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 Akilah Reaves—Pennsylvania
I spoke with a member, and after giving my rap, she explained to me that her children were on SCHIP but she was unaware of what was going on with the current debate about funding for the SCHIP program. When I asked her for a contribution, she scrambled around looking for anything she could give while telling me how much she appreciated our organization for fighting for the SCHIP program. This just shows how important working America’s job is…how much it means to hard-working families and the impact that we have and the power we demonstrate through grassroots activism.
Tags: Health Care, SCHIP, taking action
by Jesse Kloth—Ohio
I never got to speak to the person who lived at the home in North College Hill, but I knocked on her door four different times that night. Eventually her neighbor, who had signed up and written a letter on SCHIP, stuck her head out and said, “She’s not there you know.”
“Yes, thank you!”
Taped to the front door window of the home was a faded Working America brochure from the previous year. I wrote a quick note: “Here’s a new window dressing, give our new Cincinnati office a call.”
Tags: Health Care, membership, SCHIP, taking action
by David Weston—Pennsylvania
Last week, I was canvassing your everyday middle-class American neighborhood and, given the season, it was getting dark a little earlier than we’re used to, and I was encountering a few folks who were a little leery of opening the door. Walking up to the next house, I saw a door open with just the screen closed, and knocked in a hurry, anxious to involve another member. As I knocked, I saw an older couple eating dinner and watching television. The husband’s response was, “Hey, we’re busy eating!” Not being one to give up so easily, I looked around the room for some clue about something they might care about, so that I could get their attention. Then I saw it: they were watching President Bush on television as he vetoing SCHIP. I said, “Sir, I’m not selling anything. My name is David Weston, I’m with Working America, AFL-CIO, and I need to talk to you about THAT,” and I pointed to the television. Almost immediately, his wife jumped off of the couch and came to the door asking me what I needed to fight the veto of SCHIP funding. I told her we needed folks to sign up as members so that we can build the power we need to fight for affordable health care for kids and ALL Americans. The next thing I knew, my pen was in her hand and the ink was on the member sheet.
Tags: Health Care, SCHIP
by Cicily King — Ohio
I met a nice lady with 3 kids, a single mother who works at a big-box retailer. She said her child was autistic and he is able to get his medications through SCHIP. She also told me she makes $1.71 per hour–too much to qualify for food stamps.
Tags: children, Health Care, SCHIP, wages
by Jonathan Middleton — Ohio
I met a very active woman while I was canvassing today. She was a member already and I had signed up her husband earlier. Right away she started talking about how she loves the Health Care Hustle emails that Working America sends her. She went on to state that she writes her politicians on a regular basis, focusing on Debra Pryce. She was kind enough to have her entire family write letters for me on the SCHIP program and then volunteered to write more letters in the future. This is why I do what I do; when I see that we make a difference in people’s lives, it is the greatest gift this work could give me.
Tags: Health Care, membership, SCHIP
