A few years ago I started working as a volunteer with The Big Issue office in Adelaide, and had the great pleasure of being part of the Adelaide Fringe Parade in 2009. Since being involved with this organisation, I have been both alarmed and delighted by the responses of those in our community who are better off than the homeless or marginalised groups in our city. The Big Issue magazine and its vendors do have a lot of supporters, but predominantly, the responses of those who are better off than the homeless is appalling. Not only do they seem to look down on the vendors who sell the magazine, but they also look down at the volunteers who support them. As part of the Fringe Parade in 2009, we were giving out old issues of the Big Issue magazine for FREE. There were some who not only rejected the idea of a free magazine, but who definitely looked down on me as I tried to engage with them. Occasionally, I stopped long enough to tell them this magazine is not a political or religious magazine, and they softened just enough to take a free copy. All I can do is hope they read it, that our community changes their hearts, as they have with donations to the Bushfire or Flood victims, and supports the vendors of The Big Issue, a beautiful group of people who are working, often against all odds, to support themselves.
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Some reasons why a person might refuse the offer of a free thing:
1. They already own one
2. They haven’t a bag or any way to carry it right this moment
3. They would rather pay for it and leave the free one for someone who needs it more
4. They don’t use that kind of thing (eg not everyone can read)
5. They already have too much stuff at home (most of us)
6. They don’t believe in the philosophy of that kind of thing or the organisation giving it away (it’s a free world – there might be a perfectly valid reason for disagreeing with the most wonderful cause)
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love it, so many other ways to think about this, thank you!
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🙂 x
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I accepted a FREE Sunday Mail today, even though I didn’t want one, nor do I read it, but felt I should after writing this blog!!!!
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I am vaguely familiar with the ideas behind Big Issue, but I have never bought a copy.
I avoid the idea of materialism, by trying not to buy stuff I don’t need. I don’t wander into Myers, etc, to graze, for retail therapy. When my Credit Union sends me a quarterly magazine, I am more likely to e-mail them telling them to save my money, rather than read their magazine!
Why should I need a Big Issue? I am not saying it isn’t a worthy magazine or organisation.
Paul
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No need to buy a copy if you’re not into materialism or reading, however the vendors would love you to stop for a chat if you have time, and if you have the funds, you could donate them the amount they would make if you bought a copy of this great magazine ($2.50). I always think to myself when I buy one, far out, that is less than I pay for a cup of coffee! I love it that they are doing their best to improve their situations, and they purchase the mag for $2.50 then can sell it for $5.00, a real hand up, not hand out.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/sallypee/4323568947/in/set-72157624804011748
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