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For some this economy may be turning around but the reality is millions of families are at risk of going hungry, in one of the richest nations on earth. In the past two years alone, the number of Americans visiting food pantries has jumped 30 percent. Over the last nine months, "Dateline" focused its cameras on how the Great Recession has impacted some of the poorest people in America – those who are the first to feel the downturn, and will likely be the last to feel the recovery.
For the report, "America Now: Friends & Neighbors," airing on Sunday, July 25 (7:00 PM/ET), "Dateline" anchor Ann Curry travels to Ohio where the hardworking poor, with deep traditions in mining, manufacturing and military service, are increasingly seen in food pantry lines ashamed and angry. Recently, the people of Southeast Ohio made pleas for jobs and food written on thousands of paper plates to President Obama. One message reads: "My husband worked hard all his life and he died hungry." Curry interviews people struggling with poverty and unemployment, and reports on what they're doing to make their lives, and their children's lives, better.
Their stories, and the images, push beyond stereotypes and reveal a hidden America that is both surprising and haunting but nevertheless, hopeful. While most television news reporting on the recession has focused on those with a voice and influence -- the middle class -- this hour-long look at how the recession has affected America's poor is a rare chance for viewers to get a comprehensive look at what poverty looks like over time in the heartland.
Viewers will hear from a woman who despite being poor herself, opened a food pantry, "Friends & Neighbors," that feeds thousands; a young mother who spent Ohio's cold month of November sleeping in a van with her children ages 1, 2 and 3; an extended family of 14 crowded into a 4-bedroom house to survive; and a father who was laid off and unable to pay for heat so he woke every two hours to feed the woodstove to keep his two young sons warm.
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The Mash Family is in my heart and prayers.
I know this family personally. Maybe before doing a story on how poor they are you should really look into the reasons they are sooo poor!! Look at criminal records, Children Services records, and ask around. Drugs and drinking are a big portion of why Mrs. Mash has to support her entire family!! This is a disgrace to those who are "REALLY" working poor!!!! There are plenty of fast food jobs in our county, but as I heard one of the grandchildren say "I'm not working in no fast food joint". There are also college options. We have 2 colleges that are full of financial aide assistance and grants. I know this because I am working poor and I put myself through college without help from my family. I did it all on my own with the assistance of these grants and extra programs. The college is within walking distance of the Mash home and it also has a daycare available!!!
there has never been "drinking" issues with this family..nor children services problems! these children are very much loved and just as protected as any one elses! as for drugs there were PAST drug problems. there are drug problems every where with rich, poor and middle class. this is NOT the reason for thier situation..obviously you do not know my family that well Nicole. check your facts.
When someone asks for help, try not to judge, but ask yourself, what if they really need what they ask for and I turn away from them.. It is not for us to judge, but to feel the need to help and to act on that.. When you are down, it is hard to pull yourself up to the standards required by the status quo.. a friend in Hillsboro texas
this situation is not for us to judge, as mike-2064837 said. there are many types of situations that put people in these circumstances. behind closed doors, as they say. it's harder to humble one's self and to try and walk in others shoes for just a moment instead of being self righteous. you were lucky that you were able to pull yourself up by your bootstraps and get thru college but for some, that is simply not an option. caring for others in and of itself can be a full time job. these families and/or communities might not have the support they need in order to access the resources available or the wait list might be many months long, as is often the case with child care subsidy and many other types of government assistance. there are many factors that fall into place so don't judge too harshly. you may have gotten through school now but you may, through no fault of your own, end up in the same situation. would you want someone to judge you or to offer a helping hand?
Did you notice the trash around the home and inside. The girl with the three children and two fathers of the children and the Cigs. she was smoking at 5.00 per pack, the sloven way she dressed know wonder she and the children are a effect of the past decisons made by her. One couple was living as partners land I assume from that statement not married, I believe that is wrong.
