Charities take over social services By Toms Rodrguez Muz 1 Bac
B.
Critas Diocesana is a Catholic relief charity that helps the
poor. Its chapter in the Canary Islands, consisting of 1,205
volunteers, stands out as one of the most recognizable local
non-government organizations, which are filling the welfare void
left behind by an system of public social services. In 2012, Critas
assisted over 46,000 people in the Canaries in providing them with
shelter, food and medicines, among other provisions. Besides having
little or no knowledge about where or how to ask for assistance,
the islands new poor are also unwilling to come forward because
they feel ashamed of their situation, as well as fearful of the
potential consequences of telling social workers about their
financial troubles. Not having a job makes them feel like social
outcasts. They feel less worthy says Henrquez, but they are also
scared to ask for help, because they think that by exposing their
poverty to social services they might have their children taken
away by the government. By the time these once middle-class income
families knock on Critas door, they are in a truly desperate
state.
Ilustracin 1. Voluntaries preparing sandwichesJust a few days
ago, Campos Pineda recounts, in a nearby school, a child fainted.
When asked what was wrong with him, the child said that it was his
brothers turn to eat. Besides distributing food, the Red Cross is
helping impoverished Canarians with school kits containing
notebooks and pencils, soap and personal care items, food vouchers,
shelter for the homeless, and even money to pay water and
electricity bills. If there is need, we are there, states Campos
Pineda.
Charities take over social services
Critas Diocesana is a Catholic relief charity that helps the
poor. Its chapter in the Canary Islands, consisting of 1,205
volunteers, stands out as one of the most recognizable local
non-government organizations, which are filling the welfare void
left behind by an system of public social services. In 2012, Critas
assisted over 46,000 people in the Canaries in providing them with
shelter, food and medicines, among other provisions. Besides having
little or no knowledge about where or how to ask for assistance,
the islands new poor are also unwilling to come forward because
they feel ashamed of their situation, as well as fearful of the
potential consequences of telling social workers about their
financial troubles. Not having a job makes them feel like social
outcasts. They feel less worthy says Henrquez, but they are also
scared to ask for help, because they think that by exposing their
poverty to social services they might have their children taken
away by the government. By the time these once middle-class income
families knock on Critas door, they are in a truly desperate
state.
Red Cross volunteers making sandwiches.
Just a few days ago, Campos Pineda recounts, in a nearby school,
a child fainted. When asked what was wrong with him, the child said
that it was his brothers turn to eat. Besides distributing food,
the Red Cross is helping impoverished Canarians with school kits
containing notebooks and pencils, soap and personal care items,
food vouchers, shelter for the homeless, and even money to pay
water and electricity bills. If there is need, we are there, states
Campos Pineda.