Phone Pioneer

Apr 19th, 2007 11:30 AM UTC
By Alison Johnson, ONE member, Birch Harbor, Maine

I am a stay at home mother of 3 girls, whom I home school, living in Downeast Maine. I got involved with the ONE Campaign about 2 years ago. Waking up each day to three healthy children, a roof over my head and food to eat, I realized just how incredibly lucky I was. Just by being born in the right place. If my children get sick, I take them to the doctor. When we are hungry, we eat. We have access to education, transportation, clean drinking water and so much more. I decided it was time for me to take action to help the poorest of the poor get their basic needs addressed. It’s my responsibility to the global community.

Volunteering for the ONE Campaign has made me feel like I can make a difference. By using my voice together with so many others I can make things happen. I have handed out literature educating people about the issues of global poverty, marched in parades, written letters and met with my senators. One of my friends was so inspired she ordered 100 ONE bracelets to hand out!

Because children are such a huge part of my life, and because they are the key to our future in this world, I have spent a lot of time talking about these huge issues with very young kids. They are amazingly responsive and are so concerned about their fellow human beings.

I am very excited to rally others to step up to the plate and take action as I have done just this week rallying 14 of my friends. Each one has called Senator Snowe and ask her to sign on to the “Feinstein-Hagel Dear Colleague Letter” urging the Senate to allocate $39.8 billion for the 2008 international affairs budget. I know so many others are doing the same work and I hope the numbers just keep on growing.

As Mahatma Ghandi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

TAGS: The ONE Blog