HumanDevelopmentEssayLJ115

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Link to Two Feet of Love in Action video (in case the video doesn't work)

//**Essay**//

Poverty is a big issue in today's world. Did you know that in Florida alone, the poverty rate for children is 25% (//Interactive Poverty Map//) In 2013 there were 45.3 million people in poverty in America. This number is absolutely unbelievable. Poverty is an issue that many Americans deal with. We always think badly of the homeless men and women on the streets, but have you ever thought of their stories? Think about not having a home, food, or maybe even your family. In Hillsborough county, the poverty rate is 19.1 (//Poverty Map//). In Florida, the poverty rate is 17 (//Interactive Poverty Map//). There are many organizations that strive to try to lower this rate. Firstly, there are charity organizations. These organizations provide food, clothing, counseling, and sometimes shelter to those in need. There are also social justice organizations. These organizations help provide affordable services for those who couldn't previously afford them. Through these organizations, we may find ways to lessen the spread of poverty.

There is an organization that stands out in particular to me. This organization is the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. This organization strives for justice within communities. They are an anti-poverty program hosted and run by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (//Two Feet of Love and Action//). The mission of this organization is to help fund organizations that better communities. They strive to break the cycle of poverty by helping low-income people lead successful lives. The CCHD has given over $14 million dollars to groups that work to better their communities and stop poverty and injustice nationwide (//Two Feet of Love and Action//). They are funded by money retained by dioceses. Organizations like these help people everyday.

A charitable organization in my community is Metropolitan Ministries. Metropolitan Ministries provides food, clothing, and shelter for people lacking these things. They collect donations from the community. They have volunteers to serve food, organize their small clothing shop, and help out with the residents that stay there. They also help kids get educations and have after school programs to keep kids off the streets. In 2013 alone 1,632,803 meals were served by Metropolitan Ministries (//We Are Metropolitan Ministries!//). They strive to help get people back on their feet and get their lives together. They try to get their residents jobs so that they can support themselves and their families again.

One social justice organization in my area is St. Joseph's Childrens' Hospital. St Joseph's makes health care affordable for parents of children with illnesses such as cancer. They take donations from the community. These donations go towards the childrens' treatments. They have special equipment for children (//Children's Hospital//). They do not use adult treatment on children because it may affect children differently. The hospital is decorated and dedicated especially for it to be a comfortable time for the children their. They want the children not to be scared and for it to be as pleasant an experience as possible. Some of the children they help would otherwise not get necessary treatments that lead to their recovery.

Showing that you love and walk humbly with God is very important in the lives of Christians. There are many ways that we can show that we love and walk humbly with God. Firstly, we can show through our general everyday actions. Holding a door for someone, saying please and thank you, or helping someone with their books without making a big deal out of it can be a sign that you walk humbly with God. Secondly, you can show this by helping out with charitable organizations and social justice organizations. Helping these organizations helps many people in the communities where you help and possibly people around the world. Lastly, you can show that you love and walk humbly with God by doing your best at absolutely everything you do. God gave us all many gifts and talents and He wouldn't want them to go to waste. Doing this also sets a good example for others. By showing we love and walk humbly with God, working with charitable organizations, and working with social justice organizations, we can all work together to end poverty worldwide.

//**Divided by Questions**//


 * 1) What is the poverty rate in your state? In your county? Does this surprise you?
 * 2) What are the ways that you show love and walk humbly in your life with God?
 * 3) How does CCHD show their work for justice? Why does CCHD believe it is important for local groups or communities to be involved in the issues affecting the daily lives of people living in poverty?
 * 4) What is a good example of a charitable organization in your county or state? What do they do? How are they providing charity in your community?
 * 5) What is a good example of a social justice organization in your county or state? What do they do to provide social justice to the people they server?

What is the poverty rate in your state? In your county? Does this surprise you? 1. Did you know that in Florida alone, the poverty rate for children is 25% (//Interactive Poverty Map//) In 2013 their were 45.3 million people in poverty in America. This number is absolutely unbelievable. In Hillsborough county, the poverty rate is 19.1 (//Poverty Map//). In Florida, the poverty rate is 17 (//Interactive Poverty Map//). These numbers definitely surprise me.

What are the ways that you show love and walk humbly in your life with God? 2. Showing that you love and walk humbly with God is very important in the lives of Christians. There are many ways that we can show that we love and walk humbly with God. Firstly, we can show through our general everyday actions. Holding a door for someone, saying please and thank you, or helping someone with their books without making a big deal out of it can be a sign that you walk humbly with God. Secondly, you can show this by helping out with charitable organizations and social justice organizations. Helping these organizations helps many people in the communities where you help and possibly people around the world. Lastly, you can show that you love and walk humbly with God by doing your best at absolutely everything you do. God gave us all many gifts and talents and He wouldn't want them to go to waste. Doing this also sets a good example for others. By showing we love and walk humbly with God, working with charitable organizations, and working with social justice organizations, we can all work together to end poverty worldwide.

How does CCHD show their work for justice? Why does CCHD believe it is important for local groups or communities to be involved in the issues affecting the daily lives of people living in poverty? 3. There is an organization that stands out in particular to me. This organization is the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. This organization strives for justice within communities. They are an anti-poverty program hosted and run by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (//Two Feet of Love and Action//). The mission of this organization is to help fund organizations that better communities. They strive to break the cycle of poverty by helping low-income people lead successful lives. The CCHD has given over $14 million dollars to groups that work to better their communities and stop poverty and injustice nationwide (//Two Feet of Love and Action//). They are funded by money retained by dioceses. Organizations like these help people everyday.

What is a good example of a charitable organization in your county or state? What do they do? How are they providing charity in your community? 4. A charitable organization in my community is Metropolitan Ministries. Metropolitan Ministries provides food, clothing, and shelter for people lacking these things. They collect donations from the community. They have volunteers to serve food, organize their small clothing shop, and help out with the residents that stay there. They also help kids get educations and have after school programs to keep kids off the streets. In 2013 alone 1,632,803 meals were served by Metropolitan Ministries (//We Are Metropolitan Ministries!//). They strive to help get people back on their feet and get their lives together. They try to get their residents jobs so that they can support themselves and their families again.

What is a good example of a social justice organization in your county or state? What do they do to provide social justice to the people they server? 5. One social justice organization in my area is St. Joseph's Childrens' Hospital. St Joseph's makes health care affordable for parents of children with illnesses such as cancer. They take donations from the community. These donations go towards the childrens' treatments. They have special equipment for children (//Children's Hospital//). They do not use adult treatment on children because it may affect children differently. The hospital is decorated and dedicated especially for it to be a comfortable time for the children their. They want the children not to be scared and for it to be as pleasant an experience as possible. Some of the children they help would otherwise not get necessary treatments that lead to their recovery.

__//**Works Cited List**//__

"Children's Hospital - Support Children | St Josephs Hospitals Foundation." Children's Hospital - Support Children | St Josephs Hospitals Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2014. <@http://www.sjhfoundation.org/childrens-hospital>.
 * It is the official St. Joseph's Hospital's website.

"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

"Poverty Map." Poverty USA. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development, n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2014. <@http://www.povertyusa.org/the-state-of-poverty/poverty-map-county/>.
 * Information provided by The Catholic Campaign 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

"We Are Metropolitan Ministries!" Metropolitan Ministries. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Oct. 2014. <[]>.
 * It is the official Metropolitan Ministries website.