“Shame on You”

Shame on you
For instilling so much fear
Your child flinches
Every time you’re near

Shame on you
For not kissing
Your little one goodnight
Sending him to bed
With hunger and fright

Shame on you
For the bruises, cuts, and
burns
It’s only your love
That your little angel yearns

Shame on you
For neglecting your baby
And making them think
They are worthless and lazy

Shame on you
For ending your child’s life so
soon
I don’t know why anyone believed
you
And thought you’d change your
tune


Shame on you
For your anger, rage, and
spite
You deserve to be locked up
With no end in sight

By Mike Thompson, Contributing Writer

Shoot-em-up, car-chase "action" TV shows or movies may contribute to our violent society, or they may not have as much influence as some critics perceive. Who knows? To me, these sorts of stories simply are shallow, sort of childish in a way.     

Still, the advertisement for a Sly Stallone flick, "Bullet to the Head," is cause for an inner groan. With all the mass shootings of late, and the controversy over gun control, couldn't they have picked a different title? Or sadly, maybe that's exactly why such a title was chosen.     

For instance, consider if I'm a loved one of a Sandy Hook victim, or an Aurora theater victim, and I see a Bullet to the Head promo come across my TV screen. Sick and wrong.      

The fact that people would pay movie prices to see such mindless violence reflects a sickness in our society, as we see in such harsh reactions to President Obama's modest proposals for gun control.      

All the president is proposing is background checks for weapon purchases, controls on unregulated gun shows, and bans on automatic weapons and multi-bullet magazines. Yet the crazies out there -- the same crazies who probably will attend Bullet to the Head -- falsely accuse the president of desiring to repeal their treasured Second Amendment.      

It's tempting to propose boycotts of Bullet to the Head and movies of similar ilk, but this probably would grow the audience. Remember when gay rights activists wanted to boycott Chick Fil-A? Boycotts of gun-happy movies would probably prove similarly counterproductive.      

As for President Obama's gun control ideas, there also is an element of backfire. Gun nuts who fear that Obama may succeed are rushing out to buy more weapons (as though they need more than they already have cached).     

Obama should still press forward. When critics say gun control won't work, advocates need not argue the point. The simple answer should be, why not try? What could be the harm?     

Meanwhile, even if movies such as Bullet to the Head don't inspire shooting rampages, what's the need for them?

More from Mike Thompson:
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By Mike Thompson,
Contributing Writer

If you are low- or low-middle income, or if you know of family and friends in this boat, there are several steps to attain the best results when submitting tax returns.

(1) Bear in mind your wages may be as high as $40,000 if a child is in your home, or as high as the $50,000 range if your household includes several, to qualify for the benefits of the Earned Income Tax Credit (ETIC) or the Child Tax Credit.

(2) "Children" can be as old as 18 as of last Dec. 31, or 24 if they are full-time students. Foster children or children in a grandparent's care can be counted too.

(3) Free-of-charge tax preparation often is available through VITA, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. Inquire at your local United Way office, community action agency or public library.

(4) Be aware that there is no such thing as a rapid refund. The IRS cuts checks in the order in which tax forms are received. Many tax preparers (including some car dealers and rent-to-own shops striving to make a sale) offer "rapid refunds," but they actually are loans for which they assess sky-high fees, similar to payday loans. Your refund is collateral. So if you accept this option you may be paying the equivalent of a triple-digit annual interest rate, just to get your money a couple weeks ahead of time.

The EITC is very important, often worth thousands of dollars for a household. The tax credit was conceived and signed by, of all people, President Richard Nixon, as a method to include an anti-poverty work incentive, rather than simply doling out welfare grants. Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama both expanded the EITC, and Michigan is among 24 states that also have their own versions, although much more modest than the federal credit.

Last year, reports the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (eitcoutreach.com), 27 million families benefited from the EITC. Sadly, believe it or not, another 9 million qualified but failed to make the claim, for one reason or another. This begs the question of why the IRS makes things so complicated, but at any rate, this is why the center conducts national educational outreach.

The high levels of qualifying income may surprise some folks:

* Up to $13,980 for a childless individual, or $19,190 for a childless couple.

* For a home with one child, up to $36,920 for a single parent and $42,130 for a married couple.

* For a home with two children, up to $41,952 for a single parent and $47,162 for a couple.

* For a home with three children, up to $45,060 for a single parent and $50,270 for a couple.

