Close-by poverty

[buggyone]

I saw a figure in the Daily Sun a couple of days ago. It stated that 7,000 meals were served at the Wildwood Soup Kitchen in the month of June, 2014. The Christian Food Pantry of Lady Lake provided groceries to around 435 families in the area. The families range in size from one to 8 people.

That means there is a lot of poverty in this area. Businesses and individuals are wonderful in providing donations in cash and food and volunteers.

We, in The Villages, are just so fortunate that we (mostly) have all we need and are able to help others.

[graciegirl]

I saw a figure in the Daily Sun a couple of days ago. It stated that 7,000 meals were served at the Wildwood Soup Kitchen in the month of June, 2014. The Christian Food Pantry of Lady Lake provided groceries to around 435 families in the area. The families range in size from one to 8 people.

That means there is a lot of poverty in this area. Businesses and individuals are wonderful in providing donations in cash and food and volunteers.

We, in The Villages, are just so fortunate that we (mostly) have all we need and are able to help others.

So right. There are so many people sharing with those who need help. Many tutor in the area schools and contribute to the backpack programs and many of our churches have the homeless in the Ocala Forest on their prayer and outreach list. Quietly and caringly, many, many help others.

Please others tell us of good programs that you are involved with.

[kittygilchrist]

My church has a massive food pantry in east Wildwood off 44. the villages is giving the local economy a welcome boost.

[OBXNana]

In NC we ask our guests to leave any non perishable items that they have when their vacation ends and don't want to carry back home, to leave on the kitchen counter to be donated to the local food bank. The folks that come to clean between guests take all the canned goods collected from many houses, to the food bank.

We're not as familiar with The Villages, but our exit instructions ask that any non perishable items they have left over, they consider donating to a food back. Is there a drop box in any of the local stores that accept donations? We would love to add specific information where the items could be donated. People from out of town may be more prone to donate if there is a specific location that is convenient.

Thank you for guidance. I would love to change our exit instructions to include a specific location that may be close to Pinellas. We've found many don't rent cars and they may be happier to take it close by when their only means of transportation is a golf cart.

[raynan]

Our book club helped a family in Bushnell that we were connected to by a guardian ad litem. School clothes, xmas gifts, beds, stove, holiday meals were supplied for 2 years until children were separated and sent to live with other relatives. This year we are donating to school librarians in Wildwood and Lady Lake to help them build up their supplies. There is much need in the area.
Nancy

[Rags123]

From my experience (12 yrs), I think it may be pretty difficult to find a resident or group who in some way is not very giving with time or money.

I know for a fact, The Villages INC and the family are very giving.

[Patty55]

IMO in addition to food pantries and soup kitchens these groups should teach people how to cook.

When they are collecting in front of Publix look at the list.. fruit rollups (Really?) jar sauce, and all sorts of prepared foods.

I think that most of our parents and grandparents lived through the depression. They could turn out nutritious meals from nothing. Oatmeal is a lot less money than boxed cereal, you can make a giant pot of pasta fazool for less than that jar of sauce. How about home made soup instead of canned?

Maybe somebody (more ambitious than me) could make make up a booklet of recipes. I'd happily contribute my grandmother's secret recipe for what we jokingly called spaghetti and "depression balls" (a lot of day old bread and not-so-much meat).

[senior citizen]

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[tucson]

Thank you Senior!!! Love reading your posts!! As I was reading both your post and Patty55's, I have to agree with both of you. But, I believe the majority will NOT cook their own homemade meals, though. I don't know if it's because they're just spoiled from opening a pkg. and nuking it, or if they don't have the time b/c of working long hrs. Although. that's not an excuse, as when my mother worked (w/a family of 12 children) the older ones would do the cooking after school and on Saturday's. We even had a small garden, never ate expensive meat, mostly chicken or fish. Only had ice cream once a wk on Sunday for a treat, and always baked homemade cakes,cookies, etc. We didn't use butter, whole milk, (drank powered milk) No eggs for breakfast, but oatmeal or corn flakes. I think the reason we see SO many overweight children and adults is b/c of the horrible fake foods that the majority that ppl in our country eats. Chock full of carbs, sugar, corn syrup, sodas, diet drinks and diet fake food products,etc,etc. Which puts high strains on the insurance/welfare systems b/c of the illnesses which stem from obesity. Wow, SO sad!

[bluedog103]

Hey, we can't be Spartans every single day of our lives.

[B]our daughter had just turned three; we were returning from a walk down into town to the library when a younger 24 year old neighbor across the street with 3 little girls began chatting, asked me what I was making for lunch........I told her I was going to make some chicken soup........this conversation evolved into her asking me if I preferred Campbells or Lipton as her girls would only eat the dehydrated chicken soup........

I proceeded to tell her that I was just going to fill up a big pot with water & put in a large pack of chicken wings, cut up some carrots, celery, etc. & let it boil & simmer....

Then serve with egg noodles (or rice)....


Hope you were planning on a late lunch. Sounds good but a little time consuming for lunch. When my mom made soup like this it was made well ahead of time, usually the day before.

[senior citizen]

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[CFrance]

These lovely childhood stories... All the cooking from scratch usually came from moms who weren't working full time. I remember bread dough rising on our radiators. I remember the worst homemade vegetable soup ever (nothing was cut into pieces that would fit on a spoon--whole string beans, bleh!) I remember the best potato salad in the world, but it was a project started the day before.

You could still keep it nutritious (fruit rollups, yuck), but time became of essence eventually. The advent of the slow cooker and safer pressure cookers helped.

[senior citizen]

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[senior citizen]

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[bimmertl]

THANK YOU !! It was an entirely different mindset in those years.
We were all fed without the help of government. Our parents took it upon themselves as their duty to cook, bake, garden plus work full time jobs for their children........we all have it so easy nowadays compared to back then.......modern appliances, automobiles, etc., etc.



