Leave a comment
Child Services, domestic violence, kindness, shelters, Women

Women’s Shelters in California

If you or your children are a victim of domestic violence you should: 

  • Get yourself and your children to safety.
  • Call law enforcement (911) if you’re in immediate danger, are being threatened or being abused.
  • Press charges against the aggressor with the police.
  • File for a restraining order in your local family court.
  • Find the local domestic violence shelter and ask for help. 

WOMEN SHELTERS CALIFORNIA 

LOS ANGELES
Battered Service Action Center 134 E. 1st. Los Angeles CA 90012 Business #: 213-268-7568 Toll Free #: (800)548-2722

Center for the Pacific-Asian Family, Inc. 543 North Fairfax Ave., #108 Los Angeles CA 90036

Free Spirit/Chicana Service 134 East First Street Los Angeles CA 90012 Business #: 213-253-5959 Hotline/Crisis: 213-937-1312

Good Shepard Shelter P.O. Box 19487 Los Angeles CA Business #: 213-737-6111

Jenesse Center, Inc. P.O. Box 73837 Los Angeles CA 90003 Business #: 213-751-1145 Hotline/Crisis: 213-751-1145 Toll Free#: (800)479-7328

Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women 6043 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 200 Los Angeles CA 90028 Business #: 213-462-1281 Hotline/Crisis: 213-626-3393 Toll Free #: (310)392-8381

APPLE VALLEY
High Desert Domestic Violence Program 18930 Outer Hwy 18 Apple Valley CA 92307 Business #: 619-242-1468 Hotline/Crisis: 619-242-9179

ARTESIA
Su Casa Family Crisis and Support Center P.O. Box 998 Artesia CA 90702 Business #: 310-402-7081 Hotline/Crisis: 310-402-4888

BAKERSFIELD
Alliance Against Family Violence P.O. Box 2054 Bakersfield CA 93303 Business #: 805-322-0931 Hotline/Crisis: 805-327-1091 Toll Free #: (800)433-7337

BARSTOW
Dessert Sanctuary,Inc. P.O. Box 1781 Barstow CA 92312 Business #: 619-252-3441 Hotline/Crisis: 619-252-3441

BERKELEY
Women’s Refuge P.O. Box 3298 Berkeley CA 94703 Business #: 510-658-7231 Hotline/Crisis: 510-547-4663

BEVERLY HILLS – Women Shelters California
Beverly Hills Center for Domestic Conflict 9401 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 730 Beverly Hills CA 90212 Business #: 310-275-0960 Hotline/Crisis: 310-275-0960

FRESNO
YWCA Marjaree Mason Transitional Living Center 1600 M Street Fresno CA 93721 Business #: 209-237-4701 Hotline/Crisis: 209-237-4701

GLENDALE
Glendale YWCA Shelter 735 E Lexington Dr. Glendale CA 91206 Business #: 818-242-4155 Hotline/Crisis: 218-242-1106

MODESTO
Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus 619 13th Street, Suite 1 Modesto CA 95354 Business #: 209-576-0659 Hotline/Crisis: 209-577-5980 Toll Free #: (800)834-1990

MONTEREY
Domestic Violence Shelter for Women/Children 2115 N. Fremont Blvd. Monterey CA 93940 Business #: 408-649-0834 Hotline/Crisis: 408-372-6300

OAKLAND
A Safe Place P.O. Box 1075 Oakland CA 94604 Business #: (510) 986-8600 Hotline/Crisis: 510-536-7233 Fax: fax (510) 986-8606

PASADENA
Haven House, Inc. P.O. Box 50007 Pasadena CA 91115 Business #: 818-564-8880 Hotline/Crisis: 213-681-2626

REDONDO BEACH
Second Step Shelter 103 W. Torrance Blvd.,Suite 101 Redondo Beach CA 90277 Business #: 310-370-4712 Hotline/Crisis: 310-370-5902

RIVERSIDE
Alternatives to Domestic Violence P.O. Box 910 Riverside CA 92502 Business #: 909-352-9262 Hotline/Crisis: 909-683-0829 Toll Free #: (800)339-SAFE

SACRAMENTO – Women Shelters California
WEAVE, Inc. P.O. Box 161356 Sacramento CA 95816 Business #: 916-448-2321 Hotline/Crisis: 916-920-2952

California Partnership to End Domestic ViolencePO BOx 1798Sacramento, CA 95812-1798Toll-free phone number(s):(800) 524-4765 (866) 484-4913 TTY Phone number(s):(916) 444-7163 Fax: (916) 444-7165

SALINAS
Salinas Women’s Crisis Center P.O. Box 1805 Salinas CA 93902 Business #: 408-757-1002 Hotline/Crisis: 408-757-1001