On a political note, readers may recall Mitt Romney's sad assertion during last year's campaign that "47 percent" of Americans pay no federal income taxes and thus feel entitled to freebies from the government. The EITC is a main reason for the 47 percent figure, but of course these filers pay many other sources of taxes, including payroll deductions for Medicare and Social Security.

Furthermore, the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities notes that a mere 9 percent of federal entitlement spending, in contrast to Romney's laments regarding freeloaders, goes to unemployed adults. Other shares include 53 percent for senior citizens, 20 percent for people with disabilities and 18 percent for working adults.

When visiting a tax preparer, the following paperwork is desired:

* Photo ID.

* Social Security card, for self and appropriate dependents.

* Dependent birthdates.

* W-2, Social Security and 1099 income statements.

* Last year's tax returns (the prior two years of you feel you missed deductions in the past; recovery still is possible).

* Proof of payment of property taxes or rent.

* For tenants, landlord's name and address.

* Proof of payment for child day care, and provider's tax identification number.

* Department of Human Services statement, if appropriate.

* Divorce and alimony documents, if appropriate.

*Bank account and routing numbers.

(Final note: If you annually are receiving a large EITC, and if you would prefer larger regular take-home paychecks throughout the full year, consider asking your employer for a W-5 form, Earned Income Credit Advance Deposit Certificate. Less money will be withheld. For instance, if your EITC is $2,600 and you get paid weekly you can take home an added $50 with each paycheck (divide your own refund by 52). Biweekly, it’s $100 (divide your own refund by 26). Of course, this means you no longer can count on such a large lump sum tax return check at the start of next year. It's a tradeoff; your choice. If you work multiple part-time jobs, take caution in exercising the W-5 option so as not to under-withhold. Don't be shy about asking an employer because it makes no financial difference to them one way or another; in fact, they are legally required to provide and process the W-5.)

by Marina Lumsden, Yahoo Contributor

I was adopted from Colombia when I was 5 months old, and I can honestly say that at that moment I became blessed. My parents provided me with the unconditional love, guidance, structure, and support that a child needs. I am forever grateful to them. Being adopted does not mean that you were unwanted; it means that you are so special that you were chosen.

Please take a moment and check out MN ADOPT, It is an amazing program sponsored by the Department of Human Services through the Minnesota Adoption Resource Network (MARN), a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization. MN ADOPT is dedicated to supporting and sustaining the families who adopt Minnesota Waiting Children by providing a wide-range of services.

by Marina Lumsden, Yahoo Contributor

Minnesota’s children are our children, and for this reason alone we must not ignore the horrifying statistics and numbers that don’t even begin to dive into the cold, hard, and straight facts of child abuse and neglect right here in our state.

According to the Minnesota Department of Human Services mn.gov/dhs , April 2010, 4,742 Minnesota Children were CONFIRMED as neglected or abused in 2009. Of these 4,742 children, 70% suffered from neglect, 44 children suffered life threatening injuries and 21 children died from maltreatment.

Inexcusable facts

• Median age for victims was six years old
• White Children accounted for 51 percent of maltreatment victims; African American children, 23 percent; American Indian children, 10 percent, Asian and Pacific Islander children, about one percent. Children who identified with two or more races accounted for 13 percent. Approximately two percent of the remaining cases, racial background was missing or unknown; 11 percent indicated Hispanic ethnicity.
• 76 percent of all alleged offenders were victims’ birth parents. Some children were victims of more than one offender.
• 20 percent of all those maltreated were physically abused.
• 16 percent of all victims suffered sexual abuse.
• One percent of all victims suffered medical neglect.
• One percent of all victims suffered from emotional or mental abuse.

Help prevent child abuse and neglect

Although not every Minnesotan is by law a mandated reporter, Minnesotans are greatly encouraged to report suspected child abuse and neglect to their county social service agency or law enforcement agency, and help in the following ways:

• Host neighborhood/community conversations and small get-togethers about how to strengthen and support families
• Reach out and connect parents to local resources, including parenting education programs, mental health/chemical health counseling, childcare, or financial assistance
• Provide support to your stressed, overworked, tired neighborhood parents by baby-sitting, inviting their children over to play, helping the youth with homework or volunteer to help out at school functions
• Join, or start, a local child abuse prevention council

By Mike Thompson, Contributing Writer

In the wake of the tragic Connecticut elementary school massacre, similar to other explosive incidents going back to Columbine, calls are being made for gun control. I'm all for gun control. Specifically, proposed federal laws to ban assault weapons and rapid-fire clips should be passed, along with a provision to clamp down on unregulated gun show sales (and while we're at it, web sales).