I feel really sorry and hurt for the families and Americans going through a hard time right now. I myself know what it's like to have next to nothing and living in a hard time. I just hope it actually I mean seriously things things turn around for this country and us American citizens.
This makes no sense. a thrid world family in a first world nation. America's priorities are really screwed up. We are so concerned with taking care of other people that we can't even take care of our selves. Lets we forget, charity starts at home.
I cried for this family and what is sad is my family is close to this situation. I lost my job the end of last year and had my unemployment until last month. I didn't qualify for the extension because my benefits ended 2 weeks after the date and they (meaning the government) didn't approve it for longer. So I am out of luck and work. I have 2 children (3 &4) and a husband who was layed off from work 6 months ago. He has worked every day of his life and at 49 is out of work. He has put in approximately 140-150 resume's and applications and no one is hiring, still. We applied for foodstamps to help, on May 26 and still have not received word or any foodstamps. It says on the application that it can take up to 30 days for approval and it is now going on 60 days. And every time I call all I get is: We are short staffed and we can't tell you when you will get them. So I will call again next week. The reason I have wrote all this is because we ALL are a paycheck away from where that family is. I feel for that mother when she has to tell her children they can't have more to eat or have a snack. I think the government has done good things to help people out (extended unemployment benefits, foodstamps and so on) but they cannot think that the economy has turned around yet. They are stopping all this stuff and there are still people out there who are suffering and suffering hard!! They need to keep these programs going until the economy turns around.
I live in South Central Ohio and there are no jobs. In the county I live in there is 17% unemployment and a company closing this year putting another 1200 out of work. I feel for these families, but with no work here what is a family to do? Poverty in Ohio is nothing new and our people are proud. We will survive, but if the government would step up to the plate it would make it easier on our children!
What does it take? I ask this question some many times a day. My spouse and I left and very comfortable middle class life in Central Florida eight years ago. We moved to South West Georgia to help his parents; both of whom were in ill and living in extreme poverty. It only took us about one year before we lost everything. Despite our efforts to recover, we were unable. Two years ago we moved to North West Florida in the hope we could at least keep our head above water. Much to our dismay, our situation has deteriorated. We are fortunate not to have children. I just cannot imagine the pain the parents experience.
Again, I ask what does it take? When so much prejudice and discrimination exists within the socio-economic (not to mention the other prejudices and discriminations) dynamics of our society. Can one really ever recover?
I am so pleased to see Anne and Dateline broadcasting this and I pray they will help us solve this situation.
still waiting for this hope and change!
I will definitely be DVRing this show, my husband and I plan to play a where's waldo type game, we try to find the hidden ashtrays, cigarretes, and beer bottles. Why show the little girl with dirt all over her face, the mom was cooking.. she has running water, she can't wash the kids face or is she waiting for the taxpayers to do that, too. She said there is enough food for the kids but the adults sometimes go without, then why were all the people on the porch obese. It just doesn't always add up. The goverment already gives you enough to get started but you do have to do things for yourself sometimes, why don't they go volunteer somewhere, they might not be getting a paycheck but they will at least be productive humans!!
The mother does take care of her daughter. If you KNEW her, then you would know that. She isn't waiting for the taxpayers. Her daughter PLAYS. So of course she is going to get dirty. Every child does.
You might see a picture of a little girl with a dirty face,,,,but i bet you that you have never had hard times.....I know the family and i know for sure that most of them do work and i would like to know who you think you are to judge them......I would love to see your family pictures to see if just one of your kids or even yourself ever got a dirty face by playing out in the heat,,,,or if you have always had a air conditioner to sit in.....so you need to learn to see the good in people and not judge them by what you see!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Luke 6:37 Judge not and ye shall not be judged: condemn not and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.
Not judging the dirty face, all children do get dirty.. I am judging the fact that Dateline takes the picture to make them look sadder and poorer!!! Since you know them so well, Why don't you comment on the smoking and obesity issues..enlighten me!
Oh and Nicole, I got another, Work and ye shall be paid.
