Food and 48 Hours

We used to compete in the 48 hour film festival. That, combined with my interest in sustainable eating, led me to watch this tonight: http://www.equalexchange.coop/48hour.

Blog Action Day: Poverty

Following disasters, people sometimes comment that those who use services - like those provided by the Red Cross, Federal government and other agencies - are trying to take advantage by staying in hotels or shelters longer, stashing away extra MREs or supplies, or accepting financial assistance. Maybe they are looking out for "Number One" and not caring for their neighbors by taking only what they need.

Disasters hurt economically disadvantaged people the hardest. Those with low paying or gratuity based jobs often aren't able to resume their employment immediately since restaurants and businesses take longer to restart. Homes and apartments that are cheaply constructed (and almost affordable for that reason) are easily burned down or swept away by water and wind. Those who have very little have even less when even some clothing, furniture, etc. is destroyed.

But maybe by suffering these proportionally greater losses, they "earn" the opportunity to get a leg up in life through community financial, counseling, and materiel support. Maybe when they stay in a Red Cross shelter, talk with a Red Cross case manager, eat from a Southern Baptist Kitchen, or accept housing assistance from FEMA, they are empowered both by knowing that many "someone elses" care and by having the chance to make a fresh start.

I support my Red Cross in assisting people affected by disaster, and I'm especially hopeful that this response to disastrous loss empowers at least some economically disadvantaged "victims" to grasp opportunity and leave poverty behind.