If these laws can forestall even only tragedy, they're worth it. I'd like to see these proposals come forward just so we can still see which elected officials remain cowards under the boot heels of the NRA.

Still, let’s be real. If somebody such as deranged Adam Lanza, the Connecticut assailant, wants to get his hands on weapons, he's probably going to find a way to do it. To me, it's sort of like the war on drugs. I've never known of anyone or heard of anyone who wanted illegal drugs but couldn't find them. Same with guns.

One of the TV commentators was saying there already are an estimated 300 million guns in circulation. That's more than one for each and every American adult, including myself, who doesn't have any. So even if somehow nary another gun were manufactured, our misery index is quite high.

Society can work on prevention but in the end, society can't completely prevent. Does this mean future mass tragedies are inevitable? Sorry, I don't have an answer. But I do have a suggestion, for what it's worth, that might help even more than gun control: Movie and TV control.

Why is it considered okay to have so much shooting and killing in our "action" movies and television shows? I'm among the oddballs who questions this virtually each time observing. They wouldn't show pornography on network TV. Maybe we should begin to treat violence in our entertainment programming (and video games) as an equivalent of pornography.

Imagine how much violence Adam Lanza witnessed, as an obviously sick individual, before he reached his 20th year. Readers may scoff at my views and say that I'm overreacting, that only one in a million people would act out in this way, but as we saw in Newtown, it only takes one in a million. Plus, I'd say the violence in our "entertainment" is reflected often in our society, in less-fantastic ways than mass murder.

FOOTNOTE: Tragically ironically, in my homestate of Michigan, on the night before the Connecticut tragedy, tea party legislators passed a law (over the objection of the Michigan Association of School Boards) that allows people to CCW on school grounds. First I asked myself whether they might have felt any remorse the next day, but then I figured, probably not. Too ignorant.

FOOTNOTE II: I thought it was really sick for TV “journalists” to interview the surviving kids only hours after they emerged from the school, and for parents to allow this. You, too?



*DISCLAIMER: Views expressed in individual posts are those of the original author and may not always reflect the views of Write W.A.V.E. Media. We believe in freedom of expression and as such, we do not censor content based on viewpoints opposite our own.

By Mike Thompson, Contributing Writer

On the day before Thanksgiving, Barack Obama carried out a long-time presidential tradition on the White House lawn when he "pardoned" two turkeys from the holiday dinner death penalty.  

There were plenty of jokes to go around, as always, but I wasn't laughing.  

It's not that I'm a vegetarian (although I respect those who are), or that I don't have a sense of humor.  

My question, going back for many years under past presidents, is: How can we joke about exonerating turkeys while the death penalty continues for human beings?  

I oppose the death penalty even for murderers who are unquestionably guilty, as readers should see via my sensitivity on the turkey pardons. Still, I realize most folks don't feel the same way. Some view capital punishment as a basic measure of justice, and some see the death penalty as a measure to deter others from committing homicide. 

Okay, consider this: What if someone assigned to the gallows by a judge or a jury is later discovered to be innocent? It’s discovered more often nowadays with the modern gift of DNA evidence retrieval.  

Some 141 U.S. prisoners on death row have been exonerated and freed since the late 20th century, reports the Death Penalty Information Center. Not merely pardoned, but exonerated. And those are only the cases in which advocates have launched investigations. Who knows how many were overlooked?  

Considering all of the racial injustices and disparities that exist in the system, the following breakdown of the 141 should come as no surprise: 71 black, 56 white, 12 Latino, 2 "other."  

Obama has said a crime should be terribly egregious to merit capital punishment, such as a mass murder or the killing of children. I’m dismayed he has done nothing federally to pursue reform. In the Illinois legislature, where crime and punishment are far bigger items than at the federal level, Obama in fact led the way to some major changes, such as videotaping police interviews and prisoner confessions, and boosting public defender representation. His leverage was bolstered when a Northwestern University professor and his students during the 1990s probed convictions and discovered several that were wrongful, leading Illinois to repeal its death penalty.

