Greetings, Reader!

Did you know that some companies spend $1,000,000 per day on advertising leading up to Black Friday?

That number has been swirling in my head all week, along with the song If I had $1,000,000 by the Barenaked Ladies.

If only I actually had a million dollars, not for myself, and not to convince people to buy my products, but to feel less helpless in the face of the vast suffering in the world.

Close to 42 million people in this country are facing life-threatening food insecurity because the federal government has chosen not to continue to fund SNAP benefits during the shutdown.

I'm proud of the state of Vermont for funding partial benefits during this crisis, and I know that even that isn't enough. Food shelves were already struggling to meet rapidly rising needs with decreased funding. My wife is the volunteer coordinator for the Winooski Food Shelf, and they are trying to do more with less. They are one of many organizations that did not receive funding to offer turkeys or hams for Thanksgiving this year.

SNAP benefits are also limited. While the amount of support provided by the SNAP program varies based on household size and income, the estimated average benefit per person is $188 per month. That shakes out to $6.17 per day.

I know I don't have to spell out how difficult it is to eat three healthy meals a day on $6, or how difficult it would be for folks trying to make ends meet on such a tight budget to be able to stretch those funds to cover multiple months, especially on short notice.

It makes my heart hurt, Reader.

How is it possible that some wealthy businesses have a budget of $1,000,000 per day for advertising when some of us have $6 or less per day for nourishment and survival?

Imagine if the companies spending millions on advertising spent even a fraction of that amount to resolve the hunger crisis (or better yet, if they didn't need to because the government was truly for the people).

I don't have a million dollars, but I won't let that stop me.

When I feel overwhelmed and insignificant, I try to remember this:

I believe that we belong to each other.

I believe in a world in which communities care for each other.

I believe that it is my responsibility to share my resources, and I'm grateful for the times that others have shared with me.

This isn't an abstract cause for me. I have received SNAP benefits and Medicaid health insurance coverage in the past, and those supports formed a bridge from struggle to possibility.

Destroying that bridge for 42 million people is cruel and dangerous.

We can't just stand by and watch, so what are we going to do about it?

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I know times are tough, and we all contribute in different ways. Whether you donate, volunteer, advocate, receive, or help me spread the word, thank you for the good you do.

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In love and solidarity,

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Rachel Doctor of Physical Therapy & Integrative Pain Specialist Build a resilient nervous system to help you flow through the seasons of your life with courage, wisdom, and compassion.

PS: Small businesses are struggling, too. How can small businesses possibly compete with million dollar a day advertising?

Money spent at small businesses has 2 - 4x the impact on the local economy than money spent at large chains and box stores, and it directly supports hardworking members of your community. This giving season, I hope you will shop small and buy local when you can.

Thank you for supporting my small business by reading this newsletter, reaching out when you need healing support, and referring your friends. It means the world to me, and helps me continue to give back to the community through fundraisers like this, and through my ongoing profit-sharing with non-profits and advocacy organizations.

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