No where to be found

Imagine that one day you come from work or school, and coming to the gate and it’s locked not being able to go inside you warm home. Not being able to go get your things because the bank took your house. Not having a place to sleep and you have to go sleep in someone else’s home. Slowly fading away becoming into this person that starts to disappear. We hear about people getting killed, Celebrity gossip but what happens with those individuals that are not shown in the television? Those people that are in need of a helping hand. Those people who do not have a home a job or anything. They do not exist they are nameless, nobody, homeless, nothing. That’s why the news does not talk about them because they are nobody.

According to Poor in America 18.7 percent of Americans ages 65 and older live in poverty, 14.3 percent of adult’s ages 18 are below the poverty. 17.9 percent of Americans ages 17 and younger live in poverty. The National Agency Security poverty Rate that in 2008 Whites was 11 percent, Asian Americans 17 percent, African Americans 24.7 percent, and Hispanic Americans 29 percent lived in poverty. 28.4 million families have been provided with food Stamps. Four families that has been going through homeless or just not having enough at home because the family is going through some choices between food and electricity. For those individuals they cannot learn or work because you do not have food in your body the only thing that you would think of is food. 

MEND is an organization that helps people who are though economic crisis. MEND pervades services like food, clothing, dental help, showers baby showers, helps them seek for jobs. Walking in to the building there is a feeling of sadness, desperation, clueless, but also an overwhelming vibe that there is still hope and comfort. Never seeing coming across to a facility that pervades all of these programs is the greatest things in life. Coming from a low-income family and also going to churches to ask for food and feeling embarrassed because we had to stand out side and as a teenager you didn’t want no one from school see you stand in line waiting for food. MEND gives you this building that gives you and let’s you keep you bit of dignity. They stand for that they are titled (Meet Each Need with Dignity).

My group and I were giving the opportunity to take an orientation. We walk around and went behind the walls were they distributing food. You can feel that vibe that feeling that everyone is working together for one good cause. Nobody is higher then anyone everyone does everything as a group. People smiling working hard. We also walk to the health center a beautiful place. The facility is better then other places that you pay for to see a dentist or a doctor. Their boutique it is just like a store. They give call you buy a number, give you 20 minutes to find clothes, you can get only eight clothes for each family member. They help you find a job and if you have a job interview they help you pick and outfit and help you look sharp for your job interview. You can see how everyone is trying to help those people that are in need that want to do something in their life but right now it is difficult. Even though MEND do not supply them with a home they supply them with other things that can help them progress in life. Feeling with emotion and trying to keep it in because I wish that there were a place like this in my own community

As a volunteer my group decided that we were going to make home visiting. We went to this house in a pretty neighborhood. We thought it was a scam because it was a pretty beautiful house. We meet the lady that we were suppose to meet but she told us that she live with her seven kids plus her and her husband in one room. I wasn’t shocked because I live in a one bedroom with my two sisters plus my parents but never with seven in one room. Growing up in black and immigrants Hispanic community poverty is seen a lot.  Churches how they would donate food and clothes for those who are needed. My parents would let other needed families, and single moms. First was with this mom that her and her daughter would live in the streets would live in homeless shelters. Some parents that are hooked up to drugs or just prefer to live from the government and not decided to do anything for their selves. Some parents do not see what harm they can do for their child. It’s becomes a cycle. I have learn from a mom that some that have and till this day still does anything I mean anything for their kids to be able for them to succeed in life.

There are those types of people that they do not have a chose and start fading away slowly. Not being an able to find the light to get back on their feet. There are those who still try to hold on to the last bit of hope to be able to get back on track. There are also those people that prefer to get help from the government with out them trying to succeed, and those who just love being homeless. We should all start becoming more aware and not take the things we have for granted because one day it can be yank out of out hands. We should be always thankful because we are never guaranteed that we will live in abundance. We should always try to help those who want to get back in our feet because you will never know if you might need them.