Showing Compassion During the Recession

If I have heard it once I have heard it ten times in the course of a week,
“the economy in America will get worse before it gets better, and things look bleak, we are going to face some hard times”, the chatter of what we are now facing goes on and on. Those words alone are enough to frighten anyone; it is very hard on the poor to have to absorb such threatening news.

I have spent over 40 years of my life working with the poor. Bad news whether true or false frightens the poor and it sends shock waves throughout the communities where they live, the news is like feathers in the wind once its out it is gone. It spreads like wild fires all over the community.

From all indications it is a fact that we are facing some bad times the poor and underprivileged are already calling agencies for whatever is available however it is unfortunate for the agencies they are scrambling to keep up with the pace. Agencies are suffering themselves due to lack of resources. Many of their donors are experiencing cut backs, loss of jobs and higher cost of living. Donors are also being stretched to the maximum. Many of the in-kind gifts that would normally be donated are now being sold in yard sales or given to relatives who have needs. This is also resulting in a big disadvantage for non profit agencies who would normally receive the items. The question is still being asked over and over by many people what can be done to help in times like these.

America has experienced many economic down turns since the great depression of 1929 which lasted until 1939. Even though it ended in 1939 many areas continued to feel the effects until the mid 1940’s. My mother said that it was difficult to get milk, sugar, flour and other basic food items. One needed to have a special voucher to purchase shoes and there were many items that were not available. During this period a massive number of people were unemployed. The way families got most of their food was gardening in the rural area and in the city long charity lines and generous neighbors sharing what they had.

From 1979-2000 we experienced several dips in the economy and it had a great effect on employment which again resulted in long lines of people seeking help. They were nothing like the lines of the great depression but there were long lines of people across the country receiving goods and services from agencies and some churches. Vendors would send truck loads of potatoes and bananas to Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi and other southern states. By doing this thousands of families were able to eat dinner even if it meant eating the same thing every night. These generous gifts helped families save or use the money to purchase other items that were needed in the home.

Since the last recession there has been a great shift in poor communities, along with the countless numbers of homeless people already on the streets. There are new homeless everyday. Then there are those who bunk in with relatives and friends and they eventually have to move with no place to go. Those who lived with relatives in government housing, when the houses were demolished, had to find housing for the first time. Many of these people are older children who have lived with their parents well after their teen and young adult years. Many underprivileged individuals suffer from mental illness, substance abuse, poor education and the lack of available services to aid them therefore leaving them helpless and hopeless. A large portion of the poor today depended on the community of low income public housing units. These units all across America are being demolished resulting in these families having to migrate into regular society which they are not equipped to handle. At this point, they have to move from a controlled situation where all the building needs were met into caring for their own lawns, providing their own transportation and learning to survive like everyone else. I pose no argument as to whether the city should have demolished public housing communities however I do contend that the people who leave these areas need community assistance and direction. Most are in need of long term training.

Children who find themselves in this new situation find it difficult to commute to the places they need to go and it takes a while for families to get acclimated in their new communities. During this process of adjusting children often miss doctor’s appointments, many don’t receive the required shots for school, in some cases many of them stop attending school altogether. The young children have to get acquainted with new friends. They have the same problems as other families when they move into a new environment. Still another disadvantage is they are far away from public service and non profit organizations.

I have talked much on the problem that exist for the sole reason of reaffirming that communities are feeling the sting of the recession and the few problems and I mean the few problems I discussed is just the tip of the ice berg.

As I have already established in this document this is not the first recession, but that doesn’t make it any easier. The problem of poverty has escalated now; we live in a fast paced, self-centered environment. Where there is little time for others in this high tech world. All of that does not negate our need to assist the poor. We must slow down enough to acknowledge that we are still our “brother’s keeper”. When they hurt we hurt, when they cry we cry and when they go down we go down too.

Spending over forty years in social services I have come to this conclusion the happiest and most productive moments of a person’s life is when he is giving his life away for the good of someone else. Sharing and giving gives one a sense of purpose. Today it is almost impossible for one to slow their role long enough to allow others to become a part of their world. I would like to offer some suggestions on how one may get a started, whether an individual, church or family.

July1966, my husband, Monroe, and I moved in our first home it was a two bedroom bungalow, just perfect for the two of us. We were Christians enjoying our new life together. We were both very active in our church and went door to door evangelizing and inviting people to church to become Christians. We considered ourselves as the average good Christian.

Personally I had opportunities to visit homes taking clothes and shoes to families in exchange they would visit our church, but it was purely for that self serving purpose only. I was asking and giving only what the person needed to benefit my request, Jesus on the other hand had benefited and the person gladly reciprocated. One night I had an opportunity to sit down with my brother-in-law after dinner and he imposed this question “what are you doing with your lives that would improve the lives of others?” as he continued to speak my husband and I finally got it, it was compassion and mentoring that was needed.

The very next week my husband brought one of his sixth grade students home. I took her to JC Penny and bought her a few things, the most important thing that happened is we spent quality time together and she had a weekend to herself. She needed that greatly because her parents had nine children. A strong bond began to form between us one that would impact her entire life. From that time until now each weekend I have found myself mentoring and spending quality time with some individual or many individuals. It has now been forty two years and the process is still fresh and one of enjoyment.

Get started today do something to help. The world would be much better if you take time and join hands with someone who needs a helping hand.