Loretta Schwartz-Nobel shares her experience joining Lisa Joels, the founder of HELP (Helping Enlisted Lives Prosper), in assisting military families. (85) Lisa took Schwartz-Nobel along with her to see what HELP is doing and Schwartz-Nobel describes herself as shocked to see the situations faced by these families. (87) The first family they visited was a clear example of the poverty facing military families. The man at this home, Alex, stated that the Marine Corps made it seem like they would take care of him and his family, yet his baby was eating trash off the floor. (90) Schwartz-Nobel asked them about their situation and Alex informed her that the only group that has ever helped his family is HELP. When asked when the last time his baby ate was, Alex and his wife were both scared to answer out of fear of being reported. (93) The military is filled with individuals and families in this situation. (95) Schwartz-Nobel makes observations about the military’s picks; “usually kids with hard lives, weak high school records and big dreams.” (95) Despite the fact that the families appreciate Lisa’s support, the Military is not fond of her. Lisa expresses her concern for not being taken seriously, possibly …show more content…
She receives firsthand knowledge about military families’ experiences by joining Lisa in distributing food. Through this experience, she discovered the ways in which the military encouraged men to enlist; making false promises and giving unrealistic hope. She seemed to be highlighting the founder of Help, Lisa, for making a difference. The importance of helping others and understanding poverty was conveyed through these stories. The humiliation and depravation of pride these families faced was a major role in their suffering. Not only were they struggling financially, they were also discouraged and disappointed in themselves for not being able to provide adequate care for their