SAN BERNARDINO
Option House, Inc. P.O. Box 970 San Bernadino CA 92402 Business #: 909-381-3471 Hotline/Crisis: 909-381-3471

SAN DIEGO
Center for Women’s Studies and Services 2467 E Street San Diego CA 92102 Business #: 619-267-8023 Hotline/Crisis: 619-233-3088

YWCA Battered Women’s Services P.O. Box 126398 San Diego CA 92112 Business #: 619-239-2342 Hotline/Crisis: 619-234-3164

SAN FRANCISCO – Women Shelters California
Asian Women’s Shelter 3543 18th Street,#19 San Francisco CA 94110 Business #: 415-751-7110 Hotline/Crisis: 415-751-0880

Shalom Bayit P.O. Box 64048 San Francisco CA 94164 Business #: 415-241-8874

WOMAN, Inc. 333 Valencia St.,Suite 251 San Francisco CA 94103 Business #: 415-864-4777 Hotline/Crisis: 415-864-4722

La Casa de Las Madres 965 Mission Street, Suite 300 San Francisco CA 94103 Business #: 415-777-1808 Hotline/Crisis: 415-33-1515

Rosalie House 5616 Geary Blvd., Suite 207 San Francisco CA 94121 Business #: 415-255-2754 Hotline/Crisis: 415-255-0165

SAN JOSE
Next Door, Solutions to Domestic Violence 1181 North 4th Street, Suite A San Jose CA 95112 Business #: 408-279-7550 Hotline/Crisis: 408-279-2962

SANTA BARBARA
Shelter Services for Women, Inc. P.O. Box 1536 Santa Barbara CA 93102 Business #: 805-963-4458 Hotline/Crisis: 805-964-5245

SANTA MONICA
Sojourn Services For Battered Women & Their Children P.O. Box 7081 Santa Monica CA 90406 Business #: 310-264-6646 Hotline/Crisis: 310-264-6644

VENTURA
Ventura County Coalition Against Household Violence 4882 McGrath, Suite 240 Ventura CA 93003 Business #: 805-656-3443 Hotline/Crisis: 805-656-1111

If you can’t find the women shelter nearest you in this list, try the:

 

NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE
Live Help 1(800)799-7233 – 24 hours

or the

NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT HOTLINE
at 1-800-656-4673.

Gifts to the Shelters are Tax Deductible.

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
Sep 19 2011
1 Comment
CBS's the Bold and the Beautiful, donation, education, fundraiser, hunger, kindness, politics, poverty, Volunteer

What was Your Call to Action ?

Is there a special “cause” in your life?

Do you Walk for Cancer?

Research and promote autism awareness?

Looking for a cure to Diabetes?

Funding books for the blind?

Rocking AIDs babies?

Housing the homeless?

Feeding the poor?

What do you do – and why do you do it?

Remember in High School; we all had to take “Extra Curricular’, non-core classes? I strongly believe life should be like that. Our focus should be shaved enough to let the light of other people’s lives shine in so we become more well-rounded and less selfish.

Feeding 3rd world countries?

Voters rights?

Women’s Rights

Human Rights

Save the Whales

Religious Freedom

Pro-Gay or Anti-Gay Rights

Hearing Aids for low-income children

Preventing Premature babies

Spay and neutering animals

Free legal aid for victims of Domestic Violence

————————- Do you do these with a friend, or privately and on your own?

Have you made a difference? Is someone or something’s life better because you turned your head and looked at something you wanted to make better?

Car seat safety

Neighborhood watch

Arts in the schools

Clean air

How would you feel if anyone saw what you were doing and told you that you did not do enough? If they complained that someone took your photo while you were volunteering and posted it to their supports, so now they assume you are doing your good work for self glory?

Ending drug sales to youth

Removing junk food from school vending machines

Ending Illiteracy

Cleaning tombstones

Tying yellow ribbons to trees

Protesting war

Delivering food to the homebound

Exposing homelessness in our cities

Trash pick up at the beach

Dec 07 2010
Leave a comment
children, homeless, kindness

Gift Giving Ideas for Homeless and Poor Children #fb

When you are constantly moving, and sometimes in and out of shelters where your entire family can only have 3 bags : bikes and x-boxes and stuffed animals get left behind. Anything big, bulky, or requiring electricity is simply not practical.

So, as kind and generous as you want to be to a poor little kid – focus your effort into thoughtful gifts that can be used and not a burden.

I am making a wish list for portable, useful, and kind gifts in a variety of price levels.

http://www.thethingsiwant.com/homelessinla

  • movie passes
  • blankets
  • gift certificates to places to eat
  • tennis shoes and gift certificates to Payless  Shoes
Tagged , , , ,
Nov 12 2010
Leave a comment
kindness

$1 a Day to Being Scrooge #fb

Remember in “A Christmas Carol” when Scrooge sent the Holiday Goose over for Christmas Dinner?

