Let me share with you a story.
For a brief time, years ago, I lived in Langley. My children attended a school in the Douglas Park area, which is a poverty-stricken area of Langley. Although by outwards appearance the area does not seem that bad, the sad reality of life for many is not one of enjoyment, but of day- to- day, and week- to-week survival.
I realised just how bad it was within the first week of school in September. My first indicator was the lunch program sheet both the kids came home with. First of all, it was the first time the kids had attended a school that even had one, and secondly,the sheet not only had the selections for the week, and a box to check for payment - but also a box to tick if no payment could be made.
My second reality check came a few days later. Upon arriving at the school at the end of the day to pick the children up, a local grocery store truck came by and dropped off a large multi-level rack of day old baked goods at the front of the school. I was puzzled, and asked one of the staff what it was for.
” Rather than throw it out, the store brings it here to help out the low-income families. The kids are welcome to take one or two bags full each. “
I’m ashamed to say, that at the time, I was clueless as to how bad the problem was in many suburbs, especially Langley. When the bell rang and the children came out , it was overwhelmingly sad to see how many kids literally dove at the racks of bread, some of them ripping the bags open and ramming the buns into their mouths in obvious hunger. Others took as much as they were allowed and brought it home with them to feed the rest, but every child had a warm thank you to the staff member overseeing the dispersal.
There were always one or two spindly children who hung back after their allotment, waiting to see if there was any more extra to take home. My heart broke every single time this occurred.
When most people think abject poverty, they think the DTES, but my time living in Langley was nothing but a series of reality checks.
There were kids whose families were so poor that one meal a day was the rule. There were kids who would use the free buns and bread for their lunches. Imagine that. A dry piece of bread passing as a childs breakfast and lunch. There were also many kids whose parents- for one reason or another- were too proud to use the free lunch program, and would send their kids with the same sort of meal – one item that could barely sustain me throughout the day. My kids noticed too, and felt bad having such nutritious lunches and so I used to pack massive bags for my kids, so that they could share with others without making them feel like it was a hand-out. I just could not bear to think of those little kids being so hungry while sitting in their seats at school.
I drove through that area a while ago, and for all I could see, it looks like nothing has changed. I can guarantee you if you walked into that school with a tray of hot meals, there would be kids whose stomachs would be growling and lurching at the prospect of a good hot meal.
That, my friends, that is a crime in my eyes,because this is happening in many, many schools all over the province, not just Langley and Surrey and the East side. The consequences of poverty and hunger throughout childhood are profound and long-lasting, and it doesn’t take a psychologist to tell you that. A child cannot learn properly and cannot develop to their full potential with an empty stomach. Hunger on the level some kids are experiencing is like having an animal inside you that never rests. It is all-consuming.
Most people would assume that kids who live like this are from families on assistance, but that is not the case. Many are from families of the working poor- an increasingly prevalent condition in BC, in my opinion.There are so many single parents and families working and living on minimum wages in this province, and we currently have more people on EI than ever in recent years.
You do the math. $8.00 an hour, X 40 hours a week = $320.00 X roughly 4 weeks =$ 128o.oo a month, before taxes. That is not a hell of a lot of money, even if you double that with two parents working.
Regardless of the “challenging economic times” we are facing, there is no justification for the embarrassment for having so many children living in poverty.
I can say, with all certainty, that we stand to lose an entire generation of our province’s most valuable resource – our children. Why do I say that?
Whether you agree with me or not, I believe that it takes an exceptional set of parents and an exceptional child to overcome the environment and cycles that poverty perpetuates.
Children from poor homes face challenges other children do not. Hunger creates a difficult learning environment, as I mentioned, but children who live with the stress that poverty often creates in a family, will also be more likely to get into trouble later on in life, and potentially drop out of school.
When a child see’s no hope growing up, when that same child see parents, or a parent, struggling over and over, a child often will have nothing to reach for.
I believe that making our schools the safe harbour, the feeding point, the all access support communities for these children is part of the key to breaking this horrible cycle of poverty. If children feel that love,care and nurturing throughout those early years, they will see and become a part of those positive changes, therefore increasing the likelihood of becoming a successful adult later on in life- and thus becoming a vital part of our future workforce , rather than a drain on our systems. That is why cutting education budgets is crazy. That’s why cutting access to activities and programs and special aids and teachers aides, is insane. We need it. Our children need it. And most of all, the future success of our province depends on it.
I found a press release today, that stated the Province of BC’s portion for the revamped Robson Square skating rink was $1.3 million. $1.3 million dollars to fix something that can only be used for a small portion of the year by a limited number of people.
I can’t help wondering how many children in BC, that $1.5 million would have helped go to bed with a full tummy tonight, and wake up knowing there was something in the fridge to eat forbreakfast, for a change.
Yes, as the quote says in the headline above : ” Choice has always been a privilege of those who could afford to pay for it.”
Too bad the Liberals are all making the wrong ones.
I’m Laila Yuile, and this is how I see it.
There is nothing else to say, you illuminated the Subject so well.
What you describe is beyond sad……………….. and the Rink revamp is beyond cruel……………….
“Less caring, less sharing”, is becoming our Province’s mantra, trickling down from the self imposed raises and gold plated Pensions, of our ELECTED Government Officials.
