What would you do if your refrigerator was empty and you were unable to put food in the stomachs of your children? What would you do if the local soup kitchen or food bank turned you away because of short supply?
Due to the current economic crisis, many people in the Kansas City area are experiencing poverty and homelessness. As we approach the holiday season, there is a dire need to assist in providing for those who are less fortunate. This week is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, in which communities take part in a nationwide effort to bring greater attention to these problems.
I encourage everyone to help support their local food banks, soup kitchens, shelters and other community resources. Keep in mind that whether your gesture is little or large, you’ll be brightening a homeless person’s life.
Allison Kidd
Overland Park
Thank you for putting James A. Fussell’s story “Soccer goal is helping the homeless” (11/15) on the front page of the Local section. It was a great story, well told, and I may have missed it if it had been buried in the Sports section.
It is so sad that many people think of homeless people in terms mentioned in the story: “Shiftless derelict. Drinker. Bum.” As reporter Fussell wrote, “Think again.”
These days, far too many people become homeless due to unavoidable health problems or employer downsizing. Often, well-educated, skilled workers are denied menial jobs because they’re “overqualified,” causing them (and thus, their children) to become homeless. They may be homeless, but they’re still people.
It’s important for those of us who are blessed to share everything we can during these tough economic times. As Kevin Polk, one of the men interviewed for the story, discovered, “God forbid, next week it could be you.”
Debbie Van Pelt-McEnroe
Lee’s Summit
My Christian faith says help them help them selves; My human nature says I wont help someone who can walk, write, breath, beg standing on two feet and so fourth. But God wins this battle and I help.
Posted by: Keith Williams3 | November 20, 2009 at 01:11 PM
What is the obsession with hyphenated names?
While many of uf feel compassion for the homeless and many of ud do our fair share, if someone wants a job bad enough they will learn how to market and sell themselves to an employer. Overqualified is moronic, if that's the case then simply lower your qualifications to get the job. After all it is not a career move and when the person makes and takes an advantage of a better opportunity down the road, it won't really matter.
Posted by: NoMoreMrNiceGuy | November 20, 2009 at 11:52 AM
WTH is the matter with you guys? Haven't you been listening? I mean we are in "recovery", and "coming out of a recession". Don't you know unemployment is a "lagging indicator"? That will be enough of that "negative talk".
Happy Days are here again. The skies above are blue again. Ta Dah!
Posted by: Kee | November 20, 2009 at 09:21 AM