Who the downturn really effects
I was walking to the grocery store to buy apples for a pie I am making this weekend to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving when I suddenly realized exactly who the upcoming recession is going to effect.
The guy my local Albertsons employs to collect carts after patrons have unloaded their groceries into their cars. He keeps busy because most folks do not return carts to the collection bin.
There is something a little off about this guy. He seems reluctant to interact with people and he wears sunglasses night and day. His brown polyester pants are hiked up a little too high but and he is exceedingly polite.
A few times he has approached me as I loaded my car up.
"I'll be happy to take that when you're done," he says. Then...
... he retreats a few feet. He seemed uncomfortable making eye contact when I thanked him.
Yesterday he was standing in one corner of the parking lot looking for misplaced shopping carts when it hit me. This guy is going to be the first to go. He doesn't provide an essential service and could be easily replaced when the economy picks up again.
But where else would he find a job? How would he buy food and pay for housing? Maybe he is protected by the grocery union or maybe the store won't have to cut back at all. When folks cut back they eat at home more, which requires more groceries.
But thinking about his fate left a hole in my stomach, and it wasn't just because I had not had dinner. I'm not sure I can directly help this guy or other low-skilled workers, but this year instead of donating to a charity that helps poor people abroad, I am going to donate to my local food pantry or homeless shelter. I'm sure they will need all the help they can get.
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About The Bargain Hunter
Daily News staff writer Julia Scott loves to find bargains on everything from groceries to Gucci. Her tips will help keep your hard earned cash where it belongs - in your pocket.
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Hi Julia. I don't think that guy will be let go. It would be the state budget cuts that let him go, not federal. I am a special education attorney and my husband is an MFT and works with disabled adults (he is a counselor in job rehab facility by day and works in a psyche ward in a mental hosptial at night). In years past, he was a job developer for disabled adults. The state offers incentives to the employeers to higher disabled adults. The incentives are worthwhile to the corporations, especially in recession times. The hard part about employing a disabled adult is the ignorrance of the management. Many people still have retard on their brain and such. Sears is one of the worst companies out there. However, Target is one of the best. So I don't shop at Sears since they can't take care of our own.
There are lots of anti-poverty agencies in the Valley that need monetary donations and could use volunteers, especially at the holiday time. Why not start a list for readers to reference for both donations and volunteer opportunities?
I think you should always give locally first. The LA Food Bank and the Salvation Army are always first on my list.
I have two commments, actually:
First, food pantries get A LOT of donations during the holidays, when everyone is in the giving spirit, and the shelves have been bare or essentially bare during other times of the year. Please remind people to give throughout the year. It's a great way to help others.
The second comment is that I am the executive director of the Gull Wings Children's Museum in Oxnard, and we are running a community food drive all during the month of November - for every three canned or nonperishable food items brought in, you will receive one free child's admission. (A great bargain for many families in this tough economy!) In regard to the first comment I made, we will run a food drive like this every quarter from now on. For more info, you can visit our website at: http://www.gullwings.org/
Thanks!
Great blog and uplifting too. thinking of others puts our own problems in true perspective.