Communities paying the price of COVID-19
By: Lee Ann Higgins
All over the globe covid has left a mark on society. Almost like a scar that is trying to heal. For many families getting the essentials they need is only one of the things on the long list of worries they have. Low- income families are in more distress due to businesses getting less customers, increased number of people in the household, and loss of jobs due to covid. Households are trying to sustain money from what they already have earned, but they still need the same care as any other financially stable families.
This is a year no one will ever forget. There are many other reasons that this year could be deemed the worst year yet. The main issue that everyone knows about is Covid. What many do not recognize is how this not only affects people physically, but mentally. Parents become stressed due to trying to handle the financial side of things as well as taking care of children if they have any. Loss of jobs has created not only a drop-in unemployment, but without jobs no one could earn money for their families. The government has been trying to aid by designing a law that eventually was passed on March 18th, 2020. The Bipartisan Policy Center stated, “It also gives the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) the authority to adapt meal pattern requirements if COVID-19 has caused a disruption in the food supply.” Often in time false assumptions are made about the poor.
There is a general misconception that people in poverty are the only ones who struggle with food insecurity. Anyone can struggle with food insecurity although the impoverished are more likely to battle with food insecurity. Food insecurity itself can take a different route with anyone’s thinking. J. Layman, who is a tenth grader at Hillgrove Highschool said, “There’s always a part that wishes you could do something for the less fortunate, but most of the time you can’t.” Many students like him would love to help but are unable to drive or do not have the money to give. There are other ways to give without going to the store and buying new items. Feeding America is an organization that allows the community to come together to donate unused cans of food in order to assist low income families. There are locations in several different states and counties for individuals to drop off fresh food items. On Feeding America’s website, they declared “Food drives can raise 700 pounds per distribution location — roughly 583 meals.” All those meals go to a family in need of support.
Not only are adults affected by not being allowed to get the nutrients they need. Children have been quarantined along with their whole household. Many doctors and professional children’s pediatrics think with all that is going on can lead to larger problems. ScienceDaily.com states “…three pediatricians at Johns Hopkins Children's Center and Children's National Hospital, are children from low-income households who are experiencing major disruptions in already inconsistent routines and less-than-adequate resources critical to learning, nutrition and social development…” This changes lives for students who live-in low-income households. It acts on things such as: School, social life, and being healthy. Children who are in low- income families can condition a child to think differently. Adam Mcpherson, a tenth grader at Allatoona High School explained “…Human beings as a whole are influenced by people or things who have or do what they want knowing they can never get it or not knowing how to get it. Especially children in this case.” There are quite a few points to be looked at when considering everything a low- income family goes through.
Covid has shaken people across the globe. Hopefully, this can get better over the next few months. Everything can go back to normal. Our communities can work together to solve worldwide problems as we go and give people hope. The groups or individuals who are giving of themselves (being involved in food drives and things of that nature) are one part of this solution, there are many other ways to help this issue. We just need to wait for what is to come.
This is a year no one will ever forget. There are many other reasons that this year could be deemed the worst year yet. The main issue that everyone knows about is Covid. What many do not recognize is how this not only affects people physically, but mentally. Parents become stressed due to trying to handle the financial side of things as well as taking care of children if they have any. Loss of jobs has created not only a drop-in unemployment, but without jobs no one could earn money for their families. The government has been trying to aid by designing a law that eventually was passed on March 18th, 2020. The Bipartisan Policy Center stated, “It also gives the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) the authority to adapt meal pattern requirements if COVID-19 has caused a disruption in the food supply.” Often in time false assumptions are made about the poor.
There is a general misconception that people in poverty are the only ones who struggle with food insecurity. Anyone can struggle with food insecurity although the impoverished are more likely to battle with food insecurity. Food insecurity itself can take a different route with anyone’s thinking. J. Layman, who is a tenth grader at Hillgrove Highschool said, “There’s always a part that wishes you could do something for the less fortunate, but most of the time you can’t.” Many students like him would love to help but are unable to drive or do not have the money to give. There are other ways to give without going to the store and buying new items. Feeding America is an organization that allows the community to come together to donate unused cans of food in order to assist low income families. There are locations in several different states and counties for individuals to drop off fresh food items. On Feeding America’s website, they declared “Food drives can raise 700 pounds per distribution location — roughly 583 meals.” All those meals go to a family in need of support.
Not only are adults affected by not being allowed to get the nutrients they need. Children have been quarantined along with their whole household. Many doctors and professional children’s pediatrics think with all that is going on can lead to larger problems. ScienceDaily.com states “…three pediatricians at Johns Hopkins Children's Center and Children's National Hospital, are children from low-income households who are experiencing major disruptions in already inconsistent routines and less-than-adequate resources critical to learning, nutrition and social development…” This changes lives for students who live-in low-income households. It acts on things such as: School, social life, and being healthy. Children who are in low- income families can condition a child to think differently. Adam Mcpherson, a tenth grader at Allatoona High School explained “…Human beings as a whole are influenced by people or things who have or do what they want knowing they can never get it or not knowing how to get it. Especially children in this case.” There are quite a few points to be looked at when considering everything a low- income family goes through.
Covid has shaken people across the globe. Hopefully, this can get better over the next few months. Everything can go back to normal. Our communities can work together to solve worldwide problems as we go and give people hope. The groups or individuals who are giving of themselves (being involved in food drives and things of that nature) are one part of this solution, there are many other ways to help this issue. We just need to wait for what is to come.
