Welfare, Jobs, Gardens, Prison, Volunteering

I've been thinking about jobs, prison, welfare and volunteering a lot lately.

Now I know you may be thinking, what do these have in common?

Let me tell you.

I don't believe that those on welfare should just get money without doing anything for it. I know that those on welfare can't find jobs or have some disability that keeps them from most jobs or there is some other reason for being on welfare. However, I think I have a solution for this. Volunteer work: soup kitchens, community/neighborhood gardens, Habitat for Humanity building, homeless shelters; to just name a few things. Those places are always looking for more volunteers and if we are giving money to people on welfare anyway, we might as well require that they do something to help the community they are drawing money from. Now, as to the gardens. Creating neighborhood gardens and having people on welfare create and maintain them would give them a source of fresh produce as they would also get a portion of what is grown. Any surplus they could sell at a farmers market or directly from the garden site. This would be great for those with children or disabilities. No need for daycare just have the kids help or they could all take turns caring for the small ones and those with disabilities could man the cash register or do whatever their disabilities allow. That is also true for soup kitchens and homeless shelters. Serving food, doing dishes, cooking etc much can be done by those with most disabilities.

Okay, now the prisoners. Now I'm not talking about murderers or sex crimes etc, but most of the rest could do something constructive for the pay they earn while in jail and also do something productive for society to feel some sense of connection and self-worth. Along with road crews, they could also work in homeless shelters. Start gardens at the prison and donate the produce to food banks. Work for Habitat for Humanity.

In all cases, I feel that this would contribute to a better sense of connection with the community and improve self-worth. In the case of the Habitat for Humanity builds, it would also provide exercise and maybe even some job skills. The gardens would serve many purposes that I hope are as evident as I feel they are.

Oh, there's also animal shelters and old folks homes for volunteer work.

Anyway...

And that's My 25 cents...