Newton residents aren’t immune to the economic effects of the current pandemic. Lines at the local food pantries have greatly increased. This is true for the whole Greater Boston area as well, especially in areas where people were already struggling.
While many in Newton desperately need the extra money from their stimulus checks, there are also many here for whom it’s just a nice extra. When my stimulus money showed up in my bank account a few weeks ago, my reaction was “This is nice but I don’t really need it”. I’m fortunate enough to have a secure job with income adequate to my needs. Could I always use a little extra? Of course. But this money isn’t life-changing for me so I decided to use it where it would help others and donated most of it to both a local food bank and the Greater Boston Food Bank, all of which are desperately in need of more funding in order to meet skyrocketing demand.
I’d like to urge those who, like me, don’t really need their stimulus payments to consider donating at least part of it to those who do. It’s one more way to help repair our world.
Because my kids are remote, the state automatically approved them food stamps.
Is it so difficult to check income requirements? I’m not even remotely close to any poverty levels.. such a waste of $ which should be have been targeted to those on need.
Absolutely. Sadly we need it because of the unforseen expense of childcare because of the hybrid program.
Instead of blindly giving $ to those who don’t really need it, why not give MORE to those who do.
I really dont understand, none of this makes any sense. MA is giving me $120 PER child per month. Multiply that by other affluents families in Newton and it gets disgusting pretty fast.
@Bugek – Meredith has given you a wonderful and constructive suggestion on what to do with that $$.
Meredith I think I’ll follow your lead with this – thanks
Jerry,
The suggestion does nothing to prevent the utter disgust at the waste of $… when there people who really need more.
To help 10% of people, we give $ to 60% of people who absolutely do not need it and expect them to trickle it down to people who need it most.
No matter what your politics, this is insanity.
Agreed.
I’d just like to put the focus back on Meredith’s constructive suggestion though.
Thanks Jerry! Bugek – while you have the right to gripe about that, I’d appreciate if comments could focus on what I wrote rather than a side topic. My hope was that this post could lead to a positive conversation focused on helping others.