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Wednesday, 03 June 2009 09:24 |
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The Vukelic Family
By Erin Vukelic, Age 20 Today I learned just how important solidarity
and empathy towards the poor truly is. I pride myself on being able to
sympathize with other people, even when I express my goofy personality.
My mother and I love to laugh alot. So when she came home from work and
we started to prepare our dinner of spaghetti and tomato sauce and
bread Soon enough I had started the "can we afford this game". "Mom,
can we afford this can opener?" "Can you afford the headband your
wearing?" Can we afford to listen to music on a CD player?" No sooner
than I had started the game I wanted to finish it. I felt bad, like I
was making fun of people living in poverty. God teaches us to be
colorblind. So what right did I have to be criticizing people for my
own enjoyment? I felt disgusted. I wanted to take it back. I felt
ignorant, and expressed that to my mother. She helped me realize
that only when we recognize our own imperfections ourselves is when we
can get the courage to work on those peoples behalves. Perhaps this is
what the experiment is about. Becoming aware of another way of life, if
even for a few days, and experiencing feelings from a different
perspective. That is true empathy. In order for a change to occur we
must step outside our comfort zone. Music is a passion of mine. A tool
I can use to relax and spend time with my own thoughts. Music is truly
universal in any situation. It is also considered a luxury. That is the
luxury I have given up for the two days. Being without vices like
technology when a family is put into a situation that can quite frankly
put members on edge(which has happened)glaringly emphasizes the values
of human interaction and patience and family togetherness. It takes a
very strong unit to not only provide resources physically, but
emotionally take care of each other too.
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Tuesday, 02 June 2009 16:38 |
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Aaron Bartley
Director
P.U.S.H Buffalo
My calorie intake is way down today, and I'm feeling less productive and a little spacey because of it. At lunch I was faced with a choice that seems typical of those living in poverty: buy low-cost, sugary, high-calorie, unhealthy foods out of the corner store or buy higher-quality food with fewer calories. I did the latter, and I'm hungry. I got a can of decent tuna and a yogurt from Guercio's. three hours later I'm craving more, but I 't think I'll have to wait until dinner.
As I reflect on this experience, I keep coming back to the many layers of stress that compound to create the true condition of poverty. How hunger can turn into low productivity, which can in turn cause joblessness or under-employment, which can then be compounded by depression and addiction and may spiral into homelessness. I'll only be experiencing the beginnings of this spiral through the Challenge.
I've already become a little more mindful of some of the daily, seemingly small challenges that a lot of my immediate neighbors face on the West Side. Buffalo has pretty pitiful public transportation most of the time. I happen to live on a great bus line that takes me right to work, but what if I needed to get to a doctor's appointment or a job interview?
Another immediate effect of my lower calorie intake is that I can't imagine doing much exercise today. I usually do something aerobic three days a week. Can't imagine doing that in my light-headed state.
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Tuesday, 02 June 2009 14:30 |
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Michael P. Kearns
Councilmember, South District
City of Buffalo Today I took the South Park 16 bus to work and was
almost late for my first committee meeting of the morning. I gave myself
over an hour to get to work, however taking public transportation made my day a
little more hectic. First, I had materials that I brought home to prepare
for my first meeting and did not have the luxury of throwing everything in the
back seat of my car. Secondly, I had to sprint to catch the bus so I did get an
unexpected early morning sprint in down South Park Avenue . Finally, I
had to make sure I was up early enough to get on the right bus so I could make
my first meeting and walk from the bus station to City Hall. While I
enjoyed the ride and the walk was pleasant it definitely added pressure to my
day.
Approximately 30% of the residents of Buffalo rely
on public transportation or the metro rail. It is important to realize the
importance of these services our tax dollars provide for the benefit of our
community. Although we are the third poorest city in the country, we need
to realize that the working poor must have the same opportunities to be
gainfully employed and support their families. Sometimes walking and public
transportation are their only choices.
