I need the help of you wordsmiths

[littlelion1961]

This is the second time this subject has been in our newspaper. I feel compelled to respond to the BOE via a letter to the editor.

SUBJECT: TAKE-HOME MEALS FOR STUDENTS

"The BOE is now resorting to contacting some manufacturers of microwavable meals to see if they would consider donating to a program" . . . . . that would provide take-home meals for students.

"With a growing number of today's students either living in single-parent homes or in families where both parents must work to make ends meet, Mr. Shook said it worries him that many of the county's children may not have anyone at home to fix them a meal in the evenings."


There are some situations in our area that have me riled and this article has sent me over the edge. Below are some of my "issues". IMHO this is child neglect and/or abuse.

1. There are children taken out of and put back into households that are dangerous for them; over and over again. Slap a Band-Aid on the problem and hide your head in the sand.

2. There are, and have been many, many, single parent and two-working-couple families and yet they manage to feed their children.

3 If a child is not old enough to warm up leftovers stored in the refrigerator (by responsible parents) then what in the he!! are they doing home alone????

4. Somehow in this crazy would, we need to take an honest look at our methods of child advocacy and come up with some better ways to take care of them. In my experience there are too many parents who won't take the time to help their children with school work, won't teach them basic living skills, feed them, discipline them, etc.


I am tossing this out to you all. This is not a political issue, this is all about giving our children the best we can give them.

[jmarie]

Have you considered going a little deeper and asking them why they are considering this? Is it possible that food is being forsaken in order to provide other necessities? You may probably be correct in your assumption, but I would speak to someone and find out what is going on that they are requesting this.
Joyce

[littlelion1961]

Thanks for responding. In one instance the parents are drug abusers: Beat each other up, cops come and take them to jail and the children go to wherever; and the family is all reunited by 8:00 a.m. Ad nauseam. The children (4) go throughout the neighborhood asking for food.

In other situations (this is really touchy) the parents are not intelligent enough to take care of themselves let alone children. It seems to me, our rural areas are rampant with this problem.

But - - - - -this does not call for another BIG social program, IMHO. Our children are falling through the cracks and they need hands on, one on one assistance. And parents feet should be held to the fire. For too long we have thrown money at this situation so that we can feel better and our children are worse off.

Thud, I just fell off my soap box. I forgot to mention the purpose for this thread: My thoughts are soooo helter-skelter and I need some objective criticism and constructive prose for this letter to the editor.

[mbrogier]

While I completely agree with you on the neglect, I don't see an issue with this 'bandaid'. Social workers are already stretched to the breaking point with overwhelming caseloads for serious abuse... like the little 4 year old girl I read about last night on another bulletin board that had been beaten so hard with a fly swatter that she had nasty bruises all over her legs and rear. The child care worker saw the bruises, asked a few questions, and called a friend in the police department. The parents were arrested (mother and boyfriend), and the girl was taken out of the home.

There are hundreds of those cases. There aren't enough foster families to take every child who is being neglected away. If the parents aren't physically abusing the children and have food for them, child services is not pushing to take these kids away.

I think maybe this guy is saying, "Hey, it wouldn't be too expensive to give these kids better food. It's a shame that these kids don't have parents that give them well balanced meals for whatever reason, but why should the kids suffer when we can help?" I've dealt with kids in not good situations, and I've had a parent call me and want money for groceries. (She was spending most of her time in bars with her new boyfriend.) I gave them food, not money because I didn't think the kids would see that money. I also took the child out to dinner...to Chilis. It was the first time she'd ever been to a Chilis type restaurant and was overwhelmed. She was 15, so I also tried to help her with nutrition and hygene. Child services was very aware of that family's situation, but in Detroit, there were so many cases that were far worse. If this family could have gotten decent free meals, I would have done all I could to support that. Kids shouldn't have to live on cereal and potatoes, but there are so many that need help.

This meal thing is just a small thing that could be done for the kids. Ideally, all kids would be in loving homes that nurture them, but sadly, we know that isn't going to happen. I say encourage this effort but also strive for more reform. No it isn't the ideal program, but it's better than nothing being done for that particular family because Child services is so overwhelmed. Also, more families should foster children. It is tough, heart and gut wrenching work to get involved, but something's got to be done.