Ah yes, the good old days where everybody was fed without the help of government, or sort of anyway.


Top 10 New Deal Programs (http://americanhistory.about.com/od/greatdepression/tp/new_deal_programs.htm)

Can't believe nobody has yet mentioned walking to school uphill both ways.

[CFrance]

My parents were not high-paid yuppies either.

I think you oversimplify when you ask why your family "never had to go to a soup kitchen to get free handouts." And I object to the passive-aggressiveness of the statement. You have no idea what causes some people to become mired in poverty. There are even homeless college graduates today. Mental stability, abusive family situations, having to escape from someone threatening while having no support system... It's not fair nor correct to make such a blanket statement. And the" free handout" part is very demeaning.

I started our church up north volunteering in a community soup kitchen. Part of our duties was to actually sit with and eat with the patrons. We heard a lot of stories of helplessness and despair.

[senior citizen]

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[zcaveman]

In later years, like now, they don't even put out wings anymore for soup, as they are used for barbecue wings in the deli section. But that was the good old days.

I get chicken wings all of the time at Publix. I make my own BBQ/hot wings from them.

They are definitely not as cheap as they were in the good old days. But then, nothing is.

Z

[senior citizen]

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[Old_As_Dirt]

I saw a figure in the Daily Sun a couple of days ago. It stated that 7,000 meals were served at the Wildwood Soup Kitchen in the month of June, 2014. The Christian Food Pantry of Lady Lake provided groceries to around 435 families in the area. The families range in size from one to 8 people.

That means there is a lot of poverty in this area. Businesses and individuals are wonderful in providing donations in cash and food and volunteers.

We, in The Villages, are just so fortunate that we (mostly) have all we need and are able to help others.



"We in the Villages" ….. I know many that live on a shoe string, all savings gone, all pensions gone. So there are needy here. The Daily Sun most likely will not do an artice on the needy among us.

[CFrance]

For those with true need, of course we would want to help them. Not talking about the truly needy. Our daughter & family belong to the United Church of Christ; they are always feeding those in need..........our experience has been the more shiftless type who just take advantage of the "system".....

I was just saying that none of us were even middle class back in the day.........but we never needed to go to a soup kitchen. They were able to provide. Perhaps my mom would have liked the luxury I had of being a stay at home mom.......but to supplement my dad's factory income (he had a congenital heart condition since birth) she pitched in working a man's job. None of our friends were rich. We all had meals at home.

p.s. All of the young unwed moms today get the wick program in our state......free cheese, milk, etc.,etc., etc.
It's all delivered to their front doors.........even if the grandparents are ultra rich.
Years ago, the families might have helped them......now everyone is dependent on government.
"Never had to go to a soup kitchen and get free handouts. I wonder why?"

You were lucky that there were no circumstances in your family that caused the inability to work/hold a job. That would be things like PTSD, being "gassed" in a war, or suffering from mental illnesses that back in the time there were no medications for, or being mentally retarded. All I'm saying is that to call it a "free handout" was demeaning and unnecessarily painting all people of poverty with the same brush. I really object to those kinds of statements and the sarcasm of the qusstion that was asked, "I wonder why?"

As far as wick is concerned, it was instituted to ensure good health the children as a preventative measure and to help those who couldn't afford to feed their children things other than fruit rollups and hot dogs. In my day, those of us who could afford milk and cheese, etc., did not use the program.

[buggyone]

"We in the Villages" ….. I know many that live on a shoe string, all savings gone, all pensions gone. So there are needy here. The Daily Sun most likely will not do an artice on the needy among us.

As I am sure you noticed, I said "we in The Villages (mostly) have all we need".

There are some Villagers who are needy and come to the food pantry.

[Barefoot]

The 18 year old can't pour himself a bowl of cereal with milk & make some toast?
The parents are obese so obviously they have some money for food as well as their "preferred" consumables.



For those with true need, of course we would want to help them. Not talking about the truly needy.
...... All of the young unwed moms today get the wick program in our state......free cheese, milk, etc.,etc., etc. It's all delivered to their front doors.........even if the grandparents are ultra rich. Years ago, the families might have helped them......now everyone is dependent on government.

Sorry, but some of the "facts" presented sound pretty judgmental to me.

[senior citizen]

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[perrjojo]

As my Grandson says TMI. :-)

[Halibut]

It was an entirely different mindset in those years. We were all fed without the help of government.

My single mother was on welfare (and later, food stamps), starting in the mid 50s, so that's all I knew as a kid. She didn't much cook from scratch, either.

[Patty55]

I guess that next we'll be reading about the Urban Legend of the food stamp mom with the cart filled with shrimp. I've never seen her, mostly I see people with a lot of ramen noodles and hopelessness in their eyes.

Believe me when I say that my Grandmother wasn't running a gastropub with her cooking, it was more of the "get 'er done" school of cooking than CIA.

When I suggested teaching to cook, I meant the basics. WIC provides basics, teach how to doctor up the basics, teach how to stretch, how to turn leftovers into a meal.

I always try to donate pet food to the food banks. I think that sometimes when you're at a low spot in life your animals keep you sane.

Another charity I have donated to in the past was Dress For Success, don't know if they have a local branch but this would be right up TV's alley. I'm sure a lot of people here have a business wardrobe that they will never again need. Donate it so that someone will have a nice outfit to wear on interviews.

I'm happy that I don't have cheese and milk delivered.

[CFrance]

As my Grandson says TMI. :-)
I agree. I prefer to hear short stories of posters' pasts. Funny ones--and no soap boxes and no bragging, please!:loco:

[CFrance]

I guess that next we'll be reading about the Urban Legend of the food stamp mom with the cart filled with shrimp. I've never seen her, mostly I see people with a lot of ramen noodles and hopelessness in their eyes.

