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USA
Working women and their children constitute the overwhelming majority of people living in poverty in the United States, representing over 32 million of the nearly 35 million Americans living in poverty today. This is clearly a crisis. But the Federal Government is not working to make poverty eradication a chief part of its agenda; in fact, quite the opposite seems to be happening. With poverty levels rising for the past three years and the proposed budget for 2006 seeking to severely cut 150 social service programmes, the current Bush administration seems headed toward a shattering elimination of the social safety net. This has been gradually on the decline since it was established over 70 years ago, with the most recent assault on America’s poorest beginning in earnest during the trickle-down economics era of President Ronald Reagan.
It was in this context of a rising rate of homelessness and corporate layoffs that in 1983 in the town of Red Bank, New Jersey, an ecumenical group of 35 concerned people formed a vibrant resistance movement against poverty and hunger when they founded Lunch Break. To aid those struggling to provide the bare necessities for their families, Lunch Break began serving daily hot lunches. The project now serves approximately 100 meals every weekday, regularly distributes between 30-40 grocery baskets to families and provides 800 families with clean, warm clothing. No one is turned away and all are treated with dignity. Octogenarian and 20-year Director of Lunch Break, Norma Todd, sets the tone for how Lunch Break operates at all levels.
“Everyone, regardless of monetary status, education, or age, must be treated with dignity and must treat others with dignity.” To the working mother whose husband has been imprisoned, the family with seven children, and the retired school employee – all struggling to make ends meet – Lunch Break offers free food, clothing, and auxiliary social and medical services. By making dignity the linchpin of its work, here – unlike in so much of America –- poverty is not an issue of one’s immorality, but of one’s humanity. All persons are seen as children of God in need of care, mercy, acknowledgement and opportunity.
Although Lunch Break maintains a strict ‘no questions asked’ policy for individuals to acquire services, for many of the women entering the doors of Lunch Break the need can be particularly acute. According to Kay, President of Lunch Break’s Board of Trustees, “Single mothers come in and once they know they will get a good nutritious meal for their children and enough groceries to help their families get on their feet, they can begin applying for and obtaining sustainable employment.” The project also serves as a support for women. Inice’s involvement with Lunch Break began over 15 years ago when she was a working single mother raising three children. “Lunch Break helped me out many times with food and clothes,” she remarks. Today, as a member of the Board of Trustees, and a regular volunteer in the food pantry and clothing-distribution centre, she is clear that when women come to Lunch Break they benefit from the encouragement they get from one another. “Women are the support system of Lunch Break. I often see women who have eaten a meal then turn around and say, “How can I help? What can I do for others here?”—Whether we are in need or not, we help each other.”
Lunch Break also works because it is a community effort. With daily volunteers from St. Leo’s Catholic Church, high school volunteers and court-appointed community service workers, as well as the clients who themselves volunteer their time, it is a place where the community meets to eat, work,
and tackle the many aspects of poverty in America. Even with these efforts, this scourge of poverty has persisted. But Norma, the founder of the project, remains equally persistent. Whether a Democratic or Republican administration is in power, Lunch Break intends to be there, on the frontlines, affirming the dignity of every person it encounters and vibrantly demonstrating that another way is not only possible but also thriving.
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