Comments on: Rough Starts and Small Steps {Stories of Poverty and Hope}

By: Shai Coggins

Shai Coggins — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 04:58:11 +0000

Thank you so much, everyone. This was tough to share, but your kind comments and feedback really helped to remind me that it’s good to share our stories.

By: Eper

Eper — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:02:25 +0000

What you’re doing is very admirable. Think of the difference we can make if everyone did just a small thing to help the needy. In fact, for as little as PhP450.00/month, you can send a child to school in the Philippines, through World Vision. If you think about it, that’s just 3 cups of Starbucks coffee! Every little help counts. And I’m sure it’s greatly appreciated.

I am saddened by the disparity in the Philippines. Often when I go to the mall, everyone is toting the latest designer bag. Designer labels rule in the malls! And then you go out in the street and you see beggars knocking on your car window.

I truly believe there’s a lot of wealth in the Philippines, if only the government could curb graft & corruption and spend the billions of pesos on worthwhile projects to uplift the lives of the poor. We’re paying 12% VAT and where does it go?

By: Mitch

Mitch — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:05:01 +0000

Very nicely written, Shai. This is another moving tale for Blog Action Day that has helped illuminate what the day was all about, and the images you selected are very powerful indeed. Thanks for sharing your story.

By: Liz

Liz — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:35:24 +0000

We the privileged often forget how blessed we are. I can relate somewhat to struggles of a family living on a small income as my father was a minister and there were six children and we never had much but we all started working very young to help provide for ourselves. My grandparents were immigrants to Canada as teens and had 11 children here and all the family worked to help the family. I think we miss out on that somewhat with our smaller families and our luxurious life.
To teach my children about sharing with the needy we gave up Saturday morning breakfast, we felt a moment of hunger and we supported a child in Africa.
I am off to Nicaragua in 18 days and I know I’ll be shocked by the poverty there but I am there with a mission group to share in the women’s struggles down there and teaching them how to help themselves and of course supporting them with donations.
Thanks for sharing and reminding me I am blessed.

By: 10/16/2008 Writing Jobs and Links » PoeWar

10/16/2008 Writing Jobs and Links » PoeWar — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 06:02:52 +0000

[...] Rough Starts and Small Steps {Stories of Poverty and Hope} — shaicoggins.com [...]

By: Karen Cheng

Karen Cheng — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 04:49:09 +0000

This was lovely Shai. Really, really lovely.
It’s made my day.

By: blue rose

blue rose — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:47:47 +0000

wow! thank you so much for sharing your story shai. you are so lucky.

i agree with you on this: “It’s better to do something small, than nothing at all.”

By: Kari

Kari — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:29:38 +0000

I can absolutely relate to growing up privileged. While I was more fortunate than many others, I never forgot it. If I had five dollars, I spent three of it on friends and so on.

From the time I was a child I participated in food drives and other charitable causes. It never feels like much to me, but I know in my heart it is helping at least one person.