It's only money... right?

This is a true story of a lady I will call Liz. I first began working with Liz several years ago at one of the non-profits in Waukesha. Part of our jobs were to help empower women, whom have seen some tough times. Ironic that our educations and intense, front line positions only enabled us to begin making a whopping $9.00 an hour.

I was fortunate that I could afford to work there. I loved working with these women. Liz, however, couldn't hardly afford to work there. A young, single mom. She was willing to pick up extra hours when necessary (which was always) because she, too loved working in the field.

In here lies my point. Liz understood that she was throwing away her money on renting every month. She wanted a home for her and her little one. With pittince in savings she proceeded to see if she qualified for a home. DUH! Of Coarse she could. No credit? No savings? No problem!

And so Liz and her little one moved into their lovely home on the border of West Allis and Milwaukee. Liz is now a home owner.

Not only is Liz a home owner, but she was able to qualify to buy a NEW car. It was gorgeous! (I have to admit that I was a little jealous after driving my used little import, which is not much to look at but gets good gas mileage.) She purchased a new Toyota 2 door. One of the sporty models.

On the back of Liz's car are bumper stickers to the effect of "Feminists for Democrats", "Don't Blame Me, I Voted For Kerry"... you get the picture.

Liz found extra work this fall with the Democratic Party in Milwaukee. She emailed us, wrote us, texted us, called us, and invited us to rally's, speeches, etc... in favor of Obama and the Democratic vote. On one very somber Wednesday (for me) in November I got her final text regarding that subject. Something about her joyous victory. Now, she believed, some wisdom will be brought to the economic and social service political tables.

Liz also told me that she was facing financial crisis. No longer able to drive her beautiful supped up car she was facing foreclosure. You see it didn't take long before her affordable dream home needed a roof. She was forced to take in a roommate. Her and her daughter shared a room.

Soon after that she was given the opportunity to move into her parents home so she could take in more roommates. You see the house had now dropped its value so sharply that she owed more than she could sell it for.

Her answer. File bankruptcy and blame the Republicans. Hmmm.

You see Liz didn't get that memo regarding the progress blocked by the Democrats regarding The Community Reinvestment Act. You see in 1977, when Liz was just a lil one herself congress enacted this Act to help avoid discrimination to the poorer communities. So lovely in thought, so dangerous to our economy.

Fanny and Freddy are not looking so good. And now neither are Ford, Chrysler, and GM. Our US Lawmakers will decide in December whether or not to give them 25 BILLION dollars. Bankruptcy among the automakers. Obama will consider a pre-pack package.

Now my friend Liz is not doing so well. No longer able to teach empowerment to women due to poorly managed leadership at the non-profit, she works at George Webb. Still living with her parents and hoping a wealthy buyer will come along and offer her what she owes on her house before she files those bankruptcy papers. I feel badly for her. She really is a good hearted person.

I should encourage her. Her Robin Hood has made it to the White House. But I just don't feel like it.

my morning latte'

Good Morning.
Drudge

• I'm glad to be in America this morning. I'll bet the Burma activist, Nay Myo Kyaw wishes he were also. This blogger gets a sentence in prison for poetry.
• You won't be able to keep your cold to yourself for long. Google is under surveillance by the govt. Don't you just LOVE being watched!
• Catholic Bishops have made a vow to fight Obama's abortion laws. Just say NO to murder.

JSOnline: I still don't like the new look at JSOnline. I need too many clicks to find where I am going and the dates are not posted on the stories. Just for whatever it's worth... Money seems to be the bottom line in the following two stories regarding our children and our elderly. Hey, if we start compromising their programs to save a buck that is then spent on social services catering to the unemployed and drug addicts coming to our town from larger cities... we are a really screwed up city!

• Money continues to be a consistent problem in our schools. The Waukesha School District is looking into different options to re-construct our children's educational system.
• Senior citizens meal programs to be consolidated.
• Chicago investors make bad on deal in Waukesha.

So as I'm reading the news today, I notice a repeating theme in some different publications. Lake County Living prints this article about food pantries. The Waukesha Freeman prints this one about donations for the Volunteer Center. So my question to you is: If donations for these services are down... let's say the food pantry for example. What will these people who use the services do as a result? Who do they serve?

