Mayoral Candidates Invited to Launch of Advocating for Poor Challenge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


OXFORD COUNTY, ONTARIO, Thursday Sept. 30, 2010 – Mayoral candidates in Oxford County and area media are invited to the launch of Operation Sharing’s “Do the Math” Challenge on Monday, Oct. 4 at 9:30 p.m.
The launch for the Challenge, in which all mayoral candidates in Oxford have been asked to walk in the shoes of those on social assistance by eating only food bank food for five days, will take place at the Salvation Army at 190 Huron St. in Woodstock.
The Challenge is province-wide but Operation Sharing has put its own unique stamp on the local effort by challenging mayoral candidates specifically.
The Challenge will be held from Oct. 4-8 in communities across Ontario and is aimed at convincing the provincial government in implementing an immediate $100 increase per month for each adult on social assistance.
So far, five candidates out of 18 in Oxford have confirmed their participation in the Challenge.
“Some candidates who have not taken up the Challenge said they support the social assistance increase nonetheless,” said Eric Schmiedl, co-spokesperson for Operation Sharing’s Planning Committee for this Challenge. “Some have cited dietary concerns as their reason for not taking part but the poor do not have the luxury of opting out of this diet. For those with such serious problems like diabetes, that means huge health woes.”
Single adults on Ontario Works currently receive $585 a month, while a bachelor unit costs an average of about $615 a month in Oxford County. This leaves less than nothing for other bills like food, clothing and transportation. It’s time for us to increase the Ontario Works allowance for single adults immediately by $100 monthly in order for them to survive.
Through this endeavour, we also hope to continue raising awareness of the many issues facing those less fortunate in our own community.

Contacts:                        
Eric Schmiedl, co-committee           
spokesperson
Phone: 519-290-1494
E-mail: ericschmiedl@yahoo.ca

Stephen Giuliano, Operation Sharing
program co-ordinator and
co-committee spokesperson
Cell phone: 519-281-6077
E-mail: sngiuliano@rogers.com