Human+Development+EssayLA

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The poverty rate in the United States is at its highest rate ever. Our government estimated that approximately 46.5 million people lived in poverty in 2012. More surprising is one out of every five children live in poverty. We hear about examples of this every day, but I didn’t realize how many of these people live so close by me. Florida has a poverty rate of 17%. Our County of Hillsborough has 19.1% rate. It’s horrible to think that people in our own community are going without food, medicine, clothing and even housing. (Interactive Poverty)

Realizing now the impact of poverty, I understand why The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) was created in 1970 by US Catholic Bishops. As Pope Francis said, “Among our tasks as witnesses to the love of Christ is that giving a voice to the cry of the poor.”(Two Feet) To me it seems that CCHD is showing people how to help and care about each other and themselves. The CCHD calls upon us, as Catholics, to assist them in helping those in need by donations, volunteering and involvement in various local or community groups.(Two Feet) CCHD guides and teaches people living in poverty important steps in lifting themselves up to a self-sufficient life(Two Feet). While doing this they also are teaching those of us, not in need, to help with this guidance. Everyone needs a little bit of guidance and I believe that CCHD is there to help all of us live as Jesus would want us too.

“Christian charity is first of all the simple response to immediate needs and specific situations: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for and healing the sick, visit those in prison, etc.” – Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, no. 31. Luckily there are many good Christian Charities that focus on immediate needs of the poor such as food, clothing and housing. CCHD assisted in creating the lunch programs at school. In 2012 they served 32 million kids(Two Feet). Metropolitan Ministries is one that I am familiar with and love. Last year our class went there to volunteer, it made me feel so good. I worked in the store which is full of donated items. Those in need come in and shop for the things they may need. We helped them decide and they were so nice and not greedy at all. Other classmates assisted in the kitchen. Food is distributed to those in need all the time. Christmas and special holidays donations flow in to help those in need have some normality and happiness in their life.

Social justice. . . concerns the social, political, and economic aspects and, above all, the structural dimension of problems and their respective solutions.” –Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, no. 201 (Two Feet) Because CCHD is continuously working to address poverty and the causes, it promotes social policies and awareness to help. Just like I was not aware of how serious poverty is, I did not know how I could help. If we as Christians do not have this knowledge, we cannot seek to help those in need. CCHD teaches us and informs people in need how to have their ideas and voices heard to make a difference. CCHD assisted in creating the government lunch programs at schools. In 2012 they served 32 million kids(Two Feet). To think that that many children could go hungry each day during school and at home is so unfair. We need to focus more on these issues and let our Christian voices be heard.

My faith has always led me to help others and care. Now, more than ever, I am going to work hard to help and serve others, spread my knowledge of God by loving and respecting everyone in my life. I will continue to visit the nursing homes and perform for the sick and elderly. I will donate my time to raise money to contribute to help these causes. I will continue to look closely at those around me and be aware of those in need and help them. I know now how fortunate I am to humbly walk with God.


 * Works Cited List**

"Interactive Poverty Map | State and County Level Poverty Information."Poverty USA. CCHD, n.d. Web. 08 Oct. 2014. <[]>.
 * Published by Catholic Conference for Human Development

"Two Feet of Love in Action." Two Feet of Love in Action. U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, n.d. Web. 08 Oct. 2014. <[]>
 * Information provided by the U.S. Catholic Bishops