62 people hungry people, including a mother with three children who “just had no money for food”, were fed Tuesday night at Calvin Presbyterian Church. This is the third year for Tuesday night meals at this location, three years of increasing numbers of hungry people needing to be fed.
Two days earlier the Blue Bus handed out bags of food to 113 people – before running out. Late comers were at least fortunate there was some stew and coffee left to put something in their hungry stomachs.
Wednesday at Global Harvest floor space to move around was at a premium because of the need to crowd extra tables onto the floor to feed the hungry, including children, who came for an evening meal.
At Hillside’s monthly lunch there was just enough to give everyone one serving where usually there is enough for seconds and thirds – and it was not the quantity of food that changed.
Gordon Campbell and Rich Coleman blithely assured British Columbians that there was no need to react to the report prepared for BC Mental Health that cited 15,500 as the number of homeless on the streets of the province because “These reports always lag behind” and “I know what is happening on the ground”.
NO, you “know” what your plans say is happening on the ground. We all know just how much attention Reality pays to “plans” – none. If the politicians took the time to step outside their sheltered, privileged existence, they might come to see the difference between what they think is happening and what is actually occurring.
Rather than spending the Easter break lying on a sun soaked beach, courtesy of the large raises they voted themselves out of taxpayer’s pockets, Mr Campbell and Mr Coleman should earn those exorbitant salaries by booking their places on the Breckenridge Homeless Life Tour.
Nights spent at various locations – the emergency shelter, under bridges, bush camps, doorways or just on the street. A chance to learn how to find washroom facilities you can use or to find a place cleanup or to shower. A culinary tour de force of food sources for the hungry poor, including far too many chances to experience the delight of having to survive the night(s) without food.
Pack light tourists; keep in mind your need to carry all your belongings with you. The tour does include the one opportunity to wash and dry your belongings – if you are fortunate; it also includes opportunities to seek used clothing.
The Tour provides a unique opportunity for direct feedback from those so directly and adversely affected by government policy or lack of policy.
Whether Mr. Campbell or Mr. Coleman will take the Tour, whether they have the mental and physical toughness to last two weeks in the reality the homeless and poor face daily, they need to get out of their golden castles into the real world and experience the world of seniors, families and children who “just cannot afford food” or of the poor and homeless who “simply cannot afford housing”.
Mr. Campbell, Mr. Coleman and all the Liberal MLAs need to heed Jawaharlal Nehru’s admonition on the need to temper theory with reality; they need to open their eyes and truly see the effects their decisions and actions have on the citizens living in BC who are not part of the privileged classes.