I wanna take a break from our regularly scheduled program of all things fuck MS
I don’t have any poetic words or sassy comments for this one
When I’m not writing crabby and sometimes hopeful blogs, I’m a youth worker in a contained classroom within a high school setting
I work with up to 8 youth between the ages of 14-18
While we are open to working with all genders we do tend to have a largely male population
The youths that come to us have sometimes been in similar programming before, or have no idea what we offer
They come from catholic or public schools, from treatment or detention
They come from single parent families, two parent families, foster care or completely broken homes
They come from diverse backgrounds and religious affiliations
Some of their families were born here while others immigrated to Canada
The youth come to us with the official purpose of being reintegrated into mainstream schooling one day
Unofficially
Well that’s a different story
They come to us because of negative situations they’ve found themselves in
At school or in the community
They come to us from abusive homes or homes where they just don’t matter
It’s hard to say which is worse
So
They come to us looking for a place in the world to belong
Even if it’s just Monday to Friday
We try to offer them a soft landing spot
Where they can stop acting or reacting
They can just be
And lately
More often than not
They come to us hungry
I don’t mean hangry type of hunger
I mean stomach pains and shrinking stomach type of hunger
Where they go to sleep hungry and wake up hungry
And teenage boys
Well they have a very hard time asking for help
They are reluctant to admit that there’s no food at home
Fuck it no young person should ever have to face having no food
No young person should have to deal with the shame that goes with having no food
On top of all the other shit that goes on in the life of an adolescent
Lack of food
Should not be one of the difficulties they face
Yet they do
Everyday
And we become detectives
Observing their sallow and dry skin
The way their jeans hang off of them when they never did before
If they brought lunch
Asking questions about breakfast or dinners
And so
We take them grocery shopping
And marvel at their amazement in being able to pick out a cereal
Not the kiddy sugary kind
But the oat and nuts one
That are usually just too expensive and out of their reach
We watch as they worry about making us spend too much money
And try to remove things from the cart
Things we suggested they get
We struggle to remind them that we are able to purchase this or that for them
And we wonder what will happen when they’re no longer with us
It would be easy to say that the life skills taught will be enough to get them from one negative place in life to a healthier better one
But that’s not the reality they live in
It’s not the reality I live in
So we focus on the now
We focus on ensuring that they can get to school when they want to
That they can eat food when they’re hungry
That they have toiletries and hygiene products when they need to bathe
But what happens when they leave our program?
Who takes care of them then?
When they’re too old for children’s aid to be involved?
Maybe society needs to step up
People often like to pretend that there are no children going hungry in our part of the world
But that’s an ignorant belief
Take off the blinders
People are so quick to point out all the flaws and negative behaviours youth might participate in
Social commentary on parenting and discipline is ever present
Everyone expresses their sadness
But these youth need more than to know that your heart hurts for them
I understand that this is not the reality in most people’s worlds
But just because you didn’t go hungry as a kid or because your kids don’t go hungry now
Does not mean that there isn’t a young person who hasn’t eaten anything today
All damn day
I’m miserable when I skip breakfast
Or if I didn’t have my morning cup of coffee
Please remember these youth year round
Not just on holidays
Simply put
We have got to start doing better for our youth
All of us
Me included
It takes a village…
I think it a good thing that you point this stuff out. It frustrates me to no end that many people get all high and mighty about the sanctity of life yet there are so many kids who slip through the cracks and whatever safety nets are in place and many of these same people don’t give a shit
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Thanks Steve. I know some people might not want to read about hungry kids but its reality and I wish more people knew about it
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This was a wonderfully written post. Also a little heartbreaking. With all that these kids are dealing with in live, you really are making a difference to them. I don’t know if it amounts to much but, I do try to donate to our local shelter for women and children. I always give clothes and blankets so the runaways, women that are escaping from an abuse significant other and those that fell on hard times have something to wear and something to keep them warm. Last year I crocheted 10 blankets for the local homeless shelter. It breaks my heart to see children suffering and I feel helpless to do much for them. These innocent children did not asked to be born and are not cared for from as babies, so when they start getting older and are trying to make it in the world alone or trying to have something they can consider a family might not make great decisions. You and the people you work with are amazing to help them. Even if the kids do not say it, they value all of you!!!!!
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That’s so awesome! I’m sure the blankets are very much appreciated. I used to work at a shelter for homeless youth and whenever people would take the time to drop items off the kids would absolutely love it. Thank you for doing your part xo
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It is completely my pleasure. I want to be able to do more. It makes me sad to know kids go without food and love.
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