You too can be Scrooge!

We are about 49 days away from Christmas Dinner. If you can find just under $1 a day – you can buy this:

http://www.vons.com

It is Heat and Serve and comes in an easy to carry box. And- it is available everyday until New Years so you can really surprise someone before or after the holiday.

(What?!? – we all know I can’t cook – I have done this one for myself and Jax before… it is actually what she requested for this year as well!)

Who could you surprise with a Holiday dinner – hmmmm, tough one. NOT

  • The Senior Citizens who  live in your apartment building or on your block. Cooking requires a lot more standing and stamina than one of them can handle.
  • The young family in your neighborhood – seriously – being pregnant and poor  and working with other pregnant and poor mothers – I can testify to this one!
  • Anyone you know who has lost a loved one this year – trust me Holiday Meals SUCK when there is an empty space at the table.
  • Not Homeless and Not Needy – but we like them and appreciate them giving their holiday for us – The Local Police Department, Fire Dept,  ER staff, gas station attendant, and nursing staff on the floor of the ICU or Skilled Nursing  Home.
  • Any of the families living in their RV’s parked under freeways, at the beaches, or in the grocery store and WalMart Parking lots
  • Ask your synagogue. temple or church if there is anyone you can surprise with a needed meal.
  • Take it home, heat it up, and deliver it to your local homeless residents (Like the one who ends up with the coffee from my morning walk half of the time) 
  •  Surprise the annoying loud person going through your recycling at 6 am with a Holiday Meal so they can take a day off and let you sleep in. (okay, so this is my personal plan…)

The point is to be kind and loving to someone who needs the kindness. It is The Holidays – a time to be kinder and more gentle. You can do it! I believe in you.

And – you can send me pictures if you want!

Tagged , , , , , , , ,
Oct 25 2010
2 Comments
homeless, kindness

Where Did You Learn Philanthropy aka Meet My Folks

#fb How did you learn to be kind, to care for others, to lend a helping hand?        

Was it

  • The Golden Rule “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (sounds like the Pay It Forward campaign to me)…,
  • The Girl and Boy Scouts “Do a Good Turn Daily” and “On my honor I will try … to serve others”
  • Were you inspired by a book like The Giving Tree
  • From After School Specials or “Very special episodes” of your favorite prime time shows
  • Your parents

I am a bad person, so it took a little of everything to make me see the needs of others. It continues to take many outside forces to focus me.

However, I will tell you that my family is a major factor. 

Judy and Lloyd Keith - my folks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a link to my Dad http://tiny.cc/keithJpl . No child who can fail Geometry (me) should have to have a dad who is a Rocket Scientist – like a for reals, he plays with stuff they shoot into space rocket scientist. (I call it high-tech space pollution – he calls it the stuff that paid for my college).

Dad and Jax making Project Linus blanket with a SPACE theme.

Dad did not come from money. His parents had elementary school educations and lived through The Great Depression and worked hard. Grandpa was the head custodian at the local middle school and my grandmother was the head cook at a Senior Center. (side note, if you are ever in Hollister and want some seriously good food – drop by her house! If she’s not home, find my cousin Chase – the cooking gene is genetic: I am adopted).

Grandpa and Grandma Keith holding Dad's picture

They had five children, took in numerous foster and troubled children all in a house with one bathroom. Dad grew up in a home where everybody shared everything they had because it was necessary and because it was the right thing to do.  As a result, my aunt and uncles and father are some of the kindest and most giving people you will come across.

Dad and his brothers: Mike,Gary,Dad, Jeff

My mom was my Girl Scout Leader, PTA member, elementary school teacher, Sunday School teacher and can put any 1950′s television housewife/mom to shame. She is the oldest of 4 children and while her mother worked as a grocery store clerk – her dad owned a gas station and then went on to work the high stakes betting window at The Santa Anita Race Track. These grandparents had high school educations, but had the more important knowledge of practicle common sence and frugality. My mother’s grandparents spent a lot of time in the house helping to raise the kids (my uncles were, and still are, handfuls) – and from that my mom was ingrained that if there was a meal that needed cooking, a hand that needed lending, a diaper that needed changing – well – she needed to be the person doing that. If you went into Skilled Care at the hospital, you were going to fall asleep and wake up with my mother in the room. She donates food and school supplies regularly to The Foothill Unity Center and has recently made friends with a veteran who is homeless in the Arcadia Park.

I have been PTA Vice President, a Girl Scout Leader,  Sunday school Teacher, and sat on a variety of my church’s boards and forums. I think, however, that my parents were floored when I became a social worker and a little horrified when I changed from working at a senior center in Monrovia to work on the streets of Skid Row.  You know, with the drug addicts and mentally ill, and the gang members selling drugs and the general feeling of sheet hopelessness that blankets the area. When I started bringing my daughter and cousins there with me – it was uncomfortable for some people.

