Greg Lyons—Ohio
In Lima I spoke with an elderly woman who was reluctant to join because she was distrustful of people coming to her door. I could see she wasn’t comfortable so I politely thanked her and went on my way.
Later that night I was on her street doing call backs, she saw me, called me over and became a member. She said of I were that committed I must be working on something important. I know that being polite earlier in the night had impressed her and gave me the opportunity to later sign her up as a member.
Tags: membership
Rebecca Hawkins—Ohio
The other night I met a woman on turf whose husband had been laid off from his auto manufacturing job. He has not been able to find steady work and has been working for a temp agency in a desperate attempt to support his family. The woman related to me that she often doesn’t have enough money to feed her children. I asked if she was registered to vote; she said no. She then asked for a voter registration form because she finally realized she could help to make a change by voting.
Tags: children, voting
by Joe Bonenfant—Ohio
The other day I was canvassing in Hamilton, Ohio. I came to a house on the corner of two main streets on my turf. 2 small children were playing in the front yard. I asked to speak with one of their parents. An older woman came out to speak with me. I gave her my rap and I noticed she didn’t have any hair. When I asked which issue was most important I knew she was going to say health care.
She explained to me how she was in the middle of chemotherapy. There were better procedures to treat her breast cancer but the insurance company said they were “experimental.” I told her to stay strong and wished her and her children a blessed evening. This story was so important because when I was only three, the same thing happened to my mom. She suffered through chemo and as a result, early menopause. This put a tremendous strain on our family dynamic. I was reminded of myself in her two children. People like this, who are going through hard times but can still help their fellow man, are the reason I love this job so much.
Tags: children, Health Care
by Patricia Penton—Ohio
I asked a man what issue was most important to him and he eagerly replied, “Keeping our jobs here!” I was so excited I told him that that was one of our most important issues. He went on to explain that he was in jeopardy of losing his job in the manufacturing business and sincerely thanked me for being out in his neighborhood that evening.
Tags: Jobs
by Donald Pettyjohn—Ohio
While canvassing in Middletown, I met a husband and wife who were taking care of their son and his wife. The son had been locked out of his manufacturing company and lost his job and developed a rare disease since and couldn’t work. The son’s wife was battling breast cancer and also couldn’t work. The parents were retired and the father was also battling cancer. They couldn’t pay to help their son and his wife and everything else. They had to take out a mortgage on their home and file bankruptcy as well. The mother was weeping as she continued and I couldn’t help but think of all the similar stories I’ve heard since I started canvassing five moths ago and the other peoples’ doorsteps I stood on watching them weep and pour their hearts out to a complete stranger and it hit me how widespread the problem really is. You’re not supposed to take your work home with you but I can’t help it sometimes. I’m just thankful Working America gives me a chance to give these people some hope that someone is doing something about it! Go Working America! Let’s change this country one doorstep at a time!
by Octavio Armendariz—Ohio
I was canvassing in the area of Lakewood. I had been having a rough night because I kept running into very negative people. However I went up to a door and knocked, and this really nice lady answered the door. I gave her my rap and she seemed very interested. What amazed me most was her three kids who all signed the band-aid petition. But what really got me was their involvement. As I asked what issues mattered most to them, her daughter–who must have only been thirteen if that–started to comment on how important good jobs were. The other two younger kids also gave their input on the economy and health care. I thought to myself: “Maybe there is hope for the younger generation!”
Tags: Jobs, membership
by Becky Angelo—Ohio
I talked to a woman in Akron area, who is retired from a company who has sold out to another company who is outsourcing. The way they are doing it is that if a current employee refuses to train people from India they are bringing in they will be fired no questions asked. They are also getting rid of a few employees at a time instead of all at once. This isn’t all. All former employee’s that are retired are losing their health care insurance starting jan 09.
Tags: Health Care, Jobs, outsourcing
by Jeulia Russell—Ohio
I knocked on a senior’s door. She was a nice older woman. I told her who I was and with and what we were doing–fighting to lower the costs of health care.
She told me she had never had health insurance until she was 65 years old, and she said it was hard because she’s on a fixed income. I assured her that what we’re fighting for was going to pay off and she became a dues-paying member and she brightened my day and my confidence.
Tags: Health Care, seniors
by Sue Burke—Ohio
I signed up a member after talking with her about health care. She told me that her son had Parkinson’s disease. She found out a friend of hers was in the same situation. They decided they would feel better if they talked about it over coffee.
We both cried. I, because I was so moved and she because she was impressed by what Working America was all about and because we care enough to do what we do everyday.
Tags: Health Care, membership
by J Russell—Ohio
I was canvassing in Wapakeneton, Ohio, and ran in to a teacher. I gave him my rap and he was very excited that I had stopped by his doorstep. He was having trouble paying his medical bills so he became a member and he jumped up for joy as I assured him we’re joining together to fight for affordable health care, and we plan to win. Then he paid the voluntary dues and I thanked him for his support and contribution. He thanked me. I told him it was my pleasure to inform him about what’s going on in the world.
Tags: Health Care, membership, taking action