Right on Jen!
Jen, Do your homework. Cheap food makes people fat. If all you get to eat is processed, high-carb crap full of corn syrup and empty calories, you can become obese, even while not getting the nutrition your body needs. If just eating sugar made people healthy and lean, then, this would not be a problem. We would all spend just a few pennies a day to eat the crap that our modern food industry calls food. Lean meats, fresh vegetables and fruits cost more and are often not as available.
Your idiocy is obvious. Her children were outside playing - of course they're going to be dirty! Sunny lets her kids be kids! They are, however, taken care of. Don't talk about what you have no knowledge of.
I happen to know that there ARE days when some members of the family don't eat. For your information, some members of our family do work. The family are obese because they have diabetes and don't have the money they need. Before you speak of PRODUCTIVITY, perhaps you should do something besides wasting your internet usage bitching about a family you don't know. Take a moment and realise how indecent you sound and the hurt you've inflicted on those members of my family who are, in fact, typical members of society, and, despite what you may think, HUMAN BEINGS.
Yes, I do know them. They are MY family. I'm proud to say that too. And like Mike said. The fattening food is the cheapest so of course they are going to buy that. They don't have a lot of money to go by the real healthy food. Its not easy for people like us.
These stories will fall on deaf ears from the hard right. It will be spun as again using too much emotion and trying to use that to accomplish things. People are so out of touch and sadly this will become the norm. Maybe then when it is in there faces will they stop the judging
Its terrible Americans have to live in poverty. Its terrible anybody has to live like this, no matter where they live. Everyone needs to step up to the plate, not just the government, even the Mashes. They can start by throwing out the 2 packs of cigarettes that were on the table when they were interviewed. A pack of cigarettes cost over $5 a pack. That $10 could have been used for food. If they smoke a pack a day, they could save at least $150 a month. Quit smoking, it is a great start to show the world you are serious about helping your family. Do it for your children.
That's what I am talking about Legene!!
oh and Jen i have another..they do work, and get paid, very little. and i got another, find a real topic to bitch about..look into your family, and your own history, and and butt out. no one cares nor wants your advice on a subject of which you are completely ignorant about. they aren't asking any one for anything..and not judging?." Why show the little girl with dirt all over her face, the mom was cooking.. she has running water, she can't wash the kids face or is she waiting for the taxpayers to do that, too."i think are your exact words. and that was not her mother. maybe you could use a little education yourself. a lessen in humanity or does the meaning of that escape you? as for this "nicole" (A>K>A> SHANNON) her own family lives as they do because of drugs, right, Nicole? and i'm not talking marijuana, right Nicole? my family has NO history with children services...NONE!!!! NO past, or present history of alcohol abuse and the only drug was marijuana..over 20 yrs. ago! your comments are not important to any one here, what is important here is the little children shown, which is the reason they did this show at all. so save your selfish remarks, we better "hard working poor americans" have bigger fish to fry, so to speak.
I agree with Jen and Legene. I feel for the children. They can't help it and should not have to be hungry or dirty. It is a cycle. If these parents really care, why all the money wasted on cigarettes? The house was filthy. Yes, cheaper food is more fattening and unhealthy. That could explain the obesity; however, it did not look as if any of these people had missed meals so the younger ones could eat. It is not judging when common sense says that you can spend your cigarette money on food and use a little water to clean the house. Also, these judging taxpayers end up working to pay the bill for you.
