Every era has its prisoners.
Ours, the children in poverty, like caged Canaries
and Coal Miners.
The news last week refreshed the betrayal of poverty hanging over the lives of so many.
Including my own memories from my early teens.
1/16
#FeedtheChildren
@MarcusRashford
Ours, the children in poverty, like caged Canaries
and Coal Miners.
The news last week refreshed the betrayal of poverty hanging over the lives of so many.
Including my own memories from my early teens.
1/16
#FeedtheChildren
@MarcusRashford
When I can’t place those inchoate feelings, I open my kitchen cupboards.
I witness some effects of hoarding tin cans like tiny soldiers.
Standing straight and facing forward.
A sigh of relief.
This story belongs to many.
2/16
#MedEd
#MedTwitter
I witness some effects of hoarding tin cans like tiny soldiers.
Standing straight and facing forward.
A sigh of relief.
This story belongs to many.
2/16
#MedEd
#MedTwitter
Warping back to those bare walls in a soup kitchen, lifeless conversations, long stares and whispers.
It’s not homelessness, but it’s not comfortable living.
You live penny to penny with half-a-foot outside your door.
3/16
#ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY
It’s not homelessness, but it’s not comfortable living.
You live penny to penny with half-a-foot outside your door.
3/16
#ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY
When it’s hand to mouth, and not a spare dovetail’s worth to call your own.
The 1990s only pandemic was bad luck. When jobs were scarce and savings dried up. It’s a bad patch and nobody’s fault.
Income carries no alliances or immunity.
It comes, and it flows.
4/16
The 1990s only pandemic was bad luck. When jobs were scarce and savings dried up. It’s a bad patch and nobody’s fault.
Income carries no alliances or immunity.
It comes, and it flows.
4/16
But the crows of pinned stripes and milk men still collect.
For us support was thin on the ground, any relatives were quite distant, and the stigma played its ugly hand.
Food banks then were small and under-funded projects.
5/16
#FeedTheKids
#foodbanks
For us support was thin on the ground, any relatives were quite distant, and the stigma played its ugly hand.
Food banks then were small and under-funded projects.
5/16
#FeedTheKids
#foodbanks
We had to queue up for hours, but there was no guarantee you’d leave with a food parcel.
Some phrases I hear, and thoughts I remember salt the wound like it was yesterday.
“Don’t lose your school meal vouchers, it’s all we have.”
6/16
#endpovertyday
#schoolmeals
Some phrases I hear, and thoughts I remember salt the wound like it was yesterday.
“Don’t lose your school meal vouchers, it’s all we have.”
6/16
#endpovertyday
#schoolmeals
“I’m sorry we just can’t have birthday parties.”
“The food bank was empty.” “Layer up.”
“We queued for hours, but they just told us to just go home.”
When loose coins jingle in your pocket, but not a soul knows it’s all you own.
“I can’t sleep through this hunger.”
7/16
“The food bank was empty.” “Layer up.”
“We queued for hours, but they just told us to just go home.”
When loose coins jingle in your pocket, but not a soul knows it’s all you own.
“I can’t sleep through this hunger.”
7/16
“Don’t pick your lips, they’ll bleed and everyone will know.”
“Drink your tears, waste nothing.”
Starving is more than just the absence of food.
The feeding is more than the filling.
The warmth, and togetherness is the essence that sustains you.
8/16
“Drink your tears, waste nothing.”
Starving is more than just the absence of food.
The feeding is more than the filling.
The warmth, and togetherness is the essence that sustains you.
8/16
Every shopping trip triggers a memory.
It’s my own truth, having crawled alone through my own darkness and rage.
To accept and acknowledge my Mum’s struggles started with these seeds of anxiety, with a calculator in her hand and the three of us in tow.
9/16
It’s my own truth, having crawled alone through my own darkness and rage.
To accept and acknowledge my Mum’s struggles started with these seeds of anxiety, with a calculator in her hand and the three of us in tow.
9/16
Asking the cashier to take things off.
Apologising because her calculator malfunctioned or something distracted her.
Children are NEVER the burden.
And I will accept that for myself one day.
Buying smaller plates and bowls formed a permanence of eating less.
10/16
Apologising because her calculator malfunctioned or something distracted her.
Children are NEVER the burden.
And I will accept that for myself one day.
Buying smaller plates and bowls formed a permanence of eating less.
10/16
It was during University when my frame thinned out.
The strain starting to show.
Working weekends from the age of 17 helped, but the studying was tough.
“I’ll just head to the library, need to catch up on some work, you guys enjoy your lunch.”
11/16
The strain starting to show.
Working weekends from the age of 17 helped, but the studying was tough.
“I’ll just head to the library, need to catch up on some work, you guys enjoy your lunch.”
11/16
Just to eat that single packet of crisps to curb hunger.
It’s not lunch. Some days it was my only meal.
There were so many like me. Hidden in plain sight.
Today, I stand grateful for the humble beginnings to understand the struggles of the majority.
12/16
It’s not lunch. Some days it was my only meal.
There were so many like me. Hidden in plain sight.
Today, I stand grateful for the humble beginnings to understand the struggles of the majority.
12/16
To recognise that look.
To steal the pain flowing within your words.
To be able to ask, “Did you eat?” or insist
“Let’s eat together.”
For today, I can.
Many yesterday’s before, 'twas a different story.
For today, the generosity of strangers changed my destiny.
13/16
To steal the pain flowing within your words.
To be able to ask, “Did you eat?” or insist
“Let’s eat together.”
For today, I can.
Many yesterday’s before, 'twas a different story.
For today, the generosity of strangers changed my destiny.
13/16
For months we have endured a united hardship but signalled the most heart-warming flails to make once’s chin quiver wildly.
Last week was that day, when the nation spoke,
“Not on our watch.”
For…
14/
#Covid19UK
#Lockdown2
#Parliament
Last week was that day, when the nation spoke,
“Not on our watch.”
For…
14/
#Covid19UK
#Lockdown2
#Parliament
“Just look at what we can do when we work together."
@MarcusRashford
fareshare.org.uk/donate/
We are still within half term, please share/RT or add any links to any food distributions/bank resources in your replies.
Please help to amplify the cause. 🙏🏽
15/16
@MarcusRashford
fareshare.org.uk/donate/
We are still within half term, please share/RT or add any links to any food distributions/bank resources in your replies.
Please help to amplify the cause. 🙏🏽
15/16
Here are a few links please feel free to add or share in replies. 🙏🏽
https://t.co/COPPGENTky
#MedTwitter
#MedEd
#pharmacyhour
#pharmacists
#FeedtheChildren
#Parliament
#writers
#foodbanks
#writerslife
/end
https://twitter.com/SikhAYorkshire/status/1321139852138680321?s=20
https://twitter.com/MarcusRashford/status/1318676138332311553?s=20
https://t.co/COPPGENTky
#MedTwitter
#MedEd
#pharmacyhour
#pharmacists
#FeedtheChildren
#Parliament
#writers
#foodbanks
#writerslife
/end
One more to add to this thread....🙏🏽
The Prime Minister & the Tory Government: No child should go hungry! - Please Sign the Petition. chng.it/vXbpz2KR via
@UKChange
Petition formed by 3 UK GP’s.
@DrNeenaJha
@DoctorMayJay
@MissBethanEJohn
#FeedTheKids
#TeamGP
/end
The Prime Minister & the Tory Government: No child should go hungry! - Please Sign the Petition. chng.it/vXbpz2KR via
@UKChange
Petition formed by 3 UK GP’s.
@DrNeenaJha
@DoctorMayJay
@MissBethanEJohn
#FeedTheKids
#TeamGP
/end
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