Saturday, January 16, 2010

Are you KIDDING me?

Many, many years ago my church discontinued direct support of unknown persons out of concern for the welfare of church staff. There had been some uncomfortable moments for the church secretary (who is often the lone person in the building) when people who came in expecting cash handouts were instead offered groceries. So instead, we affiliated with the Metrocrest Social Services Center. They have been a good organization that has assisted thousands of persons of need. They are professionally staffed and well respected for the work they do.
Each month, Covenant Presbyterian designates a special offering recipient. January 2010 is Metrocrest month. When an organization is designated as our donation target, a brief explanation of their mission and programs is printed in our worship bulletin.
The description of Metroplex included the news that the service center is still assisting families displaced from Hurricane Katrina. Huh?
I feel badly for those impacted by the terrible storm. Surely their lives were totally disrupted. Recovery, in all senses, likely seemed impossible for many. Yet that is the only option we are left with in this world, isn't it?
So to hear that a charity located hundreds of miles away is still assisting displaced persons that came to DFW in the wake of the storm five years ago bothers me. I want to know why do they still need help? Job training programs should have been able to get them new skills. There are still plenty of jobs in this area that are hiring, albeit at low wages. But make some freaking progress here, people.
I have been a Kennedy Democrat for as long as I remember. I am reading True Compass right now. I can't imagine Joseph Kennedy, Sr. thinking it okay for able persons to live off the efforts of others.
Nope.
Time to give those folks a cut off date and move them along. There are others that need our help.

2 Comments:

Blogger Wake of the Flood said...

This rant is clearer than your Facebook one. Now I get your outrage. You're not talking about working with folks in New Orleans; you're talking about general assistance payments to folks who moved to DFW. I can see where special circumstances might precipitate the need for extended assistance (health issues and such). Maybe even child concerns. But a new born then is entering kindergarten this coming year. Seems like an appropriate time for weaning.

8:37 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow, that is ridiculous. I know that many people were displaced to my county also (a bit east of you) & remember seeing newspaper articles asking for donations to help them out, but that was when it happened - not 5 years later!

10:09 PM  

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