I don't know about you all from the big cities, but in my small town we have a weekly advertising tabloid that's delivered to everyone.
The Town & Country Shopper carries business advertisements and classified ads for services, rummage sales, pets, real estate, etc. Of course, this time of year there are lots of bake sales and craft fairs. Usually, I toss the "yellow sheet" in the recycle bin, but this week I needed to line up some snow removal for the season.
Reading through the issue, I noticed something that seems to have become more prominent. Announcements of benefit activities.
This week:
Benefit Basket Raffle
On October 10, Xxxx Xxxxx was severely injured in a car accident. He was airlifted to Xxxxxxx Medical Center where they found that he had broken his pelvis, hip socket, and several ribs. He also had lower back fractures to his vertebrae bones.
Benefit for Baby
All proceeds benefit the Xxxx and Xxxx Xxxx family to defray medical/travel expenses for their precious baby boy due in February who will need to travel to Michigan shortly after his birth for multiple heart surgeries.
Festive 5K and Benefit
Xxxx Xxxxx is a local farmer and Xxxx employee who