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Continued: Do people in poverty celebrate Thanksgiving? by Colleen Sym

The Archdeacon puts it this way; "I have had my awareness raised through 'Do the Math' that social assistance is an oxymoron; government support for those that are in need of support is just not enough. I have heard their stories as a rapporteur during the social audit, but listening is still not enough. I must walk in their shoes and live that life, if just for a short time, for it to mean something profound. In that moment, transformation and change may begin."

In Toronto, Archbishop Johnson will be participating in the Challenge and says: "I'm not looking forward to subsisting on a plain, bare-bones diet for three days. But the fact is, I can choose to do this or not. That is not the case for thousands of people across Ontario. Throughout his life and witness, Jesus Christ made abundantly clear his sense of compassion and caring for those on the margins of society. We need to follow his example today, and the Do the Math Challenge is one way that we can be, however briefly, in the situation of people who are truly on the margins of our affluent society.

This is an act of solidarity with them, one that we feel will strengthen our advocacy with government. We hope to persuade government to do more to help the poorest members of our society through increases in social assistance rates."

Personal transformation and social transformation must take place together. That is what the challenge is about. This Thanksgiving, one of things I'll be thankful for is the leadership of the church in this initiative.

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