New Poverty Puppet on Sesame Street

[PollyannaMom]

I'm on the Board of a food pantry, and the term "food insecurity" has been around for quite a while. It's not about political correctness, but accuracy - an "in between" category for people who sometimes need us, but can sometimes get by without us.

And, sadly, it's a growing category.

I doubt Sesame Street will use the term with the kids. (Though I wouldn't be surprised if it's in a written statistics blurb at the end for the grown-ups.)

I think the show is doing a good thing.

 

[luvmy3]

I hope Lily's visit teaches Cookie Monster not to be so gluttonous while cramming cookies down his throat. Ever see all the crumbs he wastes? Maybe he could start shaing his cookies instead.

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

Did you even read the OP cite? Sesame Street has a history of doing a good job presenting complex issues in terms that young kids can understand. I don't expect them to use a lot of professional jargon. Your posts demonstrate the need for this kind of educational show and pretty much proves the accuracy of Brad's quote.

Yeah, because I had no idea people were hungry in the Appalachian mountains since pretty much "forever", it's brandy new to me.

It still sounds forced and like some kind of phobia or eating disorder, as others have said. I don't care if the term has been around since the dinosaurs, frankly I've never heard it. I pretty much have herd of Sesamee Street bfor, thanck u veery mooch.

Opinion was asked for, I gave mine. Is there some sort of test coming to prove whether or not someone's read the OP cite? Is this new? I'll have to go over my notes then...


To me YOUR post pretty much proves the theory that people shouldn't post on message boards before they've had their morning cuppa coffee and squeeze the grouchies out.

 

[rchristiansen]

Yeah, because I had no idea people were hungry in the Appalachian mountains since pretty much "forever", it's brandy new to me.

What's new to me is when my DD9 came home from school last week and told me boy in her class told her that both his parents don't have jobs and he has to go to food banks. DD was very saddened by this. I can't stop thinking about it and it makes me want to do something. I don't think many folks realize this is happening in their supposedly affluent neighborhoods - not just in the mountains.

Sesame Street is bringing awareness to the issue and also allow those who are experiencing it to know they are not alone and that someone cares.

 

[Oreo Cookie]

Good for Sesame Street.

what's undignified about that? Sadly there are millions of kids who go to sleep without knowing whether or not they will be able to eat the next morning. that's food insecurity. How do you make hunger dignified?

ITA.

 

[luvmy3]

What's new to me is when my DD9 came home from school last week and told me boy in her class told her that both his parents don't have jobs and he has to go to food banks. DD was very saddened by this. I can't stop thinking about it and it makes me want to do something. I don't think many folks realize this is happening in their supposedly affluent neighborhoods - not just in the mountains.

Sesame Street is bringing awareness to the issue and also allow those who are experiencing it to know they are not alone and that someone cares.

Doesn't the fact that your dd came home from school with that knowledge mean that people are aware?

So who is the target audeinece for awareness, 3 year olds? I guess I'm just not seeing how this really helps, other than like you said letting kids that are in the sitiuation know they aren't alone. That doesn't put food on the table for them so its just a cute puppet to make them feel better about their situation IMO.

Now if they are going to market this character and take the proceeds and donate to local food banks, thats one thing but I didn't see where they were planning that.

 

[Acklander]

Doesn't the fact that your dd came home from school with that knowledge mean that people are aware?

So who is the target audeinece for awareness, 3 year olds? I guess I'm just not seeing how this really helps, other than like you said letting kids that are in the sitiuation know they aren't alone. That doesn't put food on the table for them so its just a cute puppet to make them feel better about their situation IMO.

Now if they are going to market this character and take the proceeds and donate to local food banks, thats one thing but I didn't see where they were planning that.

I have no idea what road the show plans on taking, maybe it's not just for awareness? Maybe it's also for the kids watching who don't know where the next meal comes from help them explain their situation, so they don't feel so alone or afraid about their home situation.

 

[luvmy3]

I have no idea what road the show plans on taking, maybe it's not just for awareness? Maybe it's also for the kids watching who don't know where the next meal comes from help them explain their situation, so they don't feel so alone or afraid about their home situation.

Maybe, but IMO they should be doing something to actually help those kids have that next meal, and the next, and the next........ Not just make them feel better about their situation.
(Not that I think SS is obligated in any way to help anyone, but if they are going to shed light on the subject how about doing something real, not just something that makes people feel good, KWIM)

 

[Acklander]

Maybe, but IMO they should be doing something to actually help those kids have that next meal, and the next, and the next........ Not just make them feel better about their situation.
(Not that I think SS is obligated in any way to help anyone, but if they are going to shed light on the subject how about doing something real, not just something that makes people feel good, KWIM)

Well, I don't know what the writers of sesame street do or don't do about feeding the hungry. That's not really the point. What they are doing is opening up the conversation about it. Just like they did when one of the actors died. Instead of the character just disappearing they incorporated his death into the show. Death is sad, and I don't think they added it to the show to make kids feel better about death. I think they added it to help kids understand about death. They tried to explain it in a simple, down to earth way that kids could understand - that's what I think they're going to try to do with the new character. It may not help hungry kids feel good about their situation, but by confronting it and talking about it might help kids not feel so scared about it.
Sometimes that's all you can do.

