The Poverty Predicament
Poverty. To people for whom money is never a struggle, poverty is a frail person who asks for a few dollars. In reality, poverty is much more than that. As stated by the U.S. Census Bureau, just over 13% of Wisconsin residents, on average, were below the poverty level in 2014. While 13% may not seem like a lot, this statistic means that around 1 in every 10 people are living in terrible conditions. These conditions can include not being able to eat three meals a day, being unemployed, being judged by all of their peers, being homeless, and much worse circumstances. Those who do not live in poverty truly do not understand the daily distress that 13% of Wisconsin residents have to live with. Wisconsin citizens and people all over the world desperately need to realize the alarming situations that poor people are in and do something about it.
Jupiter Sinclair, a writer of a blog called “Poor As Folk” published by WordPress, shared the personal story of a mother/wife who lives in poverty. This woman is Jenn, a 35 year-old who is struggling with obtaining the essentials needed to survive and supporting her family. She has a college education and has been working for almost twenty years, yet she is now too poor to afford nearly anything. She realizes that most people who have enough money do not pay attention to people in poverty like her. It is hard for her to live, especially since she is unemployed and her husband works three jobs yet still cannot contribute much money to the family. Everyone around her seems to have no worries in the world. They can all go out and buy the most simple things, and it will send her into a fit of jealousy. She can’t afford anything that isn’t largely discounted or free. Food is a constant worry in her life. With children to feed and a husband, she can’t just worry about her own gnawing stomach. All of the personality traits that used to define her are slipping away because of the extreme poverty and stress she has to deal with. Poverty makes her feel alone, for her friendships are dissolved due to the money issues constantly looming over her. She is seen as a burden to people, and she can do nothing about it. Jenn just wishes people would be empathetic and see what she is going through, but they can’t. Jenn declares, “I’m angry at a society that views me...as someone who deserves to be on the bottom of humanity’s shoes.”
One organization that seeks to make better lives for those in poverty and provides discounts to those who truly need help is Goodwill Industries International, Inc. This organization can be found in areas all over the world. Founded in 1902, it is a store that sells used clothes and other household objects for very cheap prices to those who cannot afford new items. People can donate their old possessions that they do not use anymore to their local Goodwill in order to make a better life for people in poverty. People trying to get jobs who do not have anything professional or suitable to wear often shop at Goodwill. At Goodwill, they can find clothing that gives them a good enough appearance to be successful in their lives. It’s main goal is to get people working at a good place, and the first step to coming out of poverty is getting a good job and making money. Needy people who simply can’t afford high-end business clothes can buy inexpensive used items at Goodwill. This not only gives them clothing to wear but allows them to be looked at as equals among the people around them. As their mission statement says, “Goodwill works to enhance the dignity and quality of life of individuals and families by strengthening communities, eliminating barriers to opportunity, and helping people in need reach their full potential through learning and the power of work (Donate).”
There are many other organizations like Goodwill that succeed in helping people through other aspects of poverty, which is quite important, but our ultimate goal should be to end poverty completely. It is not right to have a great deal of our population living without the option of three meals a day like Jenn. Most people in poverty can not get themselves out of it without help, so it is necessary for people to make themselves aware of the drastic situations poverty puts people in. As Atticus Finch said in To Kill a Mockingbird, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view (Lee 39).” We can not make judgements about people in poverty unless we know what it feels like to be in their shoes. It is time for us to realize that we do not fully know what they are going through. It is time for us to put aside some of our minor issues and help people. It is time for us to end poverty.
Works Cited
“Donate Stuff.” Goodwill Industries International Inc. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2016. <http://goodwill.com>.
“Jenn’s Words.” Poor As Folk. WordPress, 19 Feb. 2014. Web. 24 Feb. 2016. <https://poorasfolk.com>.
Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: Grand Central, 1960. Print.
“Poverty Reaches Highest Level in Decades in Wisconsin.” Governing. N.p., 29 Feb. 2016. Web. 1 Mar. 2016. <http://governing.com>.