Poverty is one of the issues that got me more excited than usual in this campaign year. But it’s a hard topic to get your head around. Many of us don’t know people who live in poverty.
Or so we think.
Instead of reinventing the wheel, please read this MSNBC article on the truth about poverty in America today. It’s getting worse, not better.
When soup and bread start becoming luxuries, things are worse than anyone could imagine. And it’s not going to get better any time soon.
So if I’m not going to write a lot and rely on the MSM today (in honor of my 25 x 2 b-day!), I can do this — for every comment on this Blog Action Day post by midnight Wednesday, I’ll donate $1 to the Capital Area Food Bank.
Ready, set, comment!
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Thanks to everyone who commented! I will be donating $110 to the Capital Area Food Bank in honor of all your participation!
October 15th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Happy birthday! And what a great way to mark this day!
October 15th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Happy Birthday and thanks for so ably demonstrating that we can make a difference one person at a time.
October 15th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Happy Birthday, PunditMom!
Remember, age is just an accounting error!
October 15th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Happy birthday! May God bless you!
October 15th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Yay for you!
October 15th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Happy Birthday! This is a good thing you are doing.
October 15th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Happy Birthday – from a Mamma for Obama!
October 15th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Yay! Thank you!
October 15th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
The numbers are absolutely stonishing and scary. Thank you for doing this and Happy Birthday. I wish you all the best!
October 15th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Happy birthday! And yay for blog action day.
October 15th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
What a fantastic contribution! If only everyone were as generous as you!
October 15th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Good for you giving back on your birthday – a day of usual self indulgence.
Very admirable!
October 15th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I’ll comment to that, Punditmom. Have an amazing birthday!
xo
October 15th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Excellent idea!
October 15th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Happy Birthday. This is an inspiring idea.
October 15th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
This whole thing really makes you think – thank you for this.
Happy Birthday and congratulations for doing this!
October 15th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
What a great way to celebrate your birthday!
October 15th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Happy Birthday! Thanks for supporting a great organization!
October 15th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Happy Happy Birthday!!!
October 15th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Happy Birthday… Fifty is Nifty.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Happy Birthday! And great idea…thanks for doing this!
October 15th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Add another dollar to the donation and have a fabulous birthday!
October 15th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Great post and fundraising idea!
October 15th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Way to spend your birthday Giving is so much better than receiving. Thank you
October 15th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Former Austinite here saying thanks for supporting the Capital Area Food Bank. –TG
October 15th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Happy 25X2!
October 15th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Happy birthday! what a great way to honor your birthday by helping.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
love this, Jo. happy day to you, and thank you for using your birthday power for good.
xoxo Deb
October 15th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
What an awesome way to celebrate a birthday! More people really need to start following your example!!
Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!
October 15th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
This is a great thing your doing!
October 15th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
What a great idea for blog action day, and a generous birthday gift reversed!
October 15th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Say hi to PunditGirl for me and have a happy birthday!
October 15th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
When I went to college in Tennessee I was amazed at how my fellow calssmates lived. My roomie had never lived with a flush toilet… here Grama had one, but she lived ‘in town’ and they didn’t have them ‘back in the holler’
I have a friend, oldest of 8, who had never been to a Shoneys or Ruby Tuesdays… for birthdays they went to McDonalds… other than that they ate what they grew or could buy at the co-op.
The same friend had a calculs text book stolen at the library… he said that he would need to share until Christmas… and even then if he couldn’t get it used than it would be more expensive than the $100 limit his folks had per child… think that was a high limit? That included the budget for winter coats / shoes.
He was in his early 30′s… in his 20′s they didn’t have the $ and he couldn’t get the loans to go to school.
Pverty is much closer than people think!
October 15th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Happy birthday. To a poverty-free second half century for all of us…
October 15th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
D’oh, I mean “you’re doing” I hate it when I do that!
October 15th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Count me in for a buck!
We care about people hunger too!
October 15th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I love it! Add me for another $1 – good work.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Happy Birthday and thank you for doing this, I hope we break the bank
October 15th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Happy birthday – love your idea of celebrating
October 15th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Yes, I just had coffee with a friend today who works with the elderly in a small suburb of cleveland reknown for it’s great housing, great programs, and afluence. (to a degree)
She said last year they had 15 families getting food assistance. This year? 55.
It truly is bad all over. If we could get one side to quit inciting near riots and spreading out and out lies and racism, maybe we could all work together for a solution. Hummmm
Back on track…great post. Thanks!
October 15th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
GREAT idea! Thank you for a great post!
October 15th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
your efforts are definitely appreciated. thanks!
October 15th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
An excellent idea. May you receive hundreds of comments today.
October 15th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Happy Birthday!
October 15th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
happy birthday and thanks for caring. add another dollar to the total!
October 15th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Welcome to the 50-something set! I am writing a check to my local foodbank in honor of your challenge. Happy Birthday!
October 15th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Loved your idea so much I stole it. Happy birthday–guess we know where all your birthday money is going!
October 15th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
happy birthday you are doing a wonderful thing to share your day with those in need.
October 15th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Happy Birthday! You’ve got my comment!
October 15th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
this is really awesome of you.
and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!