Poverty 101: It requires more work just to exist.

[Cuban_Liberal]

One of my carriers came in a bit ago to collect his Christmas bonus, and he was walking instead of riding his bike. This guy lives on the edge of town, so he walked about 1.5 miles to get here. It's 20 degrees outside, and with the windchill, it feels like 4 below. Any way...

We were just chatting and I asked, "So, what are your plans this afternoon?", and he told me that he was going to a.) walk home and put the ham (part of his bonus) away, b.) walk BACK to town, and go to the grocery store, then c.) walk BACK to his house, put away the groceries and finish cleaning his house. That's 6+ miles, and in THIS weather! :wow: Here's the part that blows my mind, though: he does this almost EVERY day, because he has no car. Think of how much time just the basics work of survival takes him.

I gave him a ride home, took him to the store and gave him a ride back home; I further told him that he should let me know the next time he would like to go grocery shopping, and I would take him to get a week or 10 day's worth.

As much as it must suck to be poor in an urban area, imagine how much MORE it might suck w/o any mass transit.

Count your blessings this Christmas, y'all, if you have a car to go to the store or laundromat.

[LynzM]

1. That was really nice of you!

I cannot imagine what it would be like living without a car in the US. I did it in Europe, but mass transit is SO much better there. Thanks for being a kind spirit and helping him out!

[Cuban_Liberal]

2. He's a good guy, and I was happy to be able to help.

I'm ashamed of myself for not having thought of his problem before, though...

[Droopy]

3. I ran across a similar situation today

A woman that works at my local Subway restaraunt just got an estimate to have her car repaired and she doesn't have the money to get it done. She was relating this story to one of her coworkers when I walked in then she started crying and had to leave the counter. I really felt for her and I wish I could have done something, but I'm not exactly well off, either. And to have something like that happen this time of year, too, makes it even more heartbreaking.

I made a pact with myself while I was sitting there eating lunch that if I ever have a lot of money, I'm going to go around helping people like her.

[Cuban_Liberal]

5. Sometimes you don't need money to be able to help.

I figure it took me 30 minutes and a dollar's worth of gas.

:)

[redqueen]

4. Count your blessings - good advice, CL

You so rock.

:toast:

[Cuban_Liberal]

6. I become aware of new blessings every day.

You'd do the same, redqueen--- I know you would.

:hug:

[redqueen]

13. You're darn right I would.

:hug:

[Solly Mack]

7. Thank you

You made a difference to us all. You really did. A kindness reaches out to everyone, not just those we help.

A kindess is a whisper on the wind that flutters down to others. It tickles their noses and makes them feel good, because there's hope in the world.

Thank you for giving me hope.

[Cuban_Liberal]

9. Pay it forward

That's all the thanks I want or need.

:)

[CrownPrinceBandar]

8. Good for you CL.........................

It does my heart good to hear some folks have not forgotten their fellow citizens. Especially now, when its so cold (12°F here in N.WV, with a WC of 3°).

I see alot of folks around here in similar situations - largely rural, limited public transportation and a huge elderly population. Folks help them the best they can, but there are so many.

Happy holidays.

[Cuban_Liberal]

10. Happy holidays to you, too!

We must care for each other.

:hi:

[skygazer]

11. Many people do not realize this

They've never lived it - it's not something that occurs to one if you haven't lived it.

I read a very good book called "The Working Poor" recently. One of the things the author pointed out was this very thing. It is an incredible amount of work to exist on the fringe of society.

Say a single mother has a job. She has an old car because she can't afford a new one. The car often has problems that require her to put money into it, which keeps her from saving for a better one. If it breaks down, she either misses or is late for work.

She lives in a low income apartment that has mildew like so many do. Her son has asthma and misses school because of it. He has asthma because of the apartment. She can't afford to move from the place because she misses work when he can't go to school thereby keeping her from saving the money it would cost to move.

Etc. It's an endless cycle. I've been there and it's nearly impossible to break out of. Especially if you have limited education or if you've never experienced anything else.

You did a good deed - I'm sure that guy really appreciated it.

[Cuban_Liberal]

14. It IS a vicious cycle.

That's what blows my mind when people say that the poor aren't really poor--- how poor is 'poor', when it takes such massive effort just to exist?

[skygazer]

18. People also don't realize that many things cost more

Poor people often need to come up with deposits for utilities where more affluent folks do not. Many of them don't have checking accounts because they can't afford the checks and fees so they have to pay for money orders to pay the bills. Many don't have phones so they need to use pay phones and phone cards to make calls. Most don't have insurance and so pay inflated prices for medical care. And on and on and on.

The deck is stacked against them whereas people who have money are given breaks because of it. It's backwards.

[Cuban_Liberal]

19. No transportation = no bulk/quantity buying.

Paddy and I buy at the box store, and get good prices, because we can get the stuff home, something he can't do. That's a 'tax' on people like him, just for being poor.

[Bertha Venation]

12. when I count my blessings

you & Paddy are among them. The world's a better place for both of you.

You own a bookstore -- yet you give your employees bonuses?

Dude. :hug:

[Cuban_Liberal]

16. Well, it wasn't a HUGE bonus.

We gave each carrier $25, a ham, a good four-cell flashlight and a set of battery-operated armband strobe lights (safety lights). We gave our clerks $50 and hosted dinner and drinks at a nice, local restaurant.

