I am starting to receive many emails on the diet. It is provoking a good conversation and storytelling. People are focused on: the need for jobs that pay reasonably, the terrible fallout that will result when the special diet money gets cut, on their disability. One mentioned how she knows women who are resorting to illegal activities to get food for themselves. No one as yet has expressed negative feelings towards the poor; in fact virtually everyone so far has commented that they feel for the plight of those who are hungry. This is a hopeful sign, perhaps indicating that the war against the poor might be subsiding (here's hoping!).

Rosalee and I went to the Drop In lunch at St Michael's and All Angels. We were embarrassed to go in. We were very hungry but did not want to take food from others. A fight almost broke out and the police were called in. Someone had come in very drunk and was being disruptive. The volunteers at places like St Michael's, Wychwood Open Doors and The Stop, as well as all the Out of the Cold volunteers are such good folk. They have a strong sense of compassion, are non-judgmental, and figure out how to make things work. The city would be a different place without them. I cannot remember city hall ever hosting an event to thank volunteers who help feed the poor and who advocate on their behalf. Note to self: we have to find a way to thanks these volunteers before the end of this term of Council. The other great thing about these meals is that it is good food with some real meat, and more often than not, folks are able to take home a doggie bag.

I bumped into a lot of people on the way home from the Drop In. A lot of people wanted to chat about the diet and so it took me a long while to make it home. It intrigues people. They often have a story to tell themselves either personal or some friend or family member. I guess that this was the purpose of the exercise and it is working. My hope is that these kinds of conversations lead to a political will that pushes governments to increase social assistance rates and reform. The stories must lead to a different politics.

We need to find a way to go big on this "Eat the Math". So many people have either been on social assistance, or know of relatives, etc. Their compassion and solidarity is strong and real. Yet it is not organized into an effective political voice. There has to be a next steps here to broaden the conversation, build a movement of solidarity with those that struggle with hunger in our city.

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Photo credit: Magda Olszanowski http://www.raisecain.net/