Believe me when I say that my Grandmother wasn't running a gastropub with her cooking, it was more of the "get 'er done" school of cooking than CIA.

When I suggested teaching to cook, I meant the basics. WIC provides basics, teach how to doctor up the basics, teach how to stretch, how to turn leftovers into a meal.

I always try to donate pet food to the food banks. I think that sometimes when you're at a low spot in life your animals keep you sane.

Another charity I have donated to in the past was Dress For Success, don't know if they have a local branch but this would be right up TV's alley. I'm sure a lot of people here have a business wardrobe that they will never again need. Donate it so that someone will have a nice outfit to wear on interviews.

I'm happy that I don't have cheese and milk delivered.

Thanks. You've given me an idea. I will find out where the nearest Dress for Success is located. If nothing else, the clothing could be mailed to them.

[ROCKETMAN]

on one of the new executive courses there is a $750,000 house and not 50 feet away a couple houses not worth $20,000 with roofs covered with blue tarps. There are usually children playing in the backyard so i know someone liver there. Poverty is very close to the villages.

[tucson]

Senior, I enjoyed reading your last post :-) I see an honest description of your grandparents and other family members who came from Europe during yrs of hardship, as did a lot of our ancestors. It was a different time than today. But still, one can choose to either get a job, or a 2nd job, go to school to learn a new and better paying profession, start a new business OR collect welfare for rent money, food stamps, etc. NOT judgmental,


...just being honest..... :-)

[tucson]

on one of the new executive courses there is a $750,000 house and not 50 feet away a couple houses not worth $20,000 with roofs covered with blue tarps. There are usually children playing in the backyard so i know someone liver there. Poverty is very close to the villages.

Before The Villages was built, a native, (man in the insurance business)to this area told me Sumter Co. was the poorest county in Florida.

[buggyone]

on one of the new executive courses there is a $750,000 house and not 50 feet away a couple houses not worth $20,000 with roofs covered with blue tarps. There are usually children playing in the backyard so i know someone liver there. Poverty is very close to the villages.

Is that at the side that Villages abuts up to non-Villages property on the Wildwood side?

[rn1tv]

I came up with an idea that I sent to Publix corporate office which they supposedly sent to the Colony location. Many times when shopping, a store may have a 2 for 1 offer that you don't need both items. I suggested that they set up a collection bin for shoppers to drop off the BOGOs they didn't need or preferred to donate and have these items delivered to or picked up by a food pantry. I also suggested that, since this would not work for perishable items, their IT people should be able to develop a program to track these perishable BOGO items and give soup kitchens vouchers to shop for these items. I though it was a good idea but it went no where. Maybe if someone with a local soup kitchen or pantry wants to take this idea and run with it, please do. I am disabled and depend on others to do my shopping; therefore am unable to do so myself.

[buggyone]

Senior, I enjoyed reading your last post :-) I see an honest description of your grandparents and other family members who came from Europe during yrs of hardship, as did a lot of our ancestors. It was a different time than today. But still, one can choose to either get a job, or a 2nd job, go to school to learn a new and better paying profession, start a new business OR collect welfare for rent money, food stamps, etc. NOT judgmental,


...just being honest..... :-)

There is no need for private or governmental assistance to families because IF they wanted to better themselves, they can do it? :22yikes:

[tucson]

Did you leave out the words "do they WANT" to do it??
:-)

[kittygilchrist]

There is no need for private or governmental assistance to families because IF they wanted to better themselves, they can do it? :22yikes:

Well I am open to suggestions for this particular family, because they are real, not hypothetical, and live in Wildwood.
Family members:
Mother/grandmother, age 63. Physically and mentally Dysfunctional.
Daughters: age 33, severe narcolepsy, learning disabled, attempting to get GED while working PT in food service, mother of two.
Age 22, in college. Recently began subsidized work at college.
Grandchildren ages about 7 and 12.

Live in3 br house. Grandmother was approved recently for SSDI.

As a social worker, it was fairly easy to tell lazy takers from the truly needy.
To say that everyone has equal opportunity bootstraps or that everyone should get free cell phones?
Neither shows a balance of wisdom...

[jbdlfan]

I think some attitudes toward poverty can be a bit off the mark. In this area, much like Appalachia, there is what is called "generational poverty." Families that have been so marred and entrenched that they don't know how to get out. I've studied this phenomenon quite a bit recently. So many things that we take for granted many of these folks have no clue how to do. Many, many of the students from my school never see the 11th grade. They are terrible readers and have been told they don't need to read to get by. The drug culture outside the bubble is a very powerful force that can't be underestimated.

[Pointer]

Senior, I enjoyed reading your last post :-) I see an honest description of your grandparents and other family members who came from Europe during yrs of hardship, as did a lot of our ancestors. It was a different time than today. But still, one can choose to either get a job, or a 2nd job, go to school to learn a new and better paying profession, start a new business OR collect welfare for rent money, food stamps, etc. NOT judgmental,


...just being honest..... :-)

You just don't get it. There is a book called "nickeled and dimed in the USA". I don't remember the author, but she is collage educated but pretends she's not and tries to live on the wages of several professions. "Merry maids", waitressing, and "Wallmart" are ones I remember. Very interesting read. Also if you watch "Undercover boss" you will see people whose struggles are very real, who want to go to school but can't figure it.

The bottom line is we no longer pay a living wage and even when parents are both working two jobs they can still get behind just trying to keep up. One medical mishap is all it takes. I don't know anyone who would rather go through the humiliation of jumping through all the hoops one goes through to get wic or food stamps or welfare rather then have a livable wage paying job that allows them dignity and hope.

In the "good old days" my great grandfather fed his many tenants from his garden, took in his children's families so they would have housing and mortgaged everything rather then have to evict anyone. The local bank had made a deal with him that they wouldn't foreclose until he died.