  Illinois thus joined the ranks of 15 states that bar capital punishment, among which Michigan gratefully is a member. But then we have the killing mills such as Florida and Texas, where a combined 35 of those 141 wrongful death row convictions have been overturned.  

Remember Troy Davis, executed by Georgia authorities in September 2011 despite overwhelming post-conviction evidence that he had not actually killed a cop? Obama said he couldn't intervene, but two months later he pardoned his annual pair of Thanksgiving turkeys.  

Reforming capital punishment could be a vital first step toward overall change. The U.S. prison population of 2.3 million is the largest of any nation on the planet. One in every 100 adults is behind bars. For Latino men, it's 1 in 36. For black men, it's 1 in 15. This sort of throw-away-the-key mentality, or tradition, eventually grows into our ice-cold feelings regarding the ultimate criminal punishment of death.  

Please, President Obama, we know you are overwhelmingly busy, but please don't be overwhelmed on this matter. You could reserve a day to make your statement, and then appoint somebody to carry the ball while you head back to the "fiscal cliff" and other day-to-day concerns. Something tells me Judge Greg Mathis, for example, might be an attention-grabber who would be up to the task.

By Mike Thompson, Contributing Writer         

Call me naive. Call me out of touch. Or call me a conservative.        

I don't feel I'm any of those, but maybe it's true. I simply don't quite believe the leaders of Feeding America, the nation's leading food provider, when they say one in six citizens face hunger on a regular basis.       

I get around -- in fact, I've volunteered to  oversee children's Summer Food Program lunches -- and I simply don't see it.  People fall short of food, but they usually get help. Children are most at risk but when they go hungry, the cause most often is family dysfunction rather than poverty.        

I agree that one of six families -- far more, in some areas -- need support from food stamps. I agree with Feeding America's legislative activism to combat tea party threats to nutrition programs.       

However, advocates should strive to avoid exaggeration, especially during today's divisive and hostile politics.       

That being said, there is much to gain from visiting the Feeding America website. Many stereotypes are demolished, most vividly that poverty is essentially an urban problem. Poverty is everywhere. Feeding America reports that greatest  hardship in D.C., which we might expect, and the state of Oregon, which we wouldn't.       

Also, we all should be aware that food banks can make a little bit of money go a long way by obtaining surplus food and buying in bulk.       

Here's the website: http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america.aspx

By Mike Thompson, Contributing Writer       

Haven't been panhandled lately, but have been thinking of the questions. Give or don't give directly? Cash, coins or food? Acknowledge or ignore?      

This is on my mind because in my Michigan hometown of Saginaw, six police officers shot and killed a mentally ill homeless man during the summer, and there has been all sorts of controversy. To know more, there is the option of Googling for "Milton Hall Saginaw." My own feeling, shared by many others, is that the cops could have restrained Milton instead of gunning him down, although he was brandishing a knife. But back to panhandling.      

One person who commented on a blog said they had encountered Milton, and that he was aggressive and had scared them. Many of the pro-cops opinions have been biased, but this is one I can understand even though is didn't justify shooting Milton. Being older in age and not having been in an altercation since I was a kid, I don't want to get hooked up in a street-side hockey fight. Indeed, a homeless panhandler can be scary in some rare instances.      

I suppose the best reaction  is to say, "Look, I don't have anything either." There have been a few times when a panhandler looked at me with sort of screwy surprise after I said, "Dang, what a coincidence, I was just about to ask YOU for a dollar." (It reflects on my near-senior citizen status to recall back when a mere quarter was worth what a dollar's worth nowadays.)      

I did some web-searching, and there were suggestions such as, if near a food service place, offer to get the panhandler some food, which makes sense. There are other considerations, though. Whether money or food, encouraging the panhandler may lead to more panhandling, harmful to nearby business establishments in their everyday quests to attract customers.      

One thing I learned from the web search, from a writeup by a former panhandler doing better now, is to not ignore the solicitor. At least offer some human acknowledgement, being a glance and a few words, even if you have nothing to offer or you choose not to offer anything. Don't just walk by with a stiff neck.      

We can always soothe our consciences, of course, by donating to shelters and soup kitchens and food banks, but when encountering a panhandler directly, this seems like sort of a cop-out.       

Usually, I just sort of say to myself what-the-hang, reach in my pocket, and give some coins.      

