Thursday, October 29, 2009

Safety nets, heroes, and heart

Safety nets are unraveling.

GOVERNMENT
 “the consequences are severe in many cases — for residents as well as the economy. … budget difficulties have led at least 41 states to reduce services to their residents, including their most vulnerable families and individuals. An Update on State Budget Cuts 

PRIVATE
72% of Americans say they cut back on time spent volunteering, participating in groups, and doing other civic activities in the past year while the economy was free-falling. America’s Civic Health Index 

We NEED Heroes … 


We need HEART … 
“there is a silver lining, a ray of hope, a demonstration of America’s good heart … more personal forms of participation that often go unnoticed. … every bit as critical as activities such as charity walks and volunteering. 

Interestingly, people with the least means are giving the most. In the past year:

  • 50% gave food or money to someone in need who is not a relative
  • 43% gave food or money to someone in need who is a relative
  • 17% allowed a relative to live in their home or on their property
  • 11% allowed a non-relative to live in their home or on their property

Yes, the recession affects everyone. However those most vulnerable are affected exponentially.

What’s in your heart? 

Caregivingly Yours, Patrick Leer
web site: http://caregivinglyyours.com/
videos: http://www.youtube.com/daddyleer 

musings: Patrick Ponders ... 

2 comments:

  1. compassion should be in everyone's heart these days; its nice to see percentage wise that people are out helping the least, the lost, the last

    I do have to say I'm in the 72% who cutback on volunteering, not sure how that happened though; got to re-think that and get re-involved

    on the plus side, I am in all those other percentages :)

    we just got to continue to help out others as we can.......

    betty

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's always been such a shining star in the human condition that those who have the least are the most willing to part with it. Great post.

    ReplyDelete

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