 

[horseshowmom]

Maybe, but IMO they should be doing something to actually help those kids have that next meal, and the next, and the next........ Not just make them feel better about their situation.
(Not that I think SS is obligated in any way to help anyone, but if they are going to shed light on the subject how about doing something real, not just something that makes people feel good, KWIM)

My perspective is that the special itself is doing something about it. They will reach a national audience that may take the subject to heart and begin to reach out (hopefully, with their children being involved). This program is a unique form of outreach.

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

What's new to me is when my DD9 came home from school last week and told me boy in her class told her that both his parents don't have jobs and he has to go to food banks. DD was very saddened by this. I can't stop thinking about it and it makes me want to do something. I don't think many folks realize this is happening in their supposedly affluent neighborhoods - not just in the mountains.

Sesame Street is bringing awareness to the issue and also allow those who are experiencing it to know they are not alone and that someone cares.

Yes, I realize that. I also realize the problem didn't start yesterday. It's scary and sad. I've never said I haven't heard about the issue, or that it isn't an issue, or that it shouldn't be addressed by muppets or anyone else, I'd never heard the term "food insecurity" before and didn't think it was a term I could see muppets using to explain it.

 

[sparklynails23]

Maybe Brad Paisley can take Lily's family to the welfare office to apply for Food Stamps and WIC. Then, he can help them fill out the paperwork for free breakfast and lunch at school. Then, he can set her up with free after school snacks at the federally subsidized afterschool program. On weekends, they will give Lily's family backpacks full of food to eat. Brad can also take them to the free food pantry.

There are plenty, pleeeeennnnnty of overlapping food programs in this country. If people are "food insecure," they are not taking advantage of those programs.

Also, can't Big Bird skip a couple meals? Maybe he's been dipping into Lily's family's Food Stamp supply and paying her some $$ under the table.

 

[eliza61]

Maybe Brad Paisley can take Lily's family to the welfare office to apply for Food Stamps and WIC. Then, he can help them fill out the paperwork for free breakfast and lunch at school. Then, he can set her up with free after school snacks at the federally subsidized afterschool program. On weekends, they will give Lily's family backpacks full of food to eat. Brad can also take them to the free food pantry.

There are plenty, pleeeeennnnnty of overlapping food programs in this country. If people are "food insecure," they are not taking advantage of those programs.

Also, can't Big Bird skip a couple meals? Maybe he's been dipping into Lily's family's Food Stamp supply and paying her some $$ under the table.

Such as?

Please enlighten us, since you seem to know the millions of hungry are simply not "taking advantage" of these programs.

Where and what are they? outside of food stamps?

 

[Wall-E1]

Maybe Brad Paisley can take Lily's family to the welfare office to apply for Food Stamps and WIC. Then, he can help them fill out the paperwork for free breakfast and lunch at school. Then, he can set her up with free after school snacks at the federally subsidized afterschool program. On weekends, they will give Lily's family backpacks full of food to eat. Brad can also take them to the free food pantry.

Your insinuation that there are plenty of programs and food to keep the hungry well fed comes from a place of ignorance. Many "working poor" families do not qualify for these programs. Yet, their low income does not provide food security for their family. Those that do qualify, do not receive an abundance of food/aid. In fact, most find it difficult to stretch that amount of food throughout the month. Many go hungry towards the end of the month, waiting for their next month's aid. There are not "backpacks full of food" given out every weekend. They cannot just walk into a fully stocked food pantry and stock up. Many are non profits and have been forced to shut down, or have severely reduced supplies these days.

There are plenty, pleeeeennnnnty of overlapping food programs in this country. If people are "food insecure," they are not taking advantage of those programs.

Wow, the answer is just sooooo easy. 17 million children go hungry every day in our nation. Of course food banks, backpacks of food and food stamps easily provide more than enough meals for those 17 million children and their families.

Also, can't Big Bird skip a couple meals? Maybe he's been dipping into Lily's family's Food Stamp supply and paying her some $$ under the table.

Excellent point! We all know that being poor equates to criminal behavior. I'm proud to say that my home state of Florida has done something about these abusers of government aid. Welfare recipients now must submit to drug tests, since we all know that they are trading food stamps for drug money. It has been a great success. 2% of those tested have tested positive for drugs. This has helped to direct money where it should really be going - the governor's wife and her newfound profits at her drug testing facilities. Good thing the governor quietly shifted his interests in Solantic to his wife's name so as not to arouse suspicion, or give the appearance of a conflict of interest. So, who really profits from government aid?