Also, was surprised to see that the municipal website for what would seem to be a prosperous university town -- Bloomington, Indiana -- devotes an entire entry to advice in regards to panhandling. 


See: http://bloomington.in.gov/sections/viewSection.php?section_id=571

by Michael Thompson, Contributing Writer


The Fourth of July holiday was the United States' 236th birthday, and the nation has been at war for 193 of those years.

Some of these conflicts can be described as "necessary wars," such as World War II. Still, beyond the lives lost, consider how all the money spent on the military -- or at least a share of it -- could instead have been invested in combating poverty.

Simply in the 2013 federal budget, according to the War Resisters League, $839 billion is for current military and $516 billion is for "past military," which includes interest on the debt and veteranss benefits. Combined, this is 47 percent of the budget. This is more than all of the social aid and entitlement programs, ranging from the "biggies" (Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid) to those that take a comparative pittance (food stamps, school lunches).

Here's a war history list, as compiled by the Mid-Michigan Home for Peace and Justice:

* Revolutionary War, 1775-1783.
* Indian American wars, 1775-1890.
* War of 1812 (through 1814).
* Mexican American War, 1836-1848
* Civil War, 1861-1865.
* Spanish American War, 1897-98.
* World War I, 1914-1918.
* World War II, 1941-1945.
* Cold War, 1945-1992 (Readers may object to this inclusion, since Soviet and U.S. forces never met on a battlefield, but consider the $$$ costs.)
* Vietnam War, 1962-1973.
* Grenada invastion, 1983
* Panama invasion, 1989.
Gulf War, 1991-1992.
* Somalia, 1992-1995.
* Kosovo, 1998-1991.
* Afghanistan War, 2001-present.
* Iraq War, 2003-2011.

SOURCE:

warresisters.org

by Linda St.Cyr, Contributing Writer

Yum! Brands, Inc., the parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, is well aware of the food crisis happening in Africa. Families in the Horn of Africa are suffering the effects of drought and war. Hunger and famine are at an all time high. Celebrities have called this plight in Africa, “the worst food crisis of the 21st century.” Yum! Brands, Inc. is attempting to make a difference by directing $1 million in funds from its World Hunger Relief global effort to help the United Nations World Food Programme feed those affected. 

Over 13 million people in the Horn of Africa have been affected by the food crisis. One of the worst droughts in history, conflict in the region, and over-population in refugee camps is making food a scarce commodity. The World Food Programme is trying to get food to those in need in  Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti, and Somalia. 

Yum! CEO David Novak said of the companies actions, “The situation throughout the Horn of Africa is desperate,  and we all need to help.” 

Yum! Brands, Inc. is not only fighting hunger in Africa, but all over the world through the World Hunger Relief effort. The company's hunger relief efforts span 110 countries, 38,000 restaurants and more than a million employees and volunteers dedicated to raising awareness and funds for hunger-relief agencies.

While also battling hunger in the Horn of Africa the company is also helping the World Food Programme's hunger relief efforts in Hondoras, the second poorest country in Central America. 

More by Linda:

Brazil’s “Zero Hunger” Program Offers Hope for the War on Poverty Worldwide

Child Poverty: America's Rising Crisis

Soles4Souls: Over 300 Million Children are Without Shoes

World Humanitarian Day: Celebrating the Men and Women Making a Difference

by Linda St.Cyr, Contributing Writer

I had the pleasure of meeting two representatives of Soles4Soles at BlogHer ’11 in San Diego where I was able to learn more about the organization and what it stands for. Chris and Jeremy were two of the nicest guys, although guys were in limited supply at BlogHer, a girl could meet. You can see in their eyes how much the organization means to them and why the cause is so close to their hearts.

Since I don’t know when any of you will be able to meet Chris or Jeremy at an event, I decided I should tell you a little bit more about the organization and what they are doing to make a difference in the world today.

Soles4Souls, Inc. was founded by Wayne Esley in 2004 following the devastating tsunami that hit Southeast Asia. A picture of a single shoe washed ashore triggered an idea that would lead Esley to creating Soles4Souls, Inc. and help put shoes on over 15 million pairs of feet worldwide. 

Some might ask, “Why shoes?” The truth of the matter is that shoes can prevent infections, diseases, burns, and other injuries that could lead to health issues later in life. Soles4Souls “Why Shoes?” webpage sums up the importance of shoes especially for children, “With the number of children living in abject poverty and therefore surviving at a scavenger's existence, the feet are at tremendous risk as the child hunts for food or household items in garbage dumps, abandoned housing/construction areas, or while crossing through open sewer trenches and contaminated areas.”