re taxpayer: i also pay taxes, my parents also worked and payed taxes for many more years than you have probably have been alive. Sunny has received assistance of a food card for much less time then she paid herself into the system. they have put just as much tax dollars into the gov. hands as most of us has, why is it a crime to collect it temporarily? These children are bathed daily, that was just as ignorant of a statement as your paying for these children. you do not nor have you ever. The house is not dirty it has the belongings of Sunny and her family in it, would you propose they put it on the street? it as well is cleaned daily. on a final note Sunny and her family did get a nice home for themselves as her husband found construction work that pays well, and, yes, taxes too! before you judge others and the situations they fell into maybe you should pay better attention,than ignorance will no longer prevail..signed proud sister of Sunny,aunt of many wonderfully sweet VERY cared for children, mother of 2, daughter of Cora, and friend of many, proud taxpayer, and educator of idiocy..Tracey
I'm from around this area. Nelsonville is where Rocky Boots used to be manufactured and it was a good job to have. Then they sold out and are made in China now. They say American's don't want to do this kind of work and that's why it sells out and goes overseas. These people and many many others in Ohio would do anything to have a job like that. BUY AMERICAN
I would love to buy only American!!! LOL!!!! Where can you find anything made in America? With the Free Trade agreement and all of the greedy corporations wanting cheap labor, I am afraid this country is in a downward spiral. Then, all of the illegal aliens come here and take the few jobs that are left. I am tired of hearing that Americans would not perform the jobs the illegals have. It is not a question of job performance, but a lack of a decent living wage and benefits. Good Luck America!!
If people knew this families history and what kind of money they "really" get then people may not be so sympathetic. Think Dateline needs to investigate the ppl they interview before doing a story on how dirt poor they are.
think you need to investigate before you comment..you have not a single true statement yet! and no body is looking for sympathy in this story. but you certainly have mine for you must be a very bored person pretending you know these people..they are very much richer than you in many many ways.
You sound like a bible beater Nicole, but you have said nothing wrong!
but she has, you see this person does NOT know them personally, none of her statements are true. not one! so everything she has said is totally and completely wrong. but i will not waste another minute of my precious life with my beloved family explaining to strangers any thing. no one involved, of which you or any of these others are, owe any of you any of that. they are much better people than you sir or you Shannon, aka Nicole, could ever hope to be.
oh, and Paul, she is certainly NOT a bible reader, yet alone a bible beater. and knows my family only through association, not personally at all.
If you are in fact who my aunt claims to be, you and YOUR husband are the largest group of hypocrites ever known in the world under God! Don't you DARE talk about my family's "history". Did it ever occur to your lack of mind that people CHANGE? That people deserve CHANCES to sustain their own families? No one asked for sympathy.
If you are Shannon, you don't take care of your children, your husband sells drugs, and you're nothing more than filth in the shell of an internet mask. If not, you're simply an oblivious, inconsiderate woman, and certainly don't deserve the opportunity to speak of a family you hardly know. So do us all a favor: stop the bull and take care of your own family.
Before you judge smoking and obesity.. try to empathize that this is a generational issue here in Southest Ohio and many other places. Rural Appalachia has been plagued by poverty and poor habits for many, many years. If you are undereducated and have not been given the opportunities that many individuals who make their self-righteous comments have been given sometimes individuals become so hopeless due to trauma caused by generations of poverty, abuse, drug and alcohol addiction... that drugs(alcohol, cigarettes, Oxycontin...), sex, food... are the only way some beings have ever been taught how to cope. Why do you think milk costs over 3.00 a gallon and soda costs .99 for a two liter? Is this right? Poor people are obese because they cannot afford quality food and are not educated on how to improve their situation. It is a really sad state of being and I hope no one ever has to walk in "poor shoes" but don't be so quit to judge if you haven't.
At last, someone that has the ability to rationalize. <3
well i know that i am infurated that people think my family never tried to better themselves, first thing the little girl with the "DIRTY FACE" is my granddaughter Hailey whom if you would like to see with her normally clean face when she has not playing hard all day can visit my profile where there are lots of photos of her. she was being watched as her mom attends college, go figure! as for the others Sunny and her family have moved to thier own CLEAN and very nice home as her husband found good work. As for Hailey she does not live there and never has. She also has a very nice and CLEAN home with her mom, has a room that looks like walmarts toy display with more than most children own in a lifetime and NEVER goes hungry or needing anything! My mom just retired this year it's not like they never worked hard for anything. as for the rest of them i don't know but do NOT judge people this is a family that would do anything for anyone especially each other. they are not people going around selling drugs, using, shooting people, robbing folks or even looking for handouts. get off your high horses they are only trying to shed light on problems that can be fixed. not expecting miracles just a little understanding..