 

[PeterPan09]

Your insinuation that there are plenty of programs and food to keep the hungry well fed comes from a place of ignorance. Many "working poor" families do not qualify for these programs. Yet, their low income does not provide food security for their family. Those that do qualify, do not receive an abundance of food/aid. In fact, most find it difficult to stretch that amount of food throughout the month. Many go hungry towards the end of the month, waiting for their next month's aid. There are not "backpacks full of food" given out every weekend. They cannot just walk into a fully stocked food pantry and stock up. Many are non profits and have been forced to shut down, or have severely reduced supplies these days.


Wow, the answer is just sooooo easy. 17 million children go hungry every day in our nation. Of course food banks, backpacks of food and food stamps easily provide more than enough meals for those 17 million children and their families.


Excellent point! We all know that being poor equates to criminal behavior. I'm proud to say that my home state of Florida has done something about these abusers of government aid. Welfare recipients now must submit to drug tests, since we all know that they are trading food stamps for drug money. It has been a great success. 2% of those tested have tested positive for drugs. This has helped to direct money where it should really be going - the governor's wife and her newfound profits at her drug testing facilities. Good thing the governor quietly shifted his interests in Solantic to his wife's name so as not to arouse suspicion, or give the appearance of a conflict of interest. So, who really profits from government aid?

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

This move by Sesame Street made more sense to me when I remembered that Sesame Street's target audience is not middle- and upper-middle-class Americans, even though all kids love it. I think the audience Sesame Street is truly targeted to is likely to have this problem in their neighborhoods and schools in a way that is noticeable to young kids.

 

[mpls_mm]

I of course cannot speak for all poor people but in my OB's office I sat next to two women just last week who were discussing a third who had no food and wasn't able to see an OB during her pregnancy. She was hanging out with some boys who stole a car and she was charged with a felony. They said it was preventing her from getting any help. It had been 8 years ago. Why it didn't fall off when she turned 18, I don't know. Of course it was a crime but these girls said she was 25. Some programs exclude you if someone in the house has a felony. I am sure some on here will say that is what you get, but people make mistakes. I know of a few of DD's and DS's parents who used to be on meth
and have now kicked the habit. I think it's a great accomplishment.

 

[horseshowmom]

Maybe Brad Paisley can take Lily's family to the welfare office to apply for Food Stamps and WIC. Then, he can help them fill out the paperwork for free breakfast and lunch at school. Then, he can set her up with free after school snacks at the federally subsidized afterschool program. On weekends, they will give Lily's family backpacks full of food to eat. Brad can also take them to the free food pantry.

There are plenty, pleeeeennnnnty of overlapping food programs in this country. If people are "food insecure," they are not taking advantage of those programs.

Also, can't Big Bird skip a couple meals? Maybe he's been dipping into Lily's family's Food Stamp supply and paying her some $$ under the table.

I really can't believe this post. While some of these options are available in some locations, they certainly aren't pervasive. I know a mother of three whose husband abandoned them (left no forwarding address for child support ). She gets $118 a month in food stamps. She works full time and picks up any evening and weekend work she can find.

The only reason she has a decent vehicle is because her parents gave her one. If it were not for their helping out on a regular basis, she and her kids would be "food insecure" (and I don't particularly care for that term myself, but it is self-explanatory). She wasn't even able to attend a recent football game that her son was playing in because she couldn't afford the $4 each gate fee for her and the two girls.

I will add that I agree very strongly with almost all of Wall-E's post. It spoke eloquently of the working poor's situation. However, I don't have a problem with drug testing. Many jobs require it, and I don't find it unreasonable to ask it of those who receive tax payer assistance.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I think it's a good idea. There are so many people going without right now.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Maybe Brad Paisley can take Lily's family to the welfare office to apply for Food Stamps and WIC. Then, he can help them fill out the paperwork for free breakfast and lunch at school. Then, he can set her up with free after school snacks at the federally subsidized afterschool program. On weekends, they will give Lily's family backpacks full of food to eat. Brad can also take them to the free food pantry.

There are plenty, pleeeeennnnnty of overlapping food programs in this country. If people are "food insecure," they are not taking advantage of those programs.

Also, can't Big Bird skip a couple meals? Maybe he's been dipping into Lily's family's Food Stamp supply and paying her some $$ under the table.

Are you serious? Did you read what you wrote before you posted??

How does throwing stopgaps at an ongoing problem solve the problem? These 'suggestions' are like patching cracks in a dam with Play-Dō

Free food pantries are hurting, what with more and more people being food-insecure - and not all of those with school-age children or eligible for public assistance.

Just so you know, while Big Bird is a big bird (hence his name), his body shape - which is quite obviously what you're referencing - is completely normal for a bird.