Today is Blog Action Day and the topic is Poverty and I’ve cringed at the idea of writing something about the subject ever since I heard what it would be.
I sure hope you don’t mind if I’m real here because I’m not sure that I can honestly say I care about Poverty.
I can say I know about it.
I can say I don’t like it.
I can say I wish it didn’t exist.
But to be completely truthful – I have done N O T H I N G about it in ages.
So can I really say that I care about it?
With eye stinging shame – I realize that I can’t.
If you care about an issue you will do something about it. You won’t just think about it – you’ll take action.
I suppose that is what Blog Action Day is about – reminding people to take action on something so important. The website say “We aim to raise awareness, initiate action and to shake the web!“
It has definitely raised my awareness – and shaken me. Now to decide how to take action.
I poked around the Kiva website – but I’m not familiar with how it all works and wonder if I wouldn’t rather take some action that would help a single mom closer to home.
As a single mom, I had a few years of living under the poverty line – though my Michigan, USA brand of poverty is certainly not comparable to what most the world deals with. Still – I naturally have a heart for other moms who are in the situation I used to be in – perhaps even more so for those who have special challenges that make digging out of poverty harder.
I would love to hear your ideas about how I could DO SOMETHING to help a single mom in financial crisis.
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Leslie Truex is the pajama-clad work-at-home mom dedicated to helping other moms live and work comfortably. She's the author of The Work-At-Home Success Bible and owner of 
Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan and a Star Director with 
How ironic you posted about this, because I was just making calls this afternoon to find someone in our church who needed extra income as we’ve decided to hire someone to come in weekly to clean our house. We wanted to try and help someone we already knew that was in need, as so many are hurting financially.
Tracis last blog post..The Duggar’s: Quiverful Role Models
Hey Kelly,
It would probably take a few calls, but there is likely a shelter or center near you that helps single moms. I’m in a relatively small Chicago suburb and we have one I volunteer at; they focus on women, and many are moms.
I don’t know you well enough to know how you feel about going through a church. I’m not Christian myself, but the local churches often do keep a list of folks who need help. So that could be a place to start too.
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One thing that could be done NOW is donate to the local food banks. I understand from the news that ALL food banks are hurting.
Loved your honesty! Very thought provoking!
Well, Kelly, I believe that if you’ve mentored a single mother so she can succeed in her home-based business then you have done something about poverty. Remember, if we all helped those we know or meet somewhere along the way, most charities would not be necessary.
I’m more inclined to think that prayer and giving someone the tools to succeed trumps buying them a bowl of soup. (Or why not do both? I remember days when being invited to supper was a pretty big blessing, even if it was more for the family atmosphere than for physical nourishment.)
I think there are similar microlending organizations that you could look into who will let you lend to women in the US, so that it will be more in line with what you want to accomplish. Great thinking!
I’ll ditto what C. Erickson said. You’ve helped so many people and that counts!
On the same order as Traci’s idea, you could hire a p/t paid person in an internship type position. This would require a commitment of course, but definitely would be beneficial, I think. It’s a win – win. “Give to receive,” and “Teach a man to fish…”
Wow what a topic to write on. This is very close to home for me since I am a single mom and I’m not considered poverty because I make about $750 a year more than the poverty level is for our household. I am truely a one income family because I don’t get child support.
Kelly, you can’t help everyone. You help a tremindous amount of people by sharing your knowledge. Also, you help your neice in the care of the quads. Can more be done? More can always be done. When I think about what I can do for others I look at my family, friends and church family and I think about the situations they are in and wonder what are the small things that I can do to make life just a little bit easier. Things that I would love for someone to do for me, but I’m not going to wait for it to be done to me, I’m going to do it first. It is a big deal for me to not have to make a meal. So an invitation to someones house is huge. You just need to find what fits your personality and help in that way.
I just want to thank you for the help that you have given me in the knowledge and project that you gave me to help me to get started to reach my goals.
Food banks realllly need help right now. I like your honesty though, Kelly. There are so many causes and people who need help that it’s hard to get passionate enough about them to give or help. It isn’t that one doesn’t care but not every cause will grab each person the same way.
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