(This is submitted as a paper/proposal that will be submitted to social service or non-profit organiations).
Help With Hunger: COMMUNITYCARES COUPON
Helping the hungry without supporting the habit
Rhonda Gilliam-Smith, Doctoral Candidate
Dept. of Educational Leadership
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
November 12, 2007
The goal of the CommunityCares Coupon is to provide a venue for concerned citizens to help feed the poor and hungry people in Cincinnati without supporting any habit they may have by giving cash money.
The CommunityCares Coupon is a viable solution to the challenges of feeding our hungry citizens.
Rationale
Helping the poor and homeless today has become more complicated than it was a few years ago. Not only do well-meaning citizens feel uneasy about giving money to panhandlers, it is unsafe for the one asking for money. According to the August 8, 2007 press release from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, “Donald Francis, was shot for asking for quarter. This was the first documented homeless hate crime in two years.” This crime is a tragedy and absolutely appalling,” says Georgine Getty, Executive Director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. “Unfortunately it’s all too common that homeless people are the victims of crime.”
As I reflect upon how my attitude and behavior about giving has changed from willingness to apprehension over the past few years, I wonder how many other people have felt this same way. A few weeks ago, a young, Black female stopped me while I entered the Post Office in Cincinnati and asked me if I had money to give her so that she could buy food to feed herself and her three-year old daughter that was impatiently waiting by her side. I looked closely into the woman’s eyes, she appeared to be telling the truth. That closer look at the mother and daughter revealed that they appeared to be thirsty and hungry, just as the mother mentioned. As I reached into my purse trying to find a readily available dollar bill or two, I wondered if the mother would use this legal tender to buy drugs at the next street corner on Burnett, or buy food, that she seemed to need so badly.
The goal of the CommunityCares Coupon is to provide a venue for concerned citizens to help feed the poor and hungry people in Cincinnati without supporting any habit they may have by giving cash money. The CommunityCares Coupon is a viable solution to the challenges of how we help feed our hungry citizens.
Below is a sample description and explanation about how this coupon may appear and be financed.
SAMPLE DESCRIPTION
Each coupon may contain the following information
• Coupon Value
• Name of Participating Stores
• Social Service Information
• Positive Affirmations
• Location and number of Temporary Work Sites
(FRONT)
COMMUNITYCARES COUPON
Redeem for food only. No change back
50 CENTS
Good at: White Castle, Rallys, Kroger,and The Metro.
(BACK)
Social Service and Job Services Phone Numbers
Greater Cincinnati Coalition for Homeless: #
Project ACT: # (513) 556-1234
Free Store: # (513) 456-8979
Drop In Center: #(513) 355-8866
Retailers may provide these coupons at Customer Service Desks. Each retailer may agree to donate 50% of each coupon’s face value that is purchased by customers. Customers may purchase each pack of five for $1.25 and the retailer will contribute $1.25: for a total of CommunityCares Coupons of $2.50.