The organization takes new and gently used shoes, cleans them up, and then delivers them to those in need. Soles4Souls has delivered over 15 million pairs of shoes domestically and internationally. Volunteers with the organization have delivered shoes to children and families in need in over 127 countries. 

Shoes are not the only concern for Esley and his volunteers. Clothing, toys, furniture and building materials are all items that can provide support to victims of natural disasters and those living in extreme poverty. Soles4Souls’ other two divisions, Clothes4Souls and Hope4Souls, focus on these efforts.

Visit Soles4Souls to find out how you can make a difference by cleaning out your closet, hosting a fundraiser or taking a trip to deliver shoes to those in need. 

More by Linda:

Brazil’s “Zero Hunger” Program Offers Hope for the War on Poverty Worldwide

Child Poverty: America's Rising Crisis

World Humanitarian Day: Celebrating the Men and Women Making a Difference

Yum! Brands, Inc. Fights Hunger in Africa with $1M

by Linda St.Cyr, Contributing Writer

Brazil is giving hope to the world by leading in the war on poverty. The country has seen dramatic changes over the years in how many people are going hungry. In 2003 over 17 million Brazilians were living in extreme poverty. That number dropped to nine million in 2009. It still means that nine million people are living in poverty, but it also means that the social programs being used to combat poverty and hunger are working.

The new Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Jose Graziano da Silva, was previously a food security minister for Brazil. He was also one of the creators of the nation’s “Zero Hunger” social programs. One of the programs is “Bolsa Familia” or “Family Grant” which gives money directly to poor households. Graziano has stated that one of his first priorities for the FAO is to eradicate hunger.

“Bolsa Familia” is the social program that can be credited with helping Brazil’s extreme poverty numbers drop. Graziano believes that the “Zero Hunger” programs should be a model for other nations. According to Fox News Latino, Graziano believes that the “strong institutional framework” including the right to food in Brazil’s constitution and working closely with civic groups are the strength behind Zero Hunger.

Graziano stated, “These two pillars are what make the Brazilian program so attractive for the world.”

Last year it was estimated that 925 million people worldwide suffered from malnutrition, hunger, and poverty by the U.N. food program. A fear that the numbers are already on the rise due to the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa, rising food prices globally, and economic collapses is well founded. The social program initiatives under “Zero Hunger” should be a great starting point for governments all over the world to give hope to those living in extreme poverty.

Some of the initiatives under “Zero Hunger” include “Bolsa Familia”, job training for women, support for small farmers, and running restaurants that serve 50-cent meals. 

More by Linda:

Child Poverty: America's Rising Crisis

Soles4Souls: Over 300 Million Children are Without Shoes

World Humanitarian Day: Celebrating the Men and Women Making a Difference

Yum! Brands, Inc. Fights Hunger in Africa with $1M

by Linda St.Cyr, Contributing Writer

A student, Drew Mirolli, at North Paulding High School in Georgia is a founder of a non-profit organization that collects food and clothing for people in need. The non-profit called Operation Poverty has raised close to $13,000 to stock up a local food pantry and to help rebuild a girls’ dormitory in Uganda. As great as those things are, that is not what sets Operation Poverty apart from other non-profits that focus on helping those in need.

Operation Poverty believes that in order to understand the crisis of homelessness and poverty you have to experience it. The organization issued a challenge to the students of North Paulding High School- to sleep outside and live on $2 a day with daily rations of oatmeal, small PB&J sandwiches and ramen noodles. Over 200 students joined in “Challenge Week” with some dropping out along the way. 

When the Atlanta Journal-Constitution asked Mirolli if anyone dropped out of “Challenge Week” Mirolli responded, “We had a couple of freshman girls — it is just a little too hard. That almost makes me happy. That means that they are actually experiencing what it’s like.”

Mirolli was honored earlier this month in Washington D.C. for his outstanding community service. He was awarded the Prudential Spirit of Community Award which recognized outstanding service by middle and high school students. Mirolli is graduating this year but has passed the challenge project onto a senior at a rival high school He hopes that Operation Poverty will go nationwide with more and more students getting involved. 

You can read Ann Hardie’s full interview with Drew Mirolli at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.