Welfare Food Challenge- Day two

It’s 5:15am and I just woke up. I went to bed at 6:45pm and probably fell asleep about an hour later. I feel hungover this morning, like I had an insane college night of partying. I feel slightly less nauseous and my headache has almost cleared. I spent some time looking up food allergies and I’m like allergic to food dye. No excuses because I’m sure lots of people are, but it really felt like having the worst flu ever. 

I can’t eat anything now anyways, I’m suppose to fast until after my MRI. Still undecided if I can continue... I’m afraid of another reaction like yesterday. I feel foolish fearing my body shutting down because of “less then perfect food”, but I guess that is the reality. Reality is sad, this challenge is heartbreaking, eye opening and incredibly humbling. 

I’m angry! Angry that in a province with so much wealth that there is so much pain, pain from poverty that is preventable. This experience is reminding me of a client of mine, who had a gluten/soy allergy and rarely got enough to eat. She started off without any income and had to survive off to free meals. What free meals can gurantee you gluten free? NONE! So she would take a risk everyday or not eat. Then when she was finally approved for welfare, the meager amount would easily be spent in two week on gluten free items. We had to cut through all the red tape to get a nutrition supplement for her. But the supplement is only $25 more... not a week a month!! What kind of gluten free products can you buy for a month for $25...!? 

Being on welfare must initially rid you of dignity, for no good reason. MSD workers have to ask you when you run out of money or ask for a food voucher; “have you tried all the free options?”, “what did you spend your money on”. Well for F sake I spent it on BASIC NECESSITIES TO LIFE! I get they have questions that they have to ask, but seriously, how degrading. How awful is our system that people don’t get enough food or don’t get quality food to eat. I can’t imagine going to work every day feeling this awful. 

Making my donation today- I’m done. 

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Made my donation of $120 to the food program at First United Church, $20 ($19 founded) for every day I failed to complete the challenge. There is proof below. I had no idea how truly difficult this was. BC THINGS NEED TO CHANGE!!!!