On August 21 I had the privilege of traveling up to Northern California to meet with an organization called Community Services Agency (CSA) in Mountain View. I grew up in Silicon Valley, so it was nice for me being back home. The city of Mountain View is home to several software companies and the tech giant Google. Mountain View is a beautiful city with several tree lined streets. As I was driving to my meeting, I was struck by how wealthy the area appeared. How on earth, I thought, could an organization that provides a food pantry, homeless, and senior services be situated in such a gorgeous, affluent area. To my surprise, as I pulled up to CSA, down at the end of this lushly green street, I saw people lining up to receive food at CSA's food pantry. The people in line for services were of varying ethnicity's and ages.
I can honestly say, even though as a social service professional I know poverty exists in affluent communities, I have to admit I was shocked to see so many people lined up at a food pantry in such a wealthy city. For me this was a reminder of the importance of the work we in the social service industry do, especially as the economy moves towards recession. In economic slow downs service sector jobs are always the first to go, and people employed in the service sector tend to be the lowest paid, most economically vulnerable.
It's good to know there are organizations like CSA meeting the needs of people in all types of communities. No matter how beautiful or affluent an area is, my meeting at CSA was a critical reminder that pockets of poverty can exist anywhere.
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