The Brutality of Poverty
Imagine having a life where going out to eat, going to the movies, or even going grocery shopping is nonexistent. Poverty is an issue that affects millions of people all over the world. According to Feeding America, a hunger relief organization, in 2014, 14.8% of people living in America were experiencing poverty. This statistic, most likely, has not changed. Also, 14% of households in America experienced troubles having enough food to supply them. People do not deserve to struggle everyday just to survive. There are so many people out there that take their income for granted and don’t realize what it is like not to be as fortunate. The 14.8% of people struggling from poverty in America are in desperate need of help.
In 2014, Pam Fessler, a correspondent for the National Public Radio, interviewed Desiree Metcalf and published the article, “One Family’s Story Shows how the Cycle of Poverty is Hard to Break.” This article stars Desiree Metcalf, a 24-year-old mother of three. Many problems have arisen due to Metcalf’s poverty. She was raised by her single, poor mother, who she did not get along with because she was told things like, “I’m going to kill you” (Family’s). Because of this, Metcalf ended up in foster care and had to attend 26 different schools. When Metcalf first became pregnant, she dropped out of college and carried her poverty into adulthood. The government and charities have spent thousands of money on the Metcalf family, but it is not enough because Metcalf cannot get a job due to the lack of transportation. Whenever Metcalf makes money, all of her benefits drop. For example, their food stamp benefit dropped from $700 a month to $200 because they were earning more money temporarily. Because of the laws and limits on government aid, the Metcalf family continues to struggle. Metcalf hopes to eventually get enough support to go back to college.
An organization that attempts to help those in need, like Desiree Metcalf, is The River Food Pantry, located in Madison, Wisconsin. It was opened in 2006 and has come to be the busiest food pantry in Dane County. The River was founded by Andy and Jenny Czerkas. It started as a small gathering for monthly dinners and gradually developed into what it is today. Not only does The River offer free groceries, meals, and clothes to anyone in the area, but they also provide a warm and comforting atmosphere for all families in need. While at The River, the families are able to socialize with people that are suffering from the same problem of poverty. Their mission is, “To bring a message of mercy and hope to those in need by providing nutritional basics and encouragement, and to be a unifying servant-hearted, community-building expression of Jesus Christ” (Mission). The River goes through 35 thousand pounds of food for over 600 families each week. Being a non-profit organization, The River depends solely on donations. With every $10 donated, The River is able to give away $100 worth of food due to the access of low-cost food. Not only can people get involved by donating, The River also has many volunteering opportunities. Some of these opportunities include cleaning the facility, assisting the clients in the pantry, and meal preparation. This organization does what they do for a great cause, and continues to impact many families across Dane County by supplying them with both nutrition and encouragement.
All in all, poverty is an issue that has become much worse than it should be. Take a walk in the shoes of Desiree Metcalf. She struggles everyday just to care for her daughters, let alone herself. There are many organizations out there like The River Food Pantry to help support those who need it. It is just a matter of people taking a walk in other’s shoes and realizing they should take advantage of the opportunity to help. Someone who promotes the idea of taking a walk in another's shoes is To Kill a Mockingbird’s, Atticus Finch. People need to realize that even though they may not suffer from poverty, there are many others that do. It is time to put an end to this worldwide issue.
Works Cited
"Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistics." Feeding America. N.p., 2014. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.
<http://www.feedingamerica.org/>.
Fessler, Pam. "One Family's Story Shows How The Cycle Of Poverty Is Hard To Break." NPR.
NPR, 7 May 2014. Web. 09 Mar. 2016. <http://www.npr.org/>.
"About Us." The River Food Pantry – Dane County, WI. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2016.
<http://www.riverfoodpantry.org/>.