The United Way of Greater Plymouth County News
Is help on the way?
By Dennis P. Carman
Thu Dec 04, 2008
PLYMOUTH - Help. It is so desperately needed now and seemingly in such short supply. Our faltering economy has only added to the troubles of our neighbors who are already struggling to make ends meet. More of our family and friends have gone from living on the edge to falling over the edge. Many are hungry and seeking food assistance, but the shelves of many of our local food pantries are empty. Many of our neighbors are not able to afford to keep their houses properly heated, especially in light of the rising costs of utilities. Some of our neighbors are actually losing their homes due to foreclosure.
Panic, however, is not helpful. Certainly, we must be aware of and make reasonable decisions based on the current economic realities, but anxiously wringing our hands or wilding flailing our arms around while we make belittling accusations of whom to blame and proclamations of impending doom are not only not productive, they are counterproductive. On top of hard times, do we really need more demagoguery, sarcasm and cynicism?
There are more positive ways that we can help ourselves and help each other. Getting good information is helpful. If you are interested in finding out where you may find resources to help meet your needs, then you can simply dial "211," identify where you reside, describe your situation, and a knowledgeable operator will provide you with the name of an organization and its telephone number where you may receive help. If you need someone to help advocate for you in acquiring needed rent and mortgage money, food or utility assistance, you can dial the Helpline at 866-621-4747.
Resources from the federal, state and local government are becoming scarcer, however, so we must be realistic about what to expect. Though we are fortunate to have many high-quality non-profit health and human service organizations with compassionate staff that are dedicated to helping our neighbors, these agencies cannot fulfill every need. Many government programs were never intended to be anything more than supplemental assistance.
There are a few things that we can do to help ourselves and each other beyond what governments and organizations can do.
Conserving is helpful. Though it may sound old fashioned, turning off light switches in rooms that are not in use saves money. Carpooling still saves both gas and the environment and has the added advantage of allowing us to spend some quality time with family, friends, co-workers and neighbors. Even cutting back on how much we eat and being more careful about what we eat could reduce our food expenses and help us live healthier lives.
Sharing is helpful. Public libraries are wonderful resources, and they set a perfect example of how sharing things is cost efficient. We may joke about the neighbor who borrowed our power saw and never returned it, but lending our tools or other possessions spares us the expense of unnecessary purchases. Given the high cost of heating our homes, wouldn't it be a creative idea if five mothers/fathers with pre-school children decided to take turns sharing their home with the four other families during the day so that only one instead of five households needed to expend their precious fuel dollars?
Why should we help? Well, not helping our neighbors is costly. For example, if a person cannot afford needed medications and ends up going to the local hospital's emergency room, then we all pay in increased health insurance premiums. We also needlessly risk losing the life of one of our beloved neighbors.
Giving help has many advantages. It feels good to help someone. Just ask people who do it on a regular basis. We can also learn so much from those to whom we are reaching out. People who need us to help them with our resources are resources themselves. Veterans of our wars, our elders, people of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, and single moms all have unique experiences to offer us, and perhaps some wisdom that may come in handy for us one day as we face similar challenges in our lives.
So, if you are able, consider contributing to a local emergency fund or making a donation to a local charity or volunteering at a local emergency shelter or food pantry. Conserve energy and share things.
Is help on the way? It is, indeed, as long as you give it hands and feet. Thanks for being there for your neighbors in need.
Dennis Carman, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Plymouth County, can be reached at (508) 583-6306 ext. 105.