" The Food Pantry serves Waukesha County residents who are unemployed, working poor, and/or underemployed; individuals with disabilities; those with health issues and related costs; the elderly; and children." The Food Pantry of Waukesha

Crime will inevitably go up, right? I mean I've worked in food pantries before. Yes a lot of the people are just going through a tough time and need a temporary crutch to get out. But the majority of folks were the chronic unemployed.

Okay, you've heard me rant about this before, don't bother complaining unless you are willing to become part of the solution. What's my solution??? We become a community with responsible accountability! There it's that simple. If my neighbor looses his job due to the liberal govt. extending loans to unqualified buyers because it looks good on their resumes'... and he (my neighbor) can't find anything else. I, as part of his community, would help. Send out the word at my place of employment, help him update his resume, offer to get together occasionally. Whatever! AND if they are struggling to put food on the table I would buy him some groceries. Isn't' that the golden rule???

Why have we gotten so caught up in our fence lines that we have lost community? Can't we go beyond our 'now established' comfort zone and create a new one that includes community? Listen, I don't want the govt. playing robin hood with my hard earned buck. But I do know what it's like to need a crutch. We need each other. I don't want the government to be our extended family. That's our neighbors job. It's just what I think.

my morning latte'

T.G.I.F... I say sincerely. What a week!

At this point we press a head and learn from what was left behind.


I've learned to stay involved.
We plug into our communities especially the areas we are passionate about. (no passion left? that's okay too but stay involved anyway)

• Are we complaining to our neighbors about city issues? Go to the city meetings.
• Do we have compassion for the homeless? abused? Visit social service agencies and learn more. But be wise, balance that out with other information sources as well.
• Are we seeing our schools/churches/hospitals/ etc... going in directions we love or hate? Get on the boards. Join the PTO, visit sites, volunteer.

But stay involved.

It was in my junior year D.E.C.A. class at Waukesha South when I learned this valuable lesson: Unless you are willing to become part of the solution, stop complaining about the problem. In other words either be quiet or get involved. It was a good lesson.

Drudge: We can thank Biden for the heads up. International crisis is looming over our nation to welcome Obama to his new home. Obama campaign workers are mad about not getting paid.

Fox News: Accepted offer for the White House chief of staff. Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel will fill the position

JSOnline: Former Hartland, Arrowhead student gets pleads guilty for killing his girlfriend.

Exactly what Waukesha needs right now... MORE low income housing. And we are getting it. The Waukesha County Affordable Housing Task Force announced that they are going to move forward to make more affordable housing here in Waukesha. I wonder what they are going to do with the extra crime that follows? What about the drugs? Are they going to address the maintenance of these properties down the road? Because one drive downtown to any of the Pine Point apts. or most of the Berg properties will show us that what we need is NOT more low income properties, but to clean up the properties we already have. Then maybe those respectably working low income residents will feel safe enough to inhabit them.

Lake Country Reporter: Merton schools will see a make over.

Waukesha Freeman: Short takes on developing stories: Waukesha profiled on America's most wanted, Milwuakee woman boards Brookfield bus to start fight, more on the Frame Park deal, keeping kids safe from Internet porn.

Have a FABULOUS FRIDAY!

my morning latte'

What a gorgeous November morning. I can hardly believe we have temps. in the 70's on 11/03 in Waukesha County. I've been having 'turtle' response Internet time, which in turn has delayed my posting.

JSOnline

• I know this sounds 'anti-community' but I don't believe more money is the answer to solve the problems that are addressed by our Waukesha social service agencies. Yes we need a strong financial base to help these agencies succeed. The real problems tend to stem from poor 'corporate' organization. One of our major social agencies located here in Waukesha is inviting Milwaukee's problems into our small downtown Waukesha... and asking us to give more money to fund it. No more! I'm tiered of big city gangs, drugs, prostitution and lack of accountability in our community. I'm more than willing to support, both financially and otherwise, programs that are addressed to Waukesha. Stop asking for my finances and glorifying verbiage to manipulate your programming towards Milwaukee servicing and telling me it is for Waukesha. In the mean time Waukesha is suffering and people needing those services here are going without.


• Bandannas are out of the schools. Local schools are 'tightening-up' their dress code policies.
  

  "...What's not fine are the pops of cleavage occasionally displayed up top..."

  I want to know why a 16 year old girl needs a push-up bra to begin with? Just asking....