Also in our ancestors immigrant day, you could have many people living in a two room tenement apt without getting evicted.

Life was better in some ways, for some people and worse for others, and it is the same today.

Gone are the days when you could work your way through collage, replaced by incurring large debt that there is no guarantee of a job to pay for it. We are still in a recession which may not be a depression but it's pretty darn close. Food and shelter should be attainable to everyone no matter what jobs they do.

[slipcovers]

I agree. I prefer to hear short stories of posters' pasts. Funny ones--and no soap boxes and no bragging, please!:loco:

I second, this is not Facebook....same thing...over and over.

[slipcovers]

Well I am open to suggestions for this particular family, because they are real, not hypothetical, and live in Wildwood.
Family members:
Mother/grandmother, age 63. Physically and mentally Dysfunctional.
Daughters: age 33, severe narcolepsy, learning disabled, attempting to get GED while working PT in food service, mother of two.
Age 22, in college. Recently began subsidized work at college.
Grandchildren ages about 7 and 12.

Live in3 br house. Grandmother was approved recently for SSDI.

As a social worker, it was fairly easy to tell lazy takers from the truly needy.
To say that everyone has equal opportunity bootstraps or that everyone should get free cell phones?
Neither shows a balance of wisdom...

A great fundraiser is decorator house tours. Women love to show their homes. 8 or 9 different style homes...tickets $10 and maybe TV would supply one or two of their tour buses. I have been involved with them and there is always great community support and fun. Houses for Humanity is also a good one. Lots of great talent in TV, we need to help our neighbors.

[justjim]

I grew up poor but really didn't know it. I'm betting there are others who grew up much the same. After my Dad's mine closed it took the whole family working to keep the wolf away from the door.

We had a large garden we planted each year and mom canned. Mom also took in washing and ironing. Dad worked everyday but his pay was 40.00 a week. I remember thoses times and my brother and I mowed yards, carried coal and picked berries to earn money. We never got public aid because Dad and Mom were too proud. We never went out to eat but there was always enough to eat at home. Beans and more beans potatoes.

Hard work never hurt anyone. When you work to meet your needs , you quickly learn the value,of money and education. Somehow the current generation has gotten the idea that they don't need to work in order to meet their household needs. Many depend on the government to meet their basic needs while they eat, smoke, drink and make merry.

All of the various poverty programs have done much to keep people in poverty instead of out of poverty. Yes, I'm for helping people who help themselves.

[CFrance]

Pointer, Kitty, jbdfan, thank you for the other side of the story from work and personal experience. So many people lump the poor into one category--lazy and could lift themselves up if they just worked hard.

I would like to see some facts/statistics as to how many poor are lazy and how the poverty programs have kept them in poverty. I saw very little of that in the work we did in our church with the poor in Muskegon, MI. There were some trying to game the system, but nowhere near the majority that others are stating.

[llaran]

The school in Wildwood is overjoyed to get underware for elementary age, the nurse almost cried. These kids need everything.

[Barefoot]

But still, one can choose to either get a job, or a 2nd job, go to school to learn a new and better paying profession, start a new business OR collect welfare for rent money, food stamps, etc. NOT judgmental,...just being honest..

If only it were that easy to get out of poverty. It's not like the old days.
Of course no-one likes people who abuse the system, who could work but choose not to.
But there are people who have lost their jobs and their homes, and have families to support.
Most people who use food banks do so out of desperation, not because they are lazy.
"Going to school to learn a new profession" .. not everyone can afford to do that.
And I know people with law degrees working at menial jobs.
It's hard to start a new business when you're broke and have mouths to feed.
Not all of us were born gifted or rich or smart or with parents who set a good example.
I think that you show little sympathy for people who have fallen on hard times.
Just being honest.

[senior citizen]

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[senior citizen]

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[senior citizen]

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[senior citizen]

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[graciegirl]

If one person who has real need is left without care in this wonderful country it is too many.

If one person who is strong and healthy and can work and works the system in this wonderful country it is too many.


Too many are confused and angry. We have lost some our compassion and too much of our common sense. You cannot legislate morality. We can't throw the baby out with the bath water and we can't sit and look stupid either.

[slipcovers]

Could someone post the address of the schools in Wildwood and Fruitland Park, I would like to send underwear to them. Thank you

[graciegirl]

Could someone post the address of the schools in Wildwood and Fruitland Park, I would like to send underwear to them. Thank you


They are looking for folks to read to the kids too. You have to be fingerprinted and everything, but it is a good thing to do.


Someone post the addresses. Great idea, Slipcovers.

[tucson]

If only it were that easy to get out of poverty. It's not like the old days.
Of course no-one likes people who abuse the system, who could work but choose not to.
But there are people who have lost their jobs and their homes, and have families to support.
Most people who use food banks do so out of desperation, not because they are lazy.
"Going to school to learn a new profession" .. not everyone can afford to do that.
And I know people with law degrees working at menial jobs.
It's hard to start a new business when you're broke and have mouths to feed.
Not all of us were born gifted or rich or smart or with parents who set a good example.
I think that you show little sympathy for people who have fallen on hard times.
Just being honest.

