by Kristin Fine—Ohio
As I was canvassing I came upon a house that reminded me much of the house I grew up in. When the couple answered the door, they were accompanied by four young children, all boisterous and hyper as children often are. As I was telling them about Bush’s veto of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, they interrupted me by asking how it affected them, because their children had health insurance that wasn’t in jeopardy of being taken away like the 4 million children we are fighting for. I answered in a way I had never tried before. I told them about my experience growing up in a family of five and how if we hadn’t had health insurance, we would probably be in massive debt right now. Why? Because kids are kids, and kids do crazy things and get hurt! And if you are not covered by your parents’ health insurance, your parents have to pay HUGE amounts of money to take you to the emergency room or to the doctor if and when something happens.
After I put the necessity of the program in this perspective, both the husband and the wife completely understood and agreed with me wholeheartedly. Not only did they sign up as members, but they made a dues donation as well. To make it even better, they each wrote letters—complete with hand-drawn pictures by their kids!
If letters like these don’t change hearts and minds in our country, I don’t know what will.
Tags: children, Health Care, SCHIP, taking action
by Matt Isaacs—Kentucky
Canvassing with Working America has really opened my eyes to the extent that political issues affect our day to day lives. While there may be one or two people in a day that don’t seem to have a particular concern, when I ask what political issue is most important to them, the vast majority instantly can tell me what affects them the most and why. Their responses come out of the things that they deal with everyday.
One person that will always stand out in my mind was a mother whose four-year-old daughter had cancer. She told me that she and her husband both worked full time trying to keep up with the cost of treatments for their child. She explained, with tears in her eyes, how they had tried repeatedly obtain government assistance but kept getting denied.
Their jobs are also leaving them no time to spend with their daughter, and it’s hard to imagine how important that time may be. Working Americans deserve so much more than this. I am privileged to be part of the positive changes that are happening.
Tags: children, Health Care, membership
by Kellie Hughes—Ohio
I was coming down the street and noticed three little girls, giggling as they sometimes do, in their front yard. As I got closer to the house, I realized they were waiting for me. As I was getting there, their mom came out and called them all back inside. I knocked on the door and was immediately invited inside. I told them what I was doing and a woman who had previously been a member took my clipboard. As she is about to sign the girls’ mother called for us to come into the kitchen. Apparently it was her teenage daughter’s birthday and it was time for the cake. So we all sang happy birthday to her. Our past member and I walked back into the living room and she signed too! Then the 3 other women came in one by one all signed and wrote letters as well! It was great that I, at least for that moment, was included as part of their family. It reminded me that you should never be afraid of “interrupting” anyone’s night.
Tags: children, membership
by Kellie Hughes—Ohio
I was canvassing with an observer enjoying a beautiful fall day when I came across a mom and her two girls. As she was signing, I was playing catch with the youngest girl and laughing with them all. When it came time for the close of my rap, the mother responded with “I have no cash, and my husband has our checkbook.” Just then, the oldest girl said “Mom, I have $5 we can give”. She ran into the house and came back out with the $5 in hand. I gave her the receipt and thanked them all!
Tags: children, membership
by Athena Stanford—Ohio
As I was canvassing, I met a father walking with his two sons, aged 2 and 6. I spoke with them briefly, while signing up a neighbor. Later that evening I canvassed the father’s apartment, and the 2 year old, who saw me from the window, came running to the door screaming in excitement “Do you want a soda?! Squirt or Grape?!” I ended up signing up his entire family, and got a delicious drink out of it as well! They even offered me a sandwich! I declined their generous offer, but the enthusiasm and thankfulness of the entire family made the rest of my night!
Tags: children, membership
by Johnny Masters—Ohio
It’s interesting that when you speak to children as you would to an adult, they respond in kind. Besides, if you are able to explain your business to a child, you are brief and clear enough to explain it to anyone.
This reminds me of a time I knocked on a door and a six-year-old answered. I told the young gentleman that I was fighting for health care and education, but I needed an adult to speak with. He seemed excited with me that I was speaking to him, and he excitedly ran into the other room. The young man came running back to say that his father wanted to know what I wanted. I told him that I was looking for them to join an organization to help our fight for health care and education. The young man seemed to understand, and gave me the names of his mom and dad, and himself.
It was exciting to see that this young man was eager to help out with our cause.
Tags: children, membership, taking action
by Matthew Hall—Minnesota
I was canvassing in Champlin, MN one day a couple of weeks back when I came across a lady living in an apartment complex with three kids. I told her what we were doing and how we were fighting for children’s health care. She then proceeded to take the clip board and after a long pause tell me with tears in her eyes, “thank you.” She then proceeded to tell me how she didn’t have a job, her welfare had been cut because she made $300 a month in child support, and how her kids had been cut from the state health care program. She then proceeded to ask me, “What the HELL do they mean no child left behind? No child left behind? No child left behind? They are leaving my children behind.” She then told me how special education programs her children were in were being cut. This was a really emotional and powerful person that I talked to. She made great connections about how the policies and politicians that seem so far detached from everyday life do have a great impact on our lives. This interaction drove home the point that we need to be paying attention and we need to be active.
Tags: children, Education, Health Care
by Erin Gill—Pennsylvania
A few weeks ago, I met a remarkable woman who gave me something incredibly valuable: perspective.
Talking with folks about the problems with health care and how it highlights the tragically misguided priorities of the current administration generally leads to some great conversations. It’s enraging and deeply affecting to hear story after story of the choices working people are forced to make for the sake of their health—stories of young mothers working two jobs to save enough to pay for their children’s health care, of couples that are self-employed whose insurance deductibles are more than their mortgage, of people like my own mother who have to choose which specialist NOT to see because the co-pay is too expensive.
Thinking about all the things people are up against can be overwhelming, which is why this particular conversation filled me with so much hope. This woman was in her eighties, and as sweet as could be when she opened the door. I told her we were fighting to hold our politicians accountable to make sure no child had to live without health care. Her demeanor changed at that point, as she told me about her grandson, who is autistic. We talked about the lack of options they had and how her daughter had to stop working to care for her grandson, which further strained their ability to afford adequate care. “I never thought I’d see a time when this country invested more in killing people overseas than taking care of our kids here at home. The country I grew up in wouldn’t have let that happen, and we can’t give up on that country now.” I promised her I wouldn’t.
She gave me perspective that night—that things weren’t always this way, and they don’t have to be now.
Tags: children, Health Care, membership
by Avery Lund—Minnesota
On turf you meet a whole variety of different amazing folks, but sometimes there are those truly memorable people you never forget. Earlier this weeks I ran into just that very situation. After talking to a nice mom of three, I asked her for the voluntary contribution. After a short pause she went inside. A minute later, out came her two young daughters (maybe 5 or 6) who had decided to break open their piggy banks and contribute themselves. It was one of those times that you just love being a part of such an empowering movement. A movement that even a six year old can see is greatly important.
Tags: children, membership
by Rachel Colyer — Pennsylvania
When I walked up to the door of this home, I found a list of autism facts posted on the front door. The woman who opened the door was nice, and very agreeable to our issues, especially about health care. As she was signing up as a member, we had a short discussion about the health care industry and autism. She told me a member of her family has autism and that health insurance companies don’t cover autism itself, only related health issues are covered. Then she began to tell me how horrible the pharmaceutical companies are and about the exorbitant prices they charge for medication. The rate of autism in children is on the rise and we should all be aware of the lack of compassion among for-profit health care providers.
Tags: children, Health Care
