There are actually communities in America that are within medium size towns and in the shadow of new and savvy cities, that don't have even the basics of survival. 'A Place for Hope' is working to change that in Rock Hill, South Carolina. This community doesn't have sewer lines, water lines, septic systems or even paved roads.
Two years ago when A Place for Hope was founded by Donna Berry, the only toilet facilities were buckets. If that offends you, good. We should all be offended by that depth of poverty. Now, a church has had two porta johns moved in for the residents to use. But, there is still no running water. In an October , 2007 letter, the President of the Board of Directors of ‘A Place for Hope’ stated this community ‘has been identified by South Carolina’s state-level health and human service agencies as one of the most environmentally, Economically and socially distressed communities in the state of South Carolina.’. She stated ‘The live without indoor sinks, bathrooms or showers, without trash or garbage removal services, without paved, adequately storm drained roadways and without street safety lights. Residents of our community survive without many of the basic food, water and shelter provisions we have come to take for granted as citizens of the United States in 2007.’
I always like to give credit where credit is due. In this instance, Actor Danny Glover and George Stephanopoulos stepped up to the plate with Senator John Edwards.
Here is a link to the website of ‘A Place for Hope’. A Place for Hope