Barefoot, I did not say anything about being lazy.... "going to school", there are classes at Extension schools for trades, I went once for very little money (approx.$300.) and my husband did when we needed extra $$ and another profession after we lost our jobs. There are schools (not colleges) that offer trades for people. We were in our mid forties when we did it. Also, you can start a business right out of your home with hardly any cash. I've done that also. How about cleaning house, mowing lawns, running errands, etc,etc., for the seniors in The Villages and surrounding areas?? I was NOT born gifted or rich or smart, I just use the creative ideas that God gives me, just like He does for everyone that asks. And, fyi; I DO have compassion on the needy who have fallen on hard times, I was brought up in a household with 12 children who had to eat hardly anything for breakfast, lunch and dinner b/c my father was disabled due to a traumatic event in his middle age life and was out of work (factory worker) more than he was able to work. Me and my brothers and sisters use to pick blueberries, babysit,mow neighbors lawns,shovel snow for people during the winter & summer for $ and after all day would give our $ to my mother for groceries and other expenses. So, I know about it ALL from personal experience. I opened my 1st business at age 19,took out a 2,000 loan from a credit union and went for it. It CAN be done, I KNOW. Being honest.

[jbdlfan]

I'm not sure you understand the depth of this issue here. I can only speak about Marion county. I had a student once that wanted to join my after-school program. She was a bus rider and lived in the Forest. She walked about a mile to and from her bus stop. The way my program worked was that I had to get her approved through transportation before the driver would accept responsibility for her travel. She didn't clearly understand that concept and stayed after school one day. The buses had already pulled out and by the time roll was taken in the program, we realized we had an issue. Not a big deal for most folks. Just call a parent to come pick her up, right. Not so easy. I called mom and she didn't own a car. She had a neighbor who might be able to help. She had to walk about a half mile to their house and ask for help. The friend wasn't sure that he could get his car started. I waited on the phone as they tried and tried to get the car started. It finally started but they barely had enough gas to get to our school. I offered them a gas card for their troubles and they arrived at our school about forty minutes later. I know this is a long story but I hope it puts in perspective of the level of poverty some of these families experience. They rely on the "system" to get them by. In this case, the bus system to get the child an education, backpack of food for the weekend and free lunches. If this kids makes it through high school, she will be the first in her family to have a high school diploma. That my friends, is generational poverty......

[tucson]

[QUOTE=graciegirl;913034]They are looking for folks to read to the kids too. You have to be fingerprinted and everything, but it is a good thing to do.


Someone post the addresses. Great idea, Slipcovers.[/QUOTE


That IS the KEY to success as a child,young adult, and adult. If you CAN READ, you CAN learn anything to enable you to become independent and self sufficient in life. I would volunteer. but I don't live there anymore.

[tucson]

I'm not sure you understand the depth of this issue here. I can only speak about Marion county. I had a student once that wanted to join my after-school program. She was a bus rider and lived in the Forest. She walked about a mile to and from her bus stop. The way my program worked was that I had to get her approved through transportation before the driver would accept responsibility for her travel. She didn't clearly understand that concept and stayed after school one day. The buses had already pulled out and by the time roll was taken in the program, we realized we had an issue. Not a big deal for most folks. Just call a parent to come pick her up, right. Not so easy. I called mom and she didn't own a car. She had a neighbor who might be able to help. She had to walk about a half mile to their house and ask for help. The friend wasn't sure that he could get his car started. I waited on the phone as they tried and tried to get the car started. It finally started but they barely had enough gas to get to our school. I offered them a gas card for their troubles and they arrived at our school about forty minutes later. I know this is a long story but I hope it puts in perspective of the level of poverty some of these families experience. They rely on the "system" to get them by. In this case, the bus system to get the child an education, backpack of food for the weekend and free lunches. If this kids makes it through high school, she will be the first in her family to have a high school diploma. That my friends, is generational poverty......

I see....I never saw that "type" of poverty growing up in N.E. We had poverty there as well but not the kind you're describing. I CAN understand that on this level these people do need help and education to get OUT of extreme poverty.

[kittygilchrist]

Addresses for wildwood schools
Elementary...300 Huey St., wildwood, 34785
Middle-high... 700 Huey St....

[CFrance]

Barefoot, I did not say anything about being lazy.... "going to school", there are classes at Extension schools for trades, I went once for very little money (approx.$300.) and my husband did when we needed extra $$ and another profession after we lost our jobs. There are schools (not colleges) that offer trades for people. We were in our mid forties when we did it. Also, you can start a business right out of your home with hardly any cash. I've done that also. How about cleaning house, mowing lawns, running errands, etc,etc., for the seniors in The Villages and surrounding areas?? I was NOT born gifted or rich or smart, I just use the creative ideas that God gives me, just like He does for everyone that asks. And, fyi; I DO have compassion on the needy who have fallen on hard times, I was brought up in a household with 12 children who had to eat hardly anything for breakfast, lunch and dinner b/c my father was disabled due to a traumatic event in his middle age life and was out of work (factory worker) more than he was able to work. Me and my brothers and sisters use to pick blueberries, babysit,mow neighbors lawns,shovel snow for people during the winter & summer for $ and after all day would give our $ to my mother for groceries and other expenses. So, I know about it ALL from personal experience. I opened my 1st business at age 19,took out a 2,000 loan from a credit union and went for it. It CAN be done, I KNOW. Being honest.
This is what I mean about using today's circumstances and not those of the past. It is very admirable what you and your siblings did to help your family. But... in today's world, people don't have twelve children to help out... anyone who can afford it has a yard service and a snow removal service, and a car to run their own errands. Others who can't afford that do it themselves, or have adult children who do it for them.

Learning another trade is not so easy today as it was back then, and it costs a lot more $ unless you accept government assistance, which you and others claim is wrong.

So I see all this as putting the poor in a double bind, and then calling them all lazy. And that's what I object to.

There are already people working three jobs to make ends meet--and they have college degrees. Today's job circumstances are totally different than they were 30 years ago.

I wish those posters living in the past would do some research on today's circumstances, plus the situation of generational poverty.

[Rags123]

This is what I mean about using today's circumstances and not those of the past. It is very admirable what you and your siblings did to help your family. But... in today's world, people don't have twelve children to help out... anyone who can afford it has a yard service and a snow removal service, and a car to run their own errands. Others who can't afford that do it themselves, or have adult children who do it for them.

