Do the Math Challenge...

The Chaplaincy Centre at McMaster is hosting a campaign along with the McMaster Community Poverty Initiative called Do the Math Challenge. Actually, this campaign has been done quite a few times to raise awareness of how people on social assistance programs can't afford to eat because they receive very little money from the government each month.

My housemate and I, along with 10 of her students from the Inter-Varsity Multi-Ethnic group, are participating in this experiment, starting tomorrow. For 3-5 days, we are going to try and eat what people on social assistance eat. We collected our food hampers on Friday at school, and in each one, there is:

- 3 pouches of oatmeal
- 3 granola bars
- 2 boxes of macaroni and cheese
- 3 servings of rice
- 1 can of red kidney beans
- 1 can of corn
- 1 can of green beans
- 1 can of tuna
- 1 can of cream of mushroom soup
- 1 can of cream of tomato soup
- 3 juice boxes
- 3 onions
- 3 potatoes
- 1 loaf of bread
- 500 mL of milk

I am nervous and excited to take part in this campaign. I am nervous because I know I will get hungry, since I exercise a lot and am afraid I will eat something that is not in my food hamper. Yet, I am excited because I want to experience a bit of what it is like to live on social assistance. I think a lot about those who live in poverty, but this is a first step in being more aware and trying to do something about it.

I don't feel content sitting on the sidelines anymore. Jesus was One who always acted and lately, He is compelling me that I need to live what I preach. I often tell my students to care for those around them. If I want them to do that, I need to do the same.

So follow me this week as I write daily about how this experience goes.