We have no one else but ourselves to blame, for feeding this blight…………………………. myself included.
“ found a press release today, that stated the Province of BC’s portion for the revamped Robson Square skating rink was $1.3 million. $1.3 million dollars to fix something that can only be used for a small portion of the year by a limited number of people.
I can’t help wondering how many children in BC, that $1.5 million would have helped go to bed with a full tummy tonight, and wake up knowing there was something in the fridge to eat forbreakfast, for a change.”
Marie Antoinette said:
“Let them eat cake”
Lord Gord sez::
“Let a few of them skate ”
(for a couple months of the year and only if they can afford to get skates and get downtown)
Yes, it’s insane.
But the question is: can citizens activate some procedure for getting a psychiatric diagnoses of the handful of people who are leading this province?
How do we do that?
Well said, Laila.
RE: BC Mary:
Mary, though I believe you have a wonderful idea, it is not a crime to be mentally ill. I think our best bet is to have the leaders that are committing crimes against the people of BC prosecuted and convicted.
Personally, I think the skating rink downtown makes more sense than the multi-million dollar sinking Richmond Skating Oval, the Convention Centre, the bloated BC Ferries and BC Rail salaries for executives that don’t even have a train, the 20% raise in salaries and golden parachute pensions of the MLAs, the selling of a money-making railway for half-price, the multi-million dollar luge and bobsled venue, $32,000,000 to parade a bloody torch around the country for 100 days etc. etc.
With the skating rink, at least some of the working folk downtown may have a chance to lace-up an old pair of skates and have a bit of fun on a lunch hour or on their way home after work.
But if it had to be an either or or thing: hot lunches or a skating rink, hot lunches would win: hands down.
Thank you Laila. As always, you have painted an accurate picture. I remember days when my own children went to school with margarine and bread for lunch. If ‘those who have’ don’t think for one second that I was wracked with shame and guilt over my own failings as a provider, they’re mistaken.
I’ve faced nearly every roadblock this government has put in front of me and have either climbed over, gone around or tunnelled under. There were days when I just felt at a total loss.
Keeping my chin up these days but wanted to say ‘thank you’ for telling the story for those who aren’t able.
Hello, Laila!
I hope you remembering me! I was living near you in Steveston so many years ago, when I was coming from Mexico with my kids. Oh, you are looking so good from then!
I just wanted to say to you thank you for what you did to help my family when we first came to Canada. I know you could not be using all those bluberry’s! And I am never forgetting when you gived my kids those ten dollars and told them Santa got lost by your house! That made our first Christmas so nice for them.
The kids are all big now, and maybe you can come over and we make you some dinner? And your family!
Email me, ok? I miss you and love you!
From Juanita, Miguel,Juan,Rosita
Nice to see you Sharing! I hope things are well for you and yours.
I agree, if I had to pick, the oval would go before the rink, but then again, I wouldn’t have done any of this!
I’ve always been a firm believer of taking care of our own, you know?
Suzanne, what can I say? I just don’t understand where our government is coming from in addressing the poverty in this province. Getting rid of Mary Polak would be a good start.
But then again, if she spent less time fawning over Campbell in the legislature( yes, she really does. I watch it on the telly and it makes me gag when she looks at him with those doe eyes as if he had just invented fire ), and more time out in the real world , she might have an idea where to start.
As mothers, we do our best with what we have, and that is all we can do. I used to worry endlessly about how my kids would feel about me as they got older, for all the things we have been though, but I don’t anymore.
Last year, my daughter, who is now in university, wrote me a letter that brings me to tears thinking about it now. Even when I thought they didn’t know that I was going without for them, they knew. She acknowledged all the sacrifices I made and thanked me for teaching her lessons that will get her through life well.
It was one of those parent moments that make it all worth it. I guess what I am trying to say Suzanne, is that your kids will remember the bad times, but they will also remember the good. And although it sounds cliche, it is the love they feel that means more than anything else. I am always glad when you stop by to comment, Suzanne, and be well!
Juanita!!!!!!!!
Wow… soooo nice to hear from you! I will email you immediately. And yes, I did use all those bluberries – after about two years!!
Just for everyone else to know, what Juanita is referring to is something BC should still be embaressed about.
Juanita was a neighbour of mine when I lived in Steveston. She came to Canada from Mexico with her husband and three kids, but her husband left them as soon as they arrived, leaving her with three young kids to take care of.
Juanita spoke conversational english, but with three kids had a huge barrier for getting a good paying job, and so resorted to picking blueberries in the fields – with her kids!!
I would see them leave before I left for work at 6:30 am, and they would not get home until after I did at 5:30 pm. Yes, child labour does exist in Canada, or at least it did about 10 years ago. The owner of the field would allow them to take one extra flat of berries home for free every night, and they could eat it, or sell it.
When Juanita first knocked on my door and asked if I knew anyone who wanted some berries ( tired and worn, I could tell), I bought it right then and there, and tossed them in the freezer. And yes, I kept buying her berries the entire season, and froze them all.. lol.. and not one was wasted. But i have to say, I dont like blueberries anymore, and I boycott them based on the conditions most workers experience.
Sooo nice to hear from you, Juanita! Look for my email and we will talk soon!
I hope you win your election Laila, we need people like you!
Thank you.