Learning another trade is not so easy today as it was back then, and it costs a lot more $ unless you accept government assistance, which you and others claim is wrong.

So I see all this as putting the poor in a double bind, and then calling them all lazy. And that's what I object to.

There are already people working three jobs to make ends meet--and they have college degrees. Today's job circumstances are totally different than they were 30 years ago.

I wish those posters living in the past would do some research on today's circumstances, plus the situation of generational poverty.


Just curious and not trying to be ornery !!! Can you please link or post something about WHERE and WHO you are hearing about ALL poor as lazy ?

I have never seen that comment or anything even close.

Most I see is STATISTICS on the increase in welfare FRAUD !!!

PS...I have done some research on this and can tell you I have WITNESSED AND SEEN the soliciting of people in downtown Tampa to attend "classes" on how to work the system...not just welfare but all of the system. I never heard anyone say that ALL poor or even a percentage were lazy however and am just curious how this came to be

[tucson]

Just curious and not trying to be ornery !!! Can you please link or post something about WHERE and WHO you are hearing about ALL poor as lazy ?

I have never seen that comment or anything even close.

Most I see is STATISTICS on the increase in welfare FRAUD !!!

Thanks for asking, I'd like also to see that statement.

[slipcovers]

I see....I never saw that "type" of poverty growing up in N.E. We had poverty there as well but not the kind you're describing. I CAN understand that on this level these people do need help and education to get OUT of extreme poverty.

Excuse me, unless you live under a rock, there is plentyof that type of poverty in New England, just like Florida.
Trailers with tarps on the roofs...houses that are ready to fall in...3rd world conditions. Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine being the worst, I don't know how they survive, especially the Winters. 60 minutes did a show 2 weeks ago on" disability" in West Virginia, half the county was on disability. Why?...The government allowed there jobs to be sent overseas...there unemployment ran out ...so that is basically what happens when all the factory jobs disappear. You say "clean houses,pick blueberries" just who is going to hire you?...other impoverished people? Blueberrie picking is 2 weeks, about $2 hour, if that. Children have no control over what circumstances they were born into, and should be given the "tools" to become a stable adult.

[CFrance]

Just curious and not trying to be ornery !!! Can you please link or post something about WHERE and WHO you are hearing about ALL poor as lazy ?

I have never seen that comment or anything even close.

Most I see is STATISTICS on the increase in welfare FRAUD !!!

PS...I have done some research on this and can tell you I have WITNESSED AND SEEN the soliciting of people in downtown Tampa to attend "classes" on how to work the system...not just welfare but all of the system. I never heard anyone say that ALL poor or even a percentage were lazy however and am just curious how this came to be

It wasn't a link. It was statements made by many on this forum presently and in the past. And just because you have seen this soliciting doesn't make it right to apply a blanket opinion of all poor people. I have seen just as many trying to do the right thing.

[tucson]

Excuse me, unless you live under a rock, there is plentyof that type of poverty in New England, just like Florida.
Trailers with tarps on the roofs...houses that are ready to fall in...3rd world conditions. Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine being the worst, I don't know how they survive, especially the Winters. 60 minutes did a show 2 weeks ago on" disability" in West Virginia, half the county was on disability. Why?...The government allowed there jobs to be sent overseas...there unemployment ran out ...so that is basically what happens when all the factory jobs disappear. You say "clean houses,pick blueberries" just who is going to hire you?...other impoverished people? Blueberrie picking is 2 weeks, about $2 hour, if that. Children have no control over what circumstances they were born into, and should be given the "tools" to become a stable adult.

Please do NOT misquote what I've written. I said I did that I picked blueberries when I was 13 during the summer school vacation time in the 60's when I was young to help my parents. I do not live under a rock,my friend. I know there are very poor in NE in the woods in NH, VT & ME. I lived near Boston where there were a lot of jobs.Yes, I KNOW about children born into negative circumstances, as I WAS one of them. The tools are education. There are people who were homeless that are now millionaires, so it CAN be done. Praise the Lord who gives us the ability to do so. :-)

www.businessinsider.com/formerly-homeless-people-who-became-famous-2012-6?op=1

[senior citizen]

............................

[senior citizen]

...........................

[Rags123]

It wasn't a link. It was statements made by many on this forum presently and in the past. And just because you have seen this soliciting doesn't make it right to apply a blanket opinion of all poor people. I have seen just as many trying to do the right thing.


I have never read a post like that and anyone who posted something so insane is simply ill informed and obviously needs a monitor on what they say or type.

Now as to your comments addressed to me......I never applied any blanket opinion of poor people so you have me mixed up with someone else.

I do not like the personal stories which I think are so self serving, but to make my point here. I was brought up the son of a steelworker in W. Pa. We always had bread on the table; were not rich by any stretch, but I was taught at an early age to have feelings for and be aware of those worse off than I. I have done that my entire life...both financially and with my time (most financially as I have aged) I tell you only to put into context this statement...

The treatment of the poor has become a p,,,,,,,l issue and that will hurt them in the long run. In the last 2 months, I was told......AFTER, AND ONLY AFTER a new acquaintance found out my political leaning.....that I, and my "ilk".....ILK was his word, not mine.....need to be more open to the poor. Now here is how he found my political leanings....we were discussing the needy sitting in Panera, and I said that the entire welfare system needs strong revision. THAT comment set him off...he never asked me what revision I spoke of....he then asked me about my politics and went off on me how I and my "ilk" were unfeeling.

I simply got up and left....I do not know what this man does or does not do for the needy, but he immediately made it political and that instant was not the first time I have heard it.

I am sorry for this long post, and am sorry for asking you the question but I am a bit tired of all the generalizations being made about so many things. Because I think there are strong revisions needed does not make me someone who is not giving and sympathetic. Fact is, the Tampa experience happened to me WHILE I WAS OUT WORKING AT NIGHT ON MY OWN TIME WITH THE POOR.

