TODAY I HAD TO APPLY FOR ENERGY ASSISTANCE. I AM HAVING TO STRUGGLE TO PAY MY ELECTRIC BILLS. SO I WENT TO THIS PLACE COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO APPLY FOR HEAP PROGRAM…… IT WAS SAD TO SEE THE NUMBER OF WOMEN APPLYING FOR HELP. I FELT SAD, ONE DAY I AM IN PACIFIC PALISADES ATTENDING A HOLIDAY FUND RAISER. TODAY I AM IN LINE  LOOKING FOR A HAND OUT. I DONT FEEL SORRY FOR MYSELF AS I UNDERSTAND THAT MY SITUATION IS TEMPORARY. I DID FEEL EMPATHY FOR THE PEOPLE I OBSERVED AS MANY INDICATED THAT THEIR SERVICE WAS BEING DISCONNECTED IN A FEW DAYS. HOWEVER TODAY, THEY WERE ONLY GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT TO CHECK ON THE STATUS OF THEIR APPLICATION NEXT WEEK. I FELT THEIR ANXIETY AND FRUSTRATION. IT BOILS DOWN TO THE HAVE AND THE HAVE NOTS. SOME HAVE SO MUCH AND OTHERS HAVE NOTHING AT ALL. THE AGENCY IS DOING ITS BEST. HOW IRONIC AT CHRISTMAS TIME WE ARE WORRYING ABOUT PAYING THE ELECTRIC AND THE GAS. THEY ONLY HELP WITH ONE BILL AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO DETERMINE IF YOU WILL RECEIVE ANY ASSISTANCE. SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION IS NO GUARANTEE. IT IS A FEELING OF DESPAIR HOWEVER I AM MOTIVATED TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD SOCIAL JUSTICE. WE MUST CONSIDER THOSE THAT ARE LESS FORTUNATE. I DROVE AWAY THINKING, HOW SAD WE LIVE IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY AND OUR CITIZENS ARE STRUGGLING TO STAY WARM, STAY HOUSED, AND TO STAY FED. I AM PRAYING FOR US ALL. 

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