NOTE TO SELF: ONE GENERATION PLANTS THE TREES; ANOTHER GETS THE SHADE
Seems at times that there is a plethora of negative reports and stories focusing on errant youth. It's therefore refreshing to come across a "feel good" story that gives one hope for the future of mankind. It's the kind of story that makes you smile.
Young Jack Davis, aged 11, was perturbed upon learning that Florida restos throw out food due to legal restraints should anyone eating the food become ill or develop food poisoning, since he felt it could be recycled and given to homeless people. He had visited a homeless shelter on school field trips and worried about people going hungry.
Jack's idea was to pass a law that would give restaurant owners' some protection from lawsuits. He got his dad to float the idea to some Florida legislators.
It now seems certain that Jack's idea will become a law.
"If you take away the reason restaurants will not give food -- they will," he said. "And it's kind of it's a win-win situation 'cause the restaurants get to do something good."
When Jack's bill started gaining momentum, he was suddenly big news in Miami.
"When I go to school, people were chanting my name because they saw me on the cover of the Miami Herald," Jack said. "Over the whole day, they were asking me what does the law say. And in some of my classes they clapped as I walked in. If you think there's a problem in the world," he said, "you don't wait for other people to fix it. You have to try to fix it yourself."
Amen to that!
See a photo of Jack here: http://abcnews.go.com/WN/PersonOfWeek/story?id=4123327&page=1
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: homeless, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 3 of 3
Blog: NOTE TO MYSELF (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: daily life, good news, news and politics, homeless, good deeds, news, food, family, law, education, homeless, good news, daily life, news and politics, good deeds, Add a tag
Blog: Just One More Book Children's Book Podcast (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Podcast, Interviews, childrens book, homeless, Cardboard Shack Beneath the Bridge, Tim Huff, Cardboard Shack Beneath the Bridge, homeless, Tim Huff, Add a tag
Adults face many challenges when helping children understand the world around them. Some choose to pretend that the world is without its struggles and rush their children past the realities of their communities. When it’s difficult to accept the world the way it is as an adult, it’s pretty much impossible to explain it to the next generation, the one that may be able to make things better.
On this edition of Just One More Book, Mark speaks with social worker and children’s book author and illustrator Tim Huff about his book The Cardboard Shack Beneath the Bridge. They talk about the struggles Tim faced in getting his book published and how adults can help children understand homeless people.
Books and resources discussed:
- The Cardboard Shack Beneath the Bridge
- Light Patrol (street outreach program)
Blog: librarian.net (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: libraries, access, cameras, homeless, surveillance, Add a tag
There is a theme in today’s posts. I was contacted by a nice lady from the media asking to talk to me about homelessness and libraries, no doubt brought about by this AlterNet post (originally here) written by the retired assistant director of the Salt Lake City Public Library System. I’d seen the link earlier but read about it, and participated in some discussion, on MetaFilter. I pointed people to the American Library Association’s Library Services to Poor People policy, and encouraged a visit to ALA’s Hunger Homelessness and Poverty Task Force website which is full of resources and thoughtful discussion.
When I was in Australia I went to many urban libraries and didn’t see the same homeless populations that I do in most urban US libraries. I also saw a lot of security cameras in the libraries, on the streets, everyplace. I’m fairly certain Australia has a better social safety net than we do in the US, but it was clear that keeping a close eye on the population may be part of that, which I was reminded of by reading Aaron’s post today about cameras in London. All the cameras just made me feel … weird.
cameras, homeless, libraries, surveillance
Good job Tim. You have certainly been busier ~ than ever ~ since the release of the first book. Can you imagine, after the next one is released ~ for adults.
My family continues to keep you in our thoughts and prayers, as you deal with the many aspects of homelessness: street worker, advocate, staff trainer, fundraiser, consultant and now author.
I hope you will have some time to play in the snow this winter.
Great interview Tim and once again I’m very proud of you and all the interviews I’ve listened to and watched you do!
You’re a humble man with integrity - you’re authentic!
All the best with continued success of this book and the upcoming one.
Tim, this is great. I understand a lot more of what you have gone through to publish your first book.
We will be waiting for the next ones to arrive, with fewer birth pains we trust.
Your determination is a gift…hold on to it.
Children are naturally curious about the world around them. They ask questions about what they see and we should always try to answer them as honestly as possible, being aware of our own opinions and values. When my 4 year old asked me why some people were on the street and not in their home, I did not know how to best answer his question. How could I make it age appropriate and non-stereotyping? I was like the parents you talked about; I wanted to avoid the subject. Your book sounds like a wonderful and honest way to present this social issue to children.