Wednesday, October 15 is Blog Action Day, and the purpose is to generate worldwide discussion about an issue — this year the issue is poverty.
According to the site, “By doing so on the same day, the blogging community effectively changes the conversation on the web and focuses audiences around the globe on that issue.”
From a quick look at the more than 9,400 sites participating, there’s plenty to write about. And according to the US Census Bureau, 35.9 million people live below the poverty line in America, including 12.9 million children.
In September my column at 5 Minutes for Mom focused on this subject, identifying ways to develop social awareness in our kids. Although I’ve never experienced poverty, and I’ve been personally blessed with a financially steady upbringing and adulthood, I certainly know it exists. And it’s closer to home than we sometimes think.
My husband works in a school district with high poverty statistics - more than half of the school’s population receives free-or-reduced lunch. And he knows from his own low-income childhood that poverty is hard on all families - even strong and close ones.
If you’re looking for ideas for what you can do, the Blog Action Day blog is a good place to start.
I’ll add my favorite Blog Action Day posts throughout the day tomorrow. A few include:
Jonathan Fields — Kids Helping Kids
Digital Photography School - 17 Images of Poverty
ProBlogger - Reflections on Poverty
Freelance Writing — How Reading Helped One Woman Rise Above Poverty
Jessica Knows — Eleven Moms and Walmart Team Up
Bella Casa — Poverty - What Can One Person Do?
First Giving - Online Fundraising to Combat Poverty
The Lamp NYC — Poverty and the Media
Everyday Baby Steps — Blog Action Day, What Will You Do?
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7:46 pm
Thank you for this post — I did not know, and now that I’m informed I will be participating! Unfortunately poverty in this country is a lot more prevalent than most realize.