So, Tracy, you basically just killed the story. You just said your family is not in poverty, have good jobs, never goes hungry, are going to college. You said yourself that poverty can be fixed.
Hold on...your mom just retired and you have a granddaughter????? How old was your son/daughter when they gave birth to Hailey? Just curious here....
my Daughter was out of high school and is a cosmetologist, and was when her daughter was born. and is now going to college to become a child psychologist, for which she will be perfect. my mother is almost 70 yrs. old you see WORKING her entire adult life, does have a degree, attended college while raising her children. she is deaf you see, so of course none of the close minded people around this place would even give her chance. there is a lot more here than you people think. like i said it is not like my family sit around waiting for jobs to fall into their laps, or for the gov. to take care of them. they are genuinely good people that fell onto VERY rough times. Not all of us struggle day to day as they do, but like i said people don't know the facts here. myself i was 22 when my daughter was born. and very happy that i raised a thriving, helpful, loving, caring, independent,beautiful both inside and out, wonderful and productive member of society.
Agreed. Hailey is as loved and cared for as any child of a middle-class family in the suburbs.
I know the family very well and they are not lazy at all,,Most of them in that house do work and the others are physically unable to work,,,,You might see a little girl with a dirty face but that is all,,,her mother is a single,,and goes to college to better her life for her little girl,,,and to top that off she is one of the best moms you would ever meet!!!!!!! She doesn't have the money to have someone come in to clean her house,,,or watch her kids so she does the best,,,and that is better than some of the people that at commenting on this picture of the sweatest little girl you would ever meet....I would just love to see your family pictures and i bet i would find one of your children or maybe even of yourself that shows your true colors,,,spitefull,,,,,,!!!!! If you would get out of your air conditioned car,,,and centraled air house maybe we would see what a true human is able to do with a few oz. of dirt and play,,,!!!!!!!
What you just said makes no sense at all. No one is putting down the child. The reason people are upset is because it shows people that don't have alot as being dirty and that is not true. They took that little girl's picture for a News show!!!!!!! Her mother should have washed her face.
her mother was not there, she was in class. do you chase your children around with a wash cloth when they are outside playing? they were playing in the dirt! the idiocy of some people stun me. So she should have no they can't play and be normal children because there was a camera present? please!!! grow up!!!
The only thing that I am finding poor in these situations, are the excuses.
who is making excuses? excuses for what? no one is doing any such thing. having an attack of guilty conscience are we for making false statements before finding out facts? there is reason for excuses here. no body did any thing wrong here.
Why are people upset because a child was playing in the dirt? Excuse me, but I was under the impression that the objective of this show was to find a REALISTIC impression of local families. Our family does not claim to be perfect, but you cannot be so ignorant as to claim that no one is trying. The mother of that child is going to college; I am proud to be a part of this family and one of the top ten in my graduating class. I make no excuses.
I do not claim that my family made the best choices. They faced challenges; those challenges gave them many paths to chose how to cope, and some of them chose the wrong path. One wrong choice, a simple choice, has affected an entire family for a lifetime or more. My aunts, my uncles, my parents may not have a degree or a spotless record; they may have earned some of the consequences they faced; but we have never asked for your complete support. Instead, we ask for a chance to support ourselves and our future.
Do not say that our family is hopeless or lazy. I am proud to have my family; I do no drugs, do well in school, aspire to be an editor and lead a typical middle-classed life. My mother is a part of this family; she works seven days a week. My father is disabled and still works in his condition to pay for my extra schooling and our bills. We DON'T consume your money.
I feel sick to my stomach when I realize your idiocy. "My people are destroyed for their lack of knowledge..." Perhaps you should think before you bitch at my family for things that are far in the past but will haunt them for the rest of their lives and ours.
