Help is out there to aid the poor

HOW astonished I was to read in the Coventry Telegraph (2/4//18) about the poverty facing many pupils.

Why is this happening? Parents have family allowance, and numerous other benefits, how can anyone still be in need?

Social services are available, the Salvation Army, charity shops where many bargains are to be found.

I am the 15th child from a family of 16 children. Our beloved mother cooked us home made meals with dumplings, yorkshire pudding and sweet puddings to fill us up.

We didn’t have much to eat, but sufficient.

We were poor, yes, but always sent to school after we had eaten a good bowl of porridge flavoured with golden syrup.

We were clean and tidy. Our mother said ‘never be proud, accept charity’, which we did.

There was a Boot Fund which we used, and it is still in operation as far as I know.

I had to use cardboard in my shoes because they were hand-medowns and too big for me. No one knew, we were poor in those days. Maybe these families need home management help. Surely no one needs ‘to steal food at sunrise’ as stated in the article. What is the status for poverty? No large TVs, no modern phones, no shop-bought meals? If there are families truly poor, surely churches have funds to help, and other organisations? I am saddened to think that people are in such a dire need. We have food banks too. Surely there is enough help around so no one needs to be in need?

Help is out there, I’m sure. Phyllis Smith Coundon