Well I did bring my lunch today which I will eat
for dinner. I will check in tomorrow with my progress on my bike ride to
work. |
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Tuesday, 02 June 2009 12:34 |
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The Vukelic Family By Paul Vukelic Editors
Note: The entire Vukelic family decided to join the Challenge. The
Poverty Challenge is normally set up for a single individual. The
Vukelic family is working with a budget of 33.95 cents for a family of
five after fair market rent and clothing costs were taken out.
Late last night the Vukelic family members assembled to
discuss our approach to the next two days of the Challenge. First, we reviewed
all the criteria so that we all understood the true process in undertaking this
challenge. We then went through the budget requirements laid out and determined
what items we had to live with and what items we could live without. This was
our sacrifice moment as we all, individually had to make decisions based on the
overall good of the family. One major decision we had to make was our cars.
Right now we have use of three cars. Based on the daily allotment of $8.87/day
we knew a sacrifice had to be made. We ended up with the use of one car with
Amy walking to work, Gregory making arrangements to be picked up and I would
come home from work , leave the car, then get picked up by a co-worker to
attend an evening business event.
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Read more...
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Tuesday, 02 June 2009 20:22 |
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Sr. Sharon Goodremote, FSSJ
Public Policy Coordinator
Catholic Charities
I'll be going to bed hungry tonight. I can't remember ever going to bed hungry. I recall a fact from the Poverty Reduction Blueprint for Buffalo: 47% of the children in Buffalo under 17 years of age live in poverty. If you live in poverty - you usually go to bed hungry. Practically half the children in the city of Buffalo go to bed hungry. Then I think of children who live in poverty in Niagara County and Cattaraugus County. I think they have fewer services, soup kitchens and food pantries than Erie County. A large number of those children go to bed hungry. It's painful even trying to imagine their faces and the hunger in their eyes.
How will this change me? Thursday night, after the poverty challenge, I will have eaten 3 healthy meals - I won't be going to bed hungry and that helps me get through tonight. These children know that, like tonight they go to bed hungry and they'll more than likely they will go to bed hungry on Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday night.....
This makes me angry that such a situation can happen in the richest country in the world and that I, in some way, must be responsible for letting it continue. Now that I know more of the experience of poverty and the facts of poverty I cannot live in the same way. One thing I will do is to share with others this experience of mine and the reality of life for so many young people, even at events where people may not want to hear it. --
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Tuesday, 02 June 2009 16:29 |
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Justin Azzarella 
Executive Director
Elmwood Village Association
“I'm hungry. Really, really hungry. I'm only not eating because I really want to try sticking to this budget for the day. I'm feeling what it must be like to be in poverty, if only a little bit. If I had more money I would buy food.
I can't imagine what would happen if I got sick or had an emergency. I think that's the most terrifying part of the Poverty Challenge so far. I ate at a food pantry today to cut back on my lunch expenses. I saw many people with failing bodies and minds. It became clear that they do not have the luxury to care for themselves like I do. The meal I received at the food pantry was filling but very unhealthy! It was filled with carbs and sugars and almost no protein at all. What was available on the menu was what I was given to eat. I don’t eat tuna fish so my tuna fish sandwich went uneaten. Now that it’s almost dinner time I’m wishing I sucked it up and ate the sandwich. It’s food, why on Earth was I being so picky!” |
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Peanut Butter and Jelly for Lunch |
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Tuesday, 02 June 2009 12:59 |
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 Paul V. Vukelic
President-COO
Try-It Distributing
Well… I just consumed my peanut butter & jelly
sandwich. I decided to eat it at my desk so that I could get some emails
processed. I have a open-door policy here and did I get some comments about my
peanut butter & jelly lunch. Initial reactions were laughter and disbelief
from several people. They had a hard time believing I made the choice to eat
just that for what? Poverty Challenge, What’s that? I explained as
a family we were living off of a total of less than $38 today. I got blank
looks and stares. What are you doing that for?
Based on these initial reactions
from friends and colleagues, there is much work ahead in overall awareness of
the plight of the poor and our fellow Buffalonians. Now I can’t wait to
explain to others why I am not eating at tonight’s function where there
will be table of food and open bar. Why am I doing this?
