Michelle Hruschka of the Hamilton Campaign for Adequate Welfare and Disability Benefits, made an impassioned plea to ask for food stamps or debit cards to be provided to low income earners, so that they can shop with dignity, where they please. This was in the context of discussing rates for social assistance payments and provision of food. You will know that Michelle has been a staunch advocate for those disadvabtaged and part time workers. The full story is here
Kudos to you Michelle!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
5 comments:
Your comments are welcome. Please abide by the blog's policy on posting. This blog facilitates discussion from all sides of issues. Opposite viewpoints are welcome, provided they are respectful. Name calling is not allowed and any posts that violate the policy, will not be authorized to appear. This blog also reserves the right to exclude comments that are off topic or are otherwise unprofessional. This blog does not assume any liability whatsoever for comments posted. People posting comments or providing information on interviews, do so at their own risk.
This blog believes in freedom of speech and operates in the context of a democratic society, which many have fought and died for.
Views expressed by commentators or in articles that appear here, cannot be assumed to be espoused by The Hamiltonian staff or its publisher.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Thankyou Michelle!!!!
ReplyDeleteSylvia, Mrs. Hockey!!!
Thank you so much for the wonderful tribute.
ReplyDeleteThe words I spoke are from the members and other citizens and we represent the 100,000 plus that struggle everyday in poverty.
We brought up other items such as the substandard food that is given out at the food banks, the lack of accessibility for those who are disabled, those who have lost their ID. We also brought up the fact that the foodbanks, are not inspected enough, by a city official they are only inspected once a year but that clearly is not enough.
We called for inpsection reports to be posted with a contact number to public health so those who receive substandard food can make complaints that would ensure confidentiality.
We advocate for community gardens and even greenhouses, where people can grow their own fruits and vegetables all year round. We advocate for more local food, many of the local farmers, themselves struggle to make ends meet as well.
We also called for living wages, social assistance rates that reflect the true cost of living and we want community members to live in dignity.
The Campaign For Adequate Welfare and Disablility Benefits meets every second and fourth Wednesady at First Pilgrams United Church at 200 Main Street from 1 to 3 pm.
We are always looking for new members to join us, to become a part of the greater group.
Together, with the many voices, we can be part of change for the better.
Love and peace to all
Michelle Hruschka
member of the CAWDB
I was given a ticket for a box at the stadium yesterday. It was advertised in the spec as containing food for 3-4 days. (for 1500 families from feed the children) Everyone got the same size box. It was very quick to get it but other than that it was a disappointment. I will list the contents.
ReplyDelete3 vortman apple turnover cookies
2 boxes of weird cereal (1 expired)
vitamin drink crystals
dented 1 can tomato sauce
2k bag of ring shaped pasta (1 can of sauce would go far...)
1 large bag of chocolate chip cookie
apple-strawberry spread
orville redenbacher micowave popcorn
1 can mini ravioli
box of premium crackers
digestive bars
organic peanut butter (no date)
I can't see how this would feed a family like it said. Notice the complete lack of fruit/veggies/meat etc as usual.
Today a church downtown does its foodbank (only open 3 times a year for holidays) It was a 2 hour wait and the line was still huge after me.
Contents of a family box: (singles got less and no chicken)
1 frozen chicken
2 onions
1 box raisin bran (expired jan 09)
tea
pasta sauce
3 koolaid jammers
potato flakes (expired nov 08)
evaporated milk (expiry april o9)
spaghetti
peanut butter (expiry feb 08!)
rice mix
cookies
3 mr noodles
campbell instant noodles
1 can tuna
I did phone there to ask about the old food afterwards but I doubt I will ever get an answer
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/651242
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/651241
I bring the lists to this forum and the articles posted in the spec, that makes others in the community think that those who struggle are being well looked after.
Take note of the expired items. Where is public health in all this? I mean it is great to try and do something good but giving out food that is expired could make someone very sick or even possibly death.
Where are all the fresh fruits and vegetables? In the first list how does this figure for 4 full meals, as it say in the article?
Campaign for Adequate Welfare and Disablity Benefits and/or Michelle: Please email me at caldifalco@cogeco.ca I was troubled and saddened to read that last post and would like to have you as a guest on 10 Tough Questions. I think the issues you raise are worthy of illumination.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Cal DiFalco
Publisher, The Hamiltonian
Gypsy Angels United Gardens Enterprise
ReplyDeleteI think it is great that Cal is taking this
buck behind the scenes to tweak and provide
a sensible presentation.
Cal may already be aware of my keen interest
in whole food. I've already planted my boot
near the gate of the movement which intends
to create a fabulous Community Garden Project
at Gage Park, mere footsteps from my back porch.
I respectfully reserve my pointedness until Cal, Michelle
(Campaign for Adequate Welfare and Disablity Benefits)
rake out the details and present a darling TTQ post
replete with a dazzling images draped in exousia.
My apologies for not commenting here earlier.
IT must have slid too far from my viewer.
For your amusement I am also planting my /root
http://wrcu2.static.golden.net/GAUGE/
We put the U in gardening at GAGE
YOU are at the CORE of our PARK
Thanks for sharing Michelle and Cal
May you ignite and we hear the spark
Mark 4:24 and the listeners swell
What a fine endeavor to embark
Happy Thanksgiving and
Please Pass The Salt