I believe one of my aunts said to me “Yes, there are people like THAT out there, but little girls don’t need to know about that yet”. So, yah, she married into the family.

You have been reading this blog long enough to know I have lots of opinions and really am not a good person. My secret plan is to do enough good works that I can bribe my way into heaven (umm, can I say that here? I am hoping God doesn’t have the time to read my blog). But, Philanthropy is something that I was raised to think was as normal as Saturday morning cartoons – only better for you.

Where did you learn?

Tagged , , ,
Sep 09 2010
Leave a comment
foodstamps, funds, government, homeless, kindness, los angeles county, poverty, taxes, venting

Should Poor People Have Fun?

“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”-The United States Declaration of Independence

“B” of The Girl’s Guide to Homelessness insists that once public funds are “given”, they are “given” to be spent as the recipient sees fit. I disagree. Last year I received about a thousand hits the day I responded angrily to the idea that someone should be encouraged to use their public assistance check for a Gibson Guitar. (For the record – WHAT THE HECK?!?!? I still say NO!)  Often I issue funds for specific reasons (Books, clothing, transportation) and I expect them to be spent accordingly and receipts returned to me. As a citizen, I expect the cash we hand to other citizens to be used responsibly as part of the business deal they entered into when they asked for help.

This is not to say that I  think that poor people should live lives of drudgery and misery and that every waking moment should be spent in the pursuit of self-sustaining employment and safe, secure housing. Happiness, or the pursuit of it, is essential. I only work 40(ish) hours a week.  As a social worker I only ask clients to spend 32-35 hours a week working, looking for work, or in community service. This is hardly 24/7.

The deal is this “temporary financial assistance” is issued through the Department of Public and Social Services. “Financial Assistance” is supposed to “assist” you to meet “basic needs”. Trips to Universal Studios, nice restaurants, , guitars, cigarettes, alcohol, acrylic nails, hair extensions, new car stereo, TiVo or Cable subscriptions do not fall into these categories. If you are receiving financial assistance from taxes (SSI, SSDI, Disability, Unemployment, General Relief, TANF) then these are not the items the funds were intended to procure for you. However, as gifts from other people – okay – I get it. Who doesn’t deserve a good manicure (especially if you are being treated ?!?)

Can the impoverished have nice things? Of course. Should those things be used against them for qualifying purposes for public assistance ? Only to the extent that the laws and rules allow. Your house (and car if you live in it), burial plan, wedding rings, etc are not counted as saleable items you should have to spend before asking society for cash, food and medical insurance.

Historical sidenote from your geeky author – Ben Franklin asked Thomas Jefferson to amend the phrase “pursuit of happiness” from its original statement that mentioned accruing real property because Franklyn thought property was a luxury that needed to be taxed to support the society.

Everyone should be allowed happiness and specific periods for having fun. Trips to Museums are free with proof of CalWORKS enrollment. The County of Los Angeles also has a Toy Loan Program for children whose families can not afford to buy them new toys. Time with family – just reading, playing, and bonding is worth more than any amount of money.

I want to see people of all income levels laughing, loving, thinking for themselves and enjoying life. I don’t think that lack of funds requires a lack of enjoyment – I just think that the HAPPINES you are having should not be the main use of any aid you receive.

Read More ♥♥ http://365faces365days.com/c/2010/face-62-frank-homeless-happiness/

http://girlsguidetohomelessness.com/2009/08/11/who-says-homeless-people-cant-have-fun/

http://www.ladpss.org/dpss/calworks/free_events.cfm

Tagged , , , , ,
Aug 23 2010
Leave a comment
homeless, kindness, police, Social Work, Volunteer

Hope

“Hungry, please help”, “Will work for food”, “Homeless”, “Homeless War Veteran” “Brother, can you spare a dime?”.

How would you answer?

 

The sign bearers are not just asking for one meal, one night of sleep, or one hand out – they are looking for momentary hope so they can face the bigger issues they are up against. They are asking for one bite sized morsel of HOPE. 

How often do you help by giving hope to the people in your life? 

  • We do it when we encourage and teach children to walk, to talk and with homework.
  • We do it when we hold the hand of a friend or listen to their heartbreak.

We give hope when we smile at a stranger – even if the hope is a simple message of “I SEE YOU“.

  • The police give hope that we can live safely all together.
  • Lawyers give hope that the world can be set to rights again.
  • Social Workers give hope that we can regain our footing.
  • Teachers give us hope that we can learn.
  • And friends give us hope that we matter and are worth loving.

How would you answer this call to action? 

Who gives you hope?

Tagged , , , ,
← Older posts
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 46 other followers