Today, you cannot discuss welfare fraud, etc without the name calling and I simply wanted to call to your attention that there are wonderful, giving, very sympathetic people who feel the system needs work. And I have NEVER heard anyone say what you were saying in my entire life, and trust me I grew up where a crass comment like that would not surprise me. I have seen headlines in p.......l blogs, etc. CLAIMING that but when you read it was never said.

I just wanted to make sure where you were coming from since you have said that a few times and I just do not buy into it.

I have said my peace on this now and you know how I feel. I posted in this thread how giving Villagers are..both financially and time, including the developer and his family and just wanted to clarify that generalities on both sides upset me quite a bit. There are poor and needy everywhere you go. You can either close your eyes or keep them open and help, but to ignore both the needy or those things that need fixed is wrong.

Thanks for allowing me to comment

[senior citizen]

....................

[KathieI]

Thanks. You've given me an idea. I will find out where the nearest Dress for Success is located. If nothing else, the clothing could be mailed to them.

There is one in Orlando and another in Tampa and I'm planning a trip there to drop off many items very soon. The process of cleaning closets to move always brings out the stuff in the back of the closet that you will never use again and I think its a shame not to donate to some young people who may need business attire to start out in their careers. I tried to work with consignment shops but they have little interest in business attire, so Dress for Success is the perfect place for them.

[CFrance]

I have never read a post like that and anyone who posted something so insane is simply ill informed and obviously needs a monitor on what they say or type.

Now as to your comments addressed to me......I never applied any blanket opinion of poor people so you have me mixed up with someone else.

I do not like the personal stories which I think are so self serving, but to make my point here. I was brought up the son of a steelworker in W. Pa. We always had bread on the table; were not rich by any stretch, but I was taught at an early age to have feelings for and be aware of those worse off than I. I have done that my entire life...both financially and with my time (most financially as I have aged) I tell you only to put into context this statement...

The treatment of the poor has become a p,,,,,,,l issue and that will hurt them in the long run. In the last 2 months, I was told......AFTER, AND ONLY AFTER a new acquaintance found out my political leaning.....that I, and my "ilk".....ILK was his word, not mine.....need to be more open to the poor. Now here is how he found my political leanings....we were discussing the needy sitting in Panera, and I said that the entire welfare system needs strong revision. THAT comment set him off...he never asked me what revision I spoke of....he then asked me about my politics and went off on me how I and my "ilk" were unfeeling.

I simply got up and left....I do not know what this man does or does not do for the needy, but he immediately made it political and that instant was not the first time I have heard it.

I am sorry for this long post, and am sorry for asking you the question but I am a bit tired of all the generalizations being made about so many things. Because I think there are strong revisions needed does not make me someone who is not giving and sympathetic. Fact is, the Tampa experience happened to me WHILE I WAS OUT WORKING AT NIGHT ON MY OWN TIME WITH THE POOR.

Today, you cannot discuss welfare fraud, etc without the name calling and I simply wanted to call to your attention that there are wonderful, giving, very sympathetic people who feel the system needs work. And I have NEVER heard anyone say what you were saying in my entire life, and trust me I grew up where a crass comment like that would not surprise me. I have seen headlines in p.......l blogs, etc. CLAIMING that but when you read it was never said.

I just wanted to make sure where you were coming from since you have said that a few times and I just do not buy into it.

I have said my peace on this now and you know how I feel. I posted in this thread how giving Villagers are..both financially and time, including the developer and his family and just wanted to clarify that generalities on both sides upset me quite a bit. There are poor and needy everywhere you go. You can either close your eyes or keep them open and help, but to ignore both the needy or those things that need fixed is wrong.

Thanks for allowing me to comment
You're welcome. But I stand by my statement that many times on here the poor have been either accused of being lazy or the statement has been made that any poor person could pull himself up out of poverty if he would only work hard enough. And that is what I object to. Even in this thread alone, see posts 31 and 36, and the suggestion of post 41.

There is such a thing as generational poverty. And I do not believe that the majority of the poor are gaming the system.

[Rags123]

You're welcome. But I stand by my statement that many times on here the poor have been either accused of being lazy or the statement has been made that any poor person could pull himself up out of poverty if he would only work hard enough. And that is what I object to. Even in this thread alone, see posts 31 and 36, and the suggestion of post 41.

There is such a thing as generational poverty. And I do not believe that the majority of the poor are gaming the system.


Allow me to bore you a bit. You mention generational poverty and there is a study done at Yale which concludes on generational poverty....

"In summary, these points are made from this chapter:
∗
Education is key in getting out and
staying out of generational poverty
∗
Being in poverty is rarely about
a lack of intelligence or ability
∗
Individuals stay in poverty because t
hey do not see "choice", or if they
do, they do not know how to access proper resources or people to get
them to the point of actually
"choosing" to organize themselves,
complete assignments, behave respectfully, plan for the future, and
communicate in conventional register.
∗
Schools are really the only places
where students can learn about the
choices and rules of the middle class or have access to people who
are willing and able to help them."


http://www.yale.edu/21c/arkansas/pdf/payne_ch4.pdf

On the thread concerning INCOME EQUALITY there is a discussion on "redistribution of wealth" which I oppose on so many levels, but as you mention here...it is either the poor do not want to work, OR the rich are keeping them down.

In that thread on raising the minimum wage and redistributing the wealth, I tried with no success to make the point that instead of bashing the rich, maligning the poor, why are we not addressing the real problem....education.

This link which I left there and doubt anyone read makes a valid and current point that unemployment and education are tied together intrinsically.