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Day 2: Little Luxuries… Like Toothpaste |
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Tuesday, 02 June 2009 09:45 |
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The Vukelic Family
By Amy Vossen-Vukelic
The fact that Fair Market Rent comes off the
top of our poverty level budget and how poverty effects not only where we live
but the types of housing in which we can live connects clearly with my
challenge on this the first day, given the family conversation we held last
night. We met late in the evening, when everyone was already tired, to
talk about our budget for the next two days. Immediately we all
realized that those sacrifices we were choosing to make fell into the
same category for each of us: our coping mechanisms. We ended the
conversation confidently, which worried me, because it seemed like we had too
much money, at least from what I remember from our experience of last year.
In order to reach our goal for this
challenge (to eat three meals each day), everyone decided to go
without cell phones, especially since we have the landline. We are making
it work with one car (we have two). Paul works thirty-five minutes from
home, Greg found a ride, and I am able to walk to work.
Everyone took a sandwich and an apple for
lunch, and will drink water all day. Breakfast consisted of a bagel for four of
us. I stayed with coffee and a container of yogurt.
Our evening schedules are the coping
mechanisms that are affected: Greg, 22, lives for Ultimate Frisbee,
and is unlikely to find a ride tonight because we live in the city
and all of the other players live in the suburbs, closer to the
field. which means he may have to skip practice and an important
team meeting. His attitude went sour very quickly, and his mood became
defensive, clearly worried that he would have no physical release for the
overwhelmed feelings he has around college graduation, an impending move to Alaska, and a
decreasing network of friends. Emma, 15, wanted to know why she had to pool her
money with ours? She could do just fine with her allotment. Erin, who will be
home today, is uncomfortable with the impending silence all day (we are going
without television and cell phones, both life lines for her). This
conversation was tense, and we all had full stomachs! We are fortunate to live
in a house that allows for private spaces to retreat to. If we lived in a Fair
Market Rent apt or house, we would have all been forced to stay in the same
room after our tense conversation. Emotions stay charged in tight quarters.
Space is definitely a luxury!
This morning, during our morning routine, I
realized that we totally forgot to include all of the expenses we incur, ones
that are so quietly parts of our day that we don't even think about them. For
instance, while making sandwiches for everyone, I realized that the plastic
bags, aluminum foil, or plastic containers were not covered by Food Stamps. Nor
were all of the paper products we use: toilet tissue, paper towels, tissues for
our allergic noses. Toiletries needed to be counted, like toothpaste, Q-tips,
deodorant, shampoo, lotion -- all luxuries today, rather than invisible
pieces of our days.
Those personal purchases that I intentionally
make are ones that help keep peace in our household. Much of my energy goes
into maintaining respectful and open communication between everyone, and
adolescents take a different energy. Already this morning I gave up a part of
my morning ritual that feeds my spirit. Also, I am a person who fights to keep
weight on. On my walk to work today (30 minutes), I became concerned that my
energy output was going to outweigh my caloric intake. Ordinarily, I make sure
to eat a mid-morning snack. Today I will need to eat some of my lunch to stay
alert. I also realized that my walk is so much easier based on another purchase
I made: substantial walking shoes. If I had to live on this budget longer, I
knew my feet would be very sore because the quality of my shoes would be far
worse. I also had no heavy baggage or baby stroller to push. On those days when
I have more baggage, I drive without a second thought.
Lastly, in yesterday's blog I mentioned that
one reason we all need to fight poverty is to give respect and dignity back to
people. Today I remembered something from a recent workshop on poverty,
that fragrance becomes a luxury. How true! I am trying to do without those
things that chip away at my self-respect and dignity, like deodorant.
I can easily keep distance today, so that decision was easy. I
couldn't go without the toothpaste. This sentence seems silly, I know. But I am
often credited with a ready and bright smile...the thought of smiling without
brushing my teeth instantly created anxiety for me.
The kids said they would comment more
tomorrow, that they wanted to live through the day first.
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