• 11th hour moves to be made. Hey, it's not over til it's over.

Waukesha Freeman

• How much does your vote count? Some are saying about $8. Candidates spend $8 for every vote
• Haws expanding?

Drudge

• Palin wants to know more about why this is just surfacing. Obama is planning on bankrupting the coal industry.
  
  


• Ohio Coal Association is seeing through the smog of Obama/Biden rhetoric.
• Obama's illegal aunt found. But where is his uncle?

Help is needed

Have you ever needed a little help? For most of us it is embarrassing, humiliating, humbling to NEED help. It forces most to do things that they wouldn't normally do under normal circumstances. Unfortunately we are hosting, in our community, a large number of folks who NEED help. They can't afford groceries, toiletries, diapers. Without places like the Food Pantry of Waukesha County, what would they do? What would YOU do? Resources low, kids hungry, credit exhausted?
Well... I am a true believer in what goes around, comes around. You reap what you sow. Are we investing in our communities or contributing to the despair of others?
Now in case you are wondering, and for those of you who know me well, I'm not a believer in enabling unhealthy lifestyles. I.e.: give a drunk cash for his/her next bottle. Instead, I truly subscribe to healthy accountability. Sometimes, however, our very basic needs need to be met before ANY help can be received. Not a single one of us is beyond hard times, especially in today's economy. Besides, it's easy to help. Really.

I am asking if you would you consider hosting a food/diaper drive in your neighborhood or place of employment? I've done this and it's really a no sweat way to help out others. The Food Pantry of Waukesha County makes it even easier by offering free downloads and assistance to help get you started.
Check out their site at: http://www.foodpantryofwaukeshacounty.org/food_drives.html for information. "If you have any questions or require any type of assistance in coordination a food or fund raising event, contact Michael Jonas, Associate Director at 262-542-5300 or Michael.wfp@tds.net ."
Oh, and did I mention that since The Food Pantry is a non-profit, you can get a donation form for your taxes???

Feed the Hungry

I am ashamed to say that not until recently, like the past 6 or 7 years, have I been aware of some of our communities services. Yeah we already know, by default, about our schools, churches, hospitals... yaada, yaada... But not necessarily other stuff.

I have been involved in social services, on several levels, for the past few years. Those experiences has forced me to learn about our Waukesha resources. While at the last Art Crawl downtown on Oct. 3rd. I asked a few people if they knew about any of them. Shelters? Clothing? Food? Most people were oblivious to our resources, just as I had been. Soooo, I would like to invite readers to learn more about our community here at Blog-Waukesha Talks. Please give them a call, check out their site, or stop by. First stop... Food!

• Organization Name: Food Pantry of Waukesha County
• Location: 215 W. North Street, Waukesha
• Phone: 262-542-5300
• Who Do they serve: "The Food Pantry serves Waukesha County residents who are unemployed, working poor, and/or underemployed; individuals with disabilities; those with health issues and related costs; the elderly; and children."
• Hours of Operation: Donation Hours: Monday-Friday: 9 am-4 pm Additional evening hours provided on Thursday: 6-8 pm Saturday: 9:30-11:30 am Pickup Hours: Monday-Wednesday: 1-3 pm Thursday: 1-3 pm 6-8 pm Friday: 1-3 pm Saturday: 9:30-11:30 am
• Website: http://www.foodpantryofwaukeshacounty.org/index.htm
• Tag Line: End Hunger
• Mission: "Hunger hurts. It denies dignity, lessens human energy and impairs the potential of people to succeed."
• Did You Know?: That the Food Pantry is not a government agency, but a freestanding, nonprofit organization that distributes food - donated and purchased food as well as surplus U.S. government food.

A little about the Food Pantry of Waukesha County. According to their web-site the pantry 'serves approximately 5,752 people each month from all parts of the county.'

Special Events:

• What: Celebrating A Community That Cares:The Food Pantry of Waukesha County’s30th Anniversary Event
• Invitation Reply Card
• When & Where: Sunday, October 26th, 3:00 p.m.Country Springs Hotel & Resort

Here is a copy of their newsletter from Summer/Fall 2008

If you are involved with a non-profit in Waukesha that you would like to see featured here, please e-mail us at: waukeshablogger@gmail.com. All posted information from this post was found at: http://www.foodpantryofwaukeshacounty.org/index.htm