[skygazer]

20. That's an excellent bonus

Good for you, that's very generous. I work for a multi-million dollar corporation (Safeway) and you know what I get for a bonus? A certificate good for 10% off one grocery shop. AND it expires on January 2nd. :wtf: Boggles the mind.

[Cuban_Liberal]

21. Cheap bastards!

Probably owned by Republicans...

:eyes:

[EC]

25. Here's a good one

I worked for a local Department store...the owner was rich and owned a lot of the town...for our bonus...he walked around the store with a box of chocolate covered cherries, and we each got one...I declined...

[Cuban_Liberal]

28. Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez!

And I bet he didn't even have the sense to be embarrassed for himself...

:eyes:

[Karenina]

15. Where's his BIKE?

Does he need a new one?

[Cuban_Liberal]

17. At home.

It's BRUTALLY cold and windy here today.

[Historic NY]

22. When I work nights I would see a women walking late at nights........

all kinds of weather every night. A few times during the summer when it was raining I would stop and pick her up...she walked over 6 miles to a motel the next town over..she had no car....didn't make enough for a taxi...she was always gratefull to see my PD car pull up. I've tried to get a couple of other guys to at least drive her to the town line but...you know..they said she could use the walking to lose weight. They really pissed me off...:mad:

Seems her husband got hurt and couldn't work and she was supporting them both. She would get a ride of about 20 miles from her job but they would just drop her off in the center of town. I gave her a couple of different directions so her ride could get her closer to her destination w/o wasting his/her time.

Guess I've spent too much time on my job...when we were supposed to help others out. Sadly some of my collegues will never know the feeling of finding an envelope with a $20 dollar bill, long written off for helping someone out, a carton of cigarettes or just an unexpected Christmas card with a thank you. I'm not a push over, but if you tell me the truth I will help.

[Cuban_Liberal]

23. I hear you.

I've given people rides, bought coffee and sandwiches, even payed for a motel room for the night. I think we tend to see more on the job than most other people do.

Good on you, bro!

:)

[skygazer]

24. Yes, that's another huge expense for some poor people

They cannot get an apartment because they cannot afford the security deposit so they end up paying for a motel room which costs them a fortune but is easier to pay for because it's by the day. So all their money goes into a lousy motel room and they're unable to save for a security deposit on a decent place to live. I've seen families living like that.

[EC]

29. I've always been one step away

from being poor...but friends have told me that I make being poor look easy...Huh...lucky I don't want anything, so can usually get what I need, but yeah, have been in situations where just getting through the day was a real chore, for lack of transportation, child care, or a whole myriad of things...especially during my college days, being single with a toddler, so yeah, I help anyone I can...although I do it quietly, like sneaking a twenty or even just a ten into their jacket pocket, or giving them a pair of gloves, one friend of mine gets a food box and blankets every Christmas, and helped her through college...now she's a highly paid nurse - making it just fine...swells my heart to see her face just beaming at what she accomplished, when the rest of her friends from "the hood" are in jail or on welfare...I don't know, the worlds screwy, I had a guy tell me the other day, what a nice thing I did, when I helped a old man up off the sidewalk when I saw him fall, and it made me wonder why anyone had to even comment about something as simple as that, it should be common behavior not something to be congratulated for????


:cry:

[Cuban_Liberal]

30. Sadly, simple, common decency is becoming less common.

You're good people!

:hug:

[Robbien]

26. Laundry is a huge task for the poor

Washing machines and laundromats are often a luxury item for them. Washing clothes by hand is sometimes the only option.

[Cuban_Liberal]

27. Yes.

And just transporting something as heavy and bulky as clothing w/o a car would be a nightmare.

[EC]

33. I remember watching

this family that lived down the street from me wash all their clothes by hand and then hang them over bushes to dry. A new laundermat went up in the neighborhood last month...it's $2.00 a load now...last time I used one I think it was 50 cents and I had a hard time coming up with that, then...

[babylonsister]

31. What a sweetie you are!

I'm sure your kindness will be returned in spades! And that humbles me; I'll be sure to count my blessings.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Cuban_Liberal]

32. Pay it forward.

Thank you.

:)

[EC]

34. Always......

In spades....

[Cuban_Liberal]

35. Good deal!

:thumbsup:

[Forkboy]

36. Excellent point CL

I dont have a car myself but I'm fortunate enough to have bus service or some conveinance stores within a 15 minute walk.Thanks for reminding me that even in my situation I could be worse off.

[Cuban_Liberal]

37. YW.

We always think we're in a bad way, until we meet someone who's worse off than we are.
:)

[buddhamama]

38. Bless you, C_L

from someone who has been without transportation and, once homeless, I thank you.

I am grateful, thankful because I am blessed.

:loveya: :hug:

[Cuban_Liberal]

39. Bless you, too.

I bet you're among the first to help now, too.

:hug::loveya:

[Patiod]

40. Friend in DHS used to want to just buy clients a car

He worked for Delaware's welfare dept, and he said there were quite a few of his clients that he could have gotten out of poverty and off welfare if he could have just helped them purchase reliable transportation, because there was little or no public transit in sLower Delaware. But that requires getting a license (and clearing any tickets or past problems), buying the car, paying the registration, buying insurance - not a cheap propostition.

Thank God for public transportation, however underfunded. My SO and I have only one car, and I don't know what we'd do if we needed two. I'm lucky enough to live within walking distance of the station....