People in this country need to stop judging others so harshly.....Pre 911-I had a great career with excellent benefits, etc. Post 9-11, entirely different story...now I have lost everything, apartment, car, savings, etc....I have not been able to find any type of employment in almost 2 years (was laid off Feb.09). I live just north of Chicago, which used to have excellent opportunities since many large companies in the area. Every company here has a hiring freeze, looking to place their own laid off employees and the rest of the companies are only looking for bilinguals whom will work for next to nothing. They can live that way since many of them pile up in the same house. I am single, childless and I wish to live a quiet and peaceful existence. It is almost impossible to maintain a quiet lifestyle since many of the people that are seeking affordable housing have at least 4 or more children. I am not bashing them, but I do believe that you should only have children that you can provide for and not expect the taxpayers and government to supplement the rest.
Reading some of the comments made only reinforces what I stated earlier! How dare anyone judge another person. We too our working poor! Our poverty was imposed upon us by those with the same attitude as some who have posted such degrading comments. Think before you speak!
I have lived in Athens County, Ohio all of my life and the economy has always been a constant worry in the back of most minds, but it is nowhere close to being "third-world" [Ann Curry]!
Most of the work available here at the moment is minimum wage, which is barely above $7. How can a family live off of that? Sure, it is "appropriate" for high school and college age students, but I see many baby boomers and the older generation applying for and working these jobs as well, just to get by. There are also those who are on welfare, unemployment, disability, or other government aid who don't want to get a job because they receive more money from the government than they would working. When government aid helps you feed your family, why go out and get a job that won't?
America used to be a land of industry and farming. That is how our country prospered and every step we take farther from hard labor, is every step that we lose our footing as a great nation. If we supported agriculture and green energy more, not only would our country produce jobs, but individuals would produce their own food and people would be healthier. During every economic downfall, there are people who have survived by growing their own food, cutting their own wood to heat the house, biking and walking or using public transportation to save money on the car. It seems like a lot of people have forgotten how to be self-sustaining, and perhaps we need to create more community programs to support this knowledge. Even better idea, start teaching sustainability and nutrition in elementary school. Can you imagine if every public school had an organic garden? They could either feed the students or donate the produce to the local food pantry, but at least the children would be taught where real food comes from.
There are sides of Athens County that you will most likely not see in this video: the beautiful rolling hills and abundance of wildlife; the middle-class to very wealthy neighborhoods; and the people who live in poverty who still manage to have satellite-TV and Internet on their trailers with the five broken down cars parked in their lawn and the family drinking and smoking on the front porch, while the children go unattended and their 16-years-old mom works at McDonalds. Someone else commented, "She said there is enough food for the kids but the adults sometimes go without, then why were all the people on the porch obese?" If you notice something about poverty stricken areas all over the United States, you will notice that many of the people are obese because either they lack the nutritional education or they can only afford processed foods (sold cheap at stores such as Walmart) or items off the fast-food $1 menu. What I want to know is, why is Mrs. Mash from the video cooking meat when rice is much cheaper and feeds more mouths. [The Asians realized this hundreds of years ago, why can't Americans?]
I have a feeling that portions of this story will be somewhat biased and make a hasty generalization about an area the reporter is not familiar with. I grew up in poverty here, but I was lucky because I had parents who gardened, cut firewood, clipped coupons, and taught me how to shop for sales. I was lucky because I had electricity in my house, and running water from a cistern and a well. This is what it is like to grow up in the country! You fend for yourselves, you hunt deer and store the meat in your freezer for the winter, you pick and can fruit and vegetables, possibly even raise animals for slaughter. This is something that city people do not even think twice about or cringe at the thought, but here it is a way of life. You might end up with dirt on your face or under your nails, but at the end of the day you know it is worth it.
