Cuts

[ChefMarilynMom]

Dear Governor Jody Rell

 

My name is Marilyn Dunkley, I am 24 years old, I live in Middletown CT. I am a mother of 6 beautiful children, 16,12,11,8,5, and 2 years old. I have completed Nurturing Family, PLTI, and Culinary School.

 

 I am writing to you because I have seen you proposed budget cuts. I strongly disagree with pretty much every thing. Although I do agree with all those over paid people going into work with out pay a couple of days.

 

I used to think that being a mom/parent was nothing that it was not a job, or what I did really had no effect on any body outside of my house. I knew people could make a change but I did not think anyone would listen to "just a mom." I never knew what went on behind the curtains. In PLTI I learned how to listen, take notes, be more organized, that I have a voice and it will be heard. I learned that you and everyone else up at the capital work for me, that I and many others put you there and as easy as it was for you to go; you can and will leave if you don't do the job you promised us. I am strong and I am even stronger with other voices. Being a parent is the hardest job you will ever have, I don't get paid or sick time, or vacation, but what I do get is time with my children, I can teach them, love them and watch them grow into health well rounded adults. But that can and will not happen if we take away from there schools, support groups, early education, Even Start, WIC, Early Head Start and most of all parent training.

 

 As a mother and as a Community Organizer I see all the faces that these cuts will hurt, including my family. I am in Early Head Start and have been for 5 years, I participate in the FRC at Macdonough, the Family Wellness Center, and Family's United. I also set on many boards such as Opportunity Knocks, End Hunger Task Force, CT Parent Power, PTA  President of Macdoungh, Middlesex Coalition for Children, Early Head Start Policy Council, WIC Advisory Board and the NEAT (North End Action Team). I don't get paid for any of that, I have 6 children these are not boards I have to sit on, I sit on them because I want to and it's my passion.

 

I struggle every month to feed, and cloth my children, we use the Soup Kitchen, we are on Food stamps, we also use Amazing Grace Food Pantry, and the Salvation Army. I don't have a car, I walk and or take the bus, I have to find a way to go shopping every month. I walk my children to school every day. Talk to any body that knows me, I have always said that only if the people that have it better then me could walk in someone else shoes of a while, they would see the real struggle, do you not eat and you feed your children. Do you know how hard it is to tell your child they can't drink the milk, because the little ones need it? That they all have to wait to eat at school for breakfast because there is nothing to eat at home?

 

When you make cuts its easy for you to just say, "oh we don't need that any more" next time put a face or family to it first. Think about if the tables where turned what would be the effected on your family. I know times are tough but there has to be a better way.