Raising Awareness About Poverty

If you weren’t already aware, today is Blog Action Day…a day in which blogs around the world have pledged to post about a common topic to change the conversation and raise awareness about a serious issue.  This year’s topic is poverty.

I think we’re all familiar with poverty.  And its not just the drunken homeless man sleeping in the corner of the bus stop…all around us there are people struggling to get by and teetering on the brink of a financial abyss.

It could be your next door neighbor who lost his job and now eats boxed macaroni and cheese for dinner 4 nights a week.

It could be the single mom still saddled with exorbitant medical expenses she’ll never pay off.

It could be the elderly couple trying to survive on Social Security.

These people are all around us and I think its only human to stop for a minute and think of the people who have less than you.  How can you help someone in need?

Winter is coming and that almost-new coat you never wear because it makes you look chunky could keep someone else warm on those frigid days to come.

Old clothes that don’t fit or just sit in your closet would be perfect for those who can’t afford to replace their own worn out wardrobe.  Children’s clothes are especially helpful.  How would you feel if it were your daughter who got made fun of for wearing the same outfit everyday?

Donating food can help keep people from starving to death.  And don’t just give them the old lima beans and peas that you don’t like.  Give them something they might actually enjoy.

Toy drives are popular around the holidays.  It breaks my heart to think of little children who have no presents to open up on Christmas Day.  An inexpensive stuffed animal, fire truck, or doll can give a child a happy holiday.

Please take a moment today to think about people who are less fortunate than you.  If each of makes just a small gesture we can come together and make a world of difference.

Please spread the word and pass this post along to your friends.  And if you have your own blog I encourage you to post about poverty today too…and you can even leave a comment below with a link to you blog action day post…