Today is November 6th, I am writing this at 4:04 am. Yes, I slept but the time change has messed with my dog's mind, and she needed to be fed at 3am or she felt she was going to die. No, she did not tell me that, but her urgency indicated that. This is not about the dog though.
So, being up I went about my business. I got the mail. There was the Trader Joe's flyer that I seem to get every holiday season. Unfortunately, it triggered a myriad of thoughts and feelings.
November 1st many SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients did not receive their benefits, so they don't have money to buy food. That being said, there are some local efforts including good Samaritans and food banks. There is basically a mess with judges' opinions and politicians doing whatever it is they do but it all appears to be a royal mess and there aren't pretty or fancy words for it.
As I looked at the Trader Joe's flyer I saw the expansive list of items for sale, the recipes and the stories about how Thanksgiving may look. Turkey Trots then a great meal etc, etc.
So, what will Thanksgiving look for those SNAP benefit recipients that may not have money or resources to provide a holiday meal? What if they receive the same flyer. That pains me.
Social media has become a cesspool. Yep, I said it. Go there and watch videos of people criticizing and saying negative things about SNAP recipients. We can do better as a society. A society where I have heard "empathy" be considered wrong and a weakness. Needless to say, I have never seen such vile thinking and speaking in my various trips around the sun. I am not a Spring chicken.
I am not sure what we can do, but perhaps those who are able, can donate to a food bank, ask friends and neighbors over to Thanksgiving and maybe ask them if they need anything and help them out. Call churches, temples and see if they have anything planned. If you belong to a civic or community organization, get together and donate, create and do.
Empathy is not a dirty word. SNAP assistance is there for a reason. Do not judge.
Share some caring and dare I say love around, it seems to go full circle and does enrich your life. Ugliness, selfishness and nastiness is poison. Botox and surgery does not fix that.
Let's hope that the SNAP situation is resolved. Food insecurity should not be happening.