I agree with One Athenians Voice. When you live in the country you don't always have the easier road, but you do have what you need and as long as you work hard and take care of your family, you can have what you want. I don't understand how there are 14 people living in one home and no one can fix the place up. Picking some of the trash out of the yard would be a good start. If people in this house are smoking and drinking but can't provide a roof over their children's head, then they need to check their priorities. Cigarettes are very expensive and no one in that picture looks like their going hungry. They all look very well fed. To say that poor people can't afford to eat right is untrue. I know that in Athens County there are vegetable plants that are given to families to start gardens and there are vegetables that are given away and food boxes and all summer long their are churches and organizations in Athens that help feed people. There are alot of oppurtunities for people in Athens, if they just look for them. There are two colleges and there is help to go to college. I was troubled about the little girl with the dirty face. I think it is a shame to portray someone as being dirty just because they may be financial strapped. The mother should have cleaned that child's face before she let them take a picture of her. That was pretty shameful. This wasn't for a cute family photo, this is being displayed for millons of people to see and that is pretty sad. I know times are hard, but everyone has to take responsibility for their lives. If you keep bringing children in this world then you need to be able to take care of them.
the picture is not being used in any such way, and you my dear the one who should be ashamed. i have downloaded this photo for my own personal collection. it is you see the only picture of this child that i will ever have with dirt on her. don't be ridiculous.
and this child is THE BEST taken of child in this entire country!!!!! with more diplomacy and respect and and maturity than most of the adults i have encountered, and she is only 2!!!
I have been living in Athens County all my life and I would never trade living here for anything! I love the rural life and the beauty that surrounds me. Most people I come into contact with are very hard working, take very good care of their families and have their priorities straight. I hope that this show won't put a bias or stigma on those living in these surrounding counties. There are a lot of folks who are very friendly, God Fearing and love this Country that we live in. I don't think you will find any other place where there is a community of people who are willing to help each other out. But I find that a lot of people who are in poverty are not willing to work. A lot of those who are living in poverty really like taking the easy way out.. such as living on Welfare. Most buy several packsof Cigarrettes and alcohol.. which if they cut that out they would save a lot of money to buy necessities to support themselves and their families. I'm not judging anyone, but I'm just stating the facts as to what I notice everyday. There are several job opportunities out there in this County. They may not be the best paying jobs.. but it's a job and I know of several people here who would rather not take that job because it's "too much work" with little pay. There are Colleges in Athens County and Surrounding Counties that have Financial aide and other Student assistance to help pay for schooling. You just have to take the effort to go and find out about it. That is how I went to Hocking College and got myself a job after I graduated.
and this family is probably one of the friendliest god fearing of all them in the county.
My husband lost his job 9 months ago. The manufacturing plant closed making 1000 Americans jobless. My husband hasn't been able to find a job yet. He had worked hard for thirty years and wants a job. Next door to us, are over half a dozen illegals working under-the-table helping to build a new High School. The illegals are taking the blue collar jobs now. Wake up, people! Obama, himself, said many jobs are gone for good. America does NOT have enough jobs for everyone anymore. Obama, please stop flirting with the illegals and put America citizens first!!
do your part start boycotting companies that that hire and have sent jobs out of this country.
and the same is happening here in this county. Dozens of mexicans were building apts. right on Richland ave. in Athens because they work for less, require no med. coverage and will sleep any where! how is this right?
try www.locateamerican.com
Great report . When the father of 2 sons living in a basement said he would relocate for a job I want him and others to know that our state of North Dakota has mostly been spared from the effects of this recession. We have "Hiring" notices all over. I realize many people can't move or work for various reasons but for those who can they need to be willing to move where the jobs are.
To the man that previously had a job in a steel mill: you should apply at AK Steel in Middletown/Zanesville/Coshocton/Mansfield (not sure which is closest) I hope that helps you and your boys. I have no idea how else to let him know?
I only got to watch the end of the show but was very touched as I am from Ohio myself. I am praying for you all! I wish people weren`t so quick to judge.