"Indeed, the unemployment rate confirms that, tracking almost exactly to education. Those without a high school degree, for example, had an 11 percent unemployment rate in 2013. Those with BAs, meanwhile, had just a 4 percent unemployment rate."

The real reason for income inequality - Opinion - The Boston Globe (http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2014/07/22/the-real-reason-for-income-inequality/CBcwFreZkI6czjYmu9eBZN/story.html)

"The upshot: If you don’t have skills, it’s tough to find work."

In addition, I linked to the below......AND THIS IS FROM TODAYS NEWS although you would be hard pressed to find it.

"Senators have introduced two bills in the past few weeks that could make make it easier for students to pay for college and manage debt. Both bills would trim red tape from some frustrating features of the federal financial aid system. And both bills are bipartisan, with heavyweight Republican sponsors and interest from the House of Representatives.

It might seem like this could add up to something rare — real lawmaking! But don't get too excited. As much as members of Congress love to talk about helping students pay for college, these proposals are likely to get stuck, like everything else, in Congressional dysfunction, partisanship, and protocol.

That's even though the legislation is trying to solve what almost everyone agrees is a problem: the system of federal grants and loans for college is far too complicated."



Why two bipartisan bills to make college affordable are going nowhere in Congress - Vox (http://www.vox.com/2014/7/17/5910739/why-two-bipartisan-bills-to-make-college-affordable-are-going-nowhere)

Perhaps to validate your point....it seems that most simply want to ridicule either the rich or the poor instead of really trying to solve the problem.

IN my simple mind, the only contrary opinion to this would be those who do not want to work to get a future and I agree with you, it only applies to the minority.

It, to me anyway, gets very old (to me anyway) hearing that the only way to solve this is to take money from people who earned it and give it away.

[Rags123]

ll leave you folks alone but I am frankly a bit tired of the conversations on sharing the wealth and redistributing it around a bit, BY MAKING LAWS, etc.

How about the old fashioned way of showing folks how to do it them selves.....getting educated.

Besides what I said in the post above...this is current news but not so you would ever see it. It has no po.....al value thus it is ignored..

Panel: Improving rural education is key to helping poor communities - Post and Courier (http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140730/PC1603/140739913/1031/panel-improving-rural-education-is-key-to-helping-poor-communities)

and how it (education) actually improves health....

How A Good Education Can Actually Improve Poor Students (http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/07/22/3462880/study-nutrition-school/)

I just do not think it is asking so much for folks to work toward an education to break the poverty cycle, or too much to ask of our politicians to enable them.

[slipcovers]

ll leave you folks alone but I am frankly a bit tired of the conversations on sharing the wealth and redistributing it around a bit, BY MAKING LAWS, etc.

How about the old fashioned way of showing folks how to do it them selves.....getting educated.

Besides what I said in the post above...this is current news but not so you would ever see it. It has no po.....al value thus it is ignored..

Panel: Improving rural education is key to helping poor communities - Post and Courier (http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140730/PC1603/140739913/1031/panel-improving-rural-education-is-key-to-helping-poor-communities)

and how it (education) actually improves health....

How A Good Education Can Actually Improve Poor Students (http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/07/22/3462880/study-nutrition-school/)

I just do not think it is asking so much for folks to work toward an education to break the poverty cycle, or too much to ask of our politicians to enable them.

Are you going to volunteer? Contact Kitty, she has all the info. Thanks in advance.

[Rags123]

Are you going to volunteer? Contact Kitty, she has all the info. Thanks in advance.


Not sure if you are simply being a wise guy and even though I have no obligation to you, despite your sarcasm, to justify anything.

As the spouse of a lady who taught elementary school for 32 years and spent 3 years back in the early 2000's as a tutor in Wildwood, and I, as someone who has spent his entire life with volunteer work from Boys Club to working on the streets with young folks, I feel as if I am entitled to my opinion.

I assume from this kind of posting that the opinion here is to continue with the hate the rich, condemn the poor and offer no suggestions except for the sarcasm. Perhaps this is what folks here thrive on !!

[buggyone]

Education certainly is a game changer to ending poverty. College, however, is not for everyone but technical training is sometimes better for a lot of people. Government grants or low interest loans should be available to all who NEED them to further education.

No one should be talking of "redistribution of wealth" as an idea and no one has except in p......al ads.

Of course, everyone has the right to their opinion on this forum and it is not right to play down another's opinion. Look up quotes from John Stuart Mill for some good reasoning.

[Rags123]

Education certainly is a game changer to ending poverty. College, however, is not for everyone but technical training is sometimes better for a lot of people. Government grants or low interest loans should be available to all who NEED them to further education.

No one should be talking of "redistribution of wealth" as an idea and no one has except in p......al ads.

Of course, everyone has the right to their opinion on this forum and it is not right to play down another's opinion. Look up quotes from John Stuart Mill for some good reasoning.

Of course technical training is part of education and that is understood. And when you see the statistics on education and lack of work you wonder why it is not taken seriously

As to redistribution of wealth it surely is being discussed but whatever.

I thought opinions were welcome also and offered mine...guess it is required to volunteer somewhere to fulfill some need in order for it to be read and responded to with any intelligence. Back to name calling and generalization to satisfy ones own..whatever :)

[slipcovers]

Not sure if you are simply being a wise guy and even though I have no obligation to you, despite your sarcasm, to justify anything.

As the spouse of a lady who taught elementary school for 32 years and spent 3 years back in the early 2000's as a tutor in Wildwood, and I, as someone who has spent his entire life with volunteer work from Boys Club to working on the streets with young folks, I feel as if I am entitled to my opinion.

I assume from this kind of posting that the opinion here is to continue with the hate the rich, condemn the poor and offer no suggestions except for the sarcasm. Perhaps this is what folks here thrive on !!

My post certainly was not sarcasm. Just hoping maybe you may have some time to help. If not, that's okay. Sorry