Don't forget the homeless this holiday season.
So today I’m finally getting up my Christmas tree and watching my crazy cat get excited about it. Of course being the kind of person I am, I started thinking about those homeless people that don’t have a tree or even a home to feel warm and safe in. I was wondering about the statistics and decided to Google it. Low and behold I find out that this is National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. It seems that this day was set aside to honor the homeless because it is the beginning of winter and the longest night of the year.
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/
http://www.bloggersunite.org/event/national-homeless-persons-memorial-day
Wow, 770,000 homeless kids are enrolled in public education. As a teacher I find that figure is stunning. I know in my own classroom I see more and more of a divide between those that have what they need and those that just don’t. It seems there is a resolution to combat homelessness. It passed the House on December 2nd, but to my knowledge, not the Senate. That’s not really surprising is it? http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=hc111-325
Here are the sponsor s and more. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=hc111-325
I’m just posting this here to hopefully make people more aware of the need in our country to address the issue of poverty, the homeless, jobs, hope and hopelessness. We all go shopping for Christmas presents and feel like we’ve done something when we put a couple bucks in the Salvation Army pail, but something more needs to be done to address the issue of the homeless. The answer isn’t “out of sight, out of mind” either. We must step up and help in any way we can the least among us. If Congress can step up and help the millionaire’s club, they should be able to do more to help those that are suffering this holiday season and wondering where they will lay their head tonight and sleep.
If you can help out this season, do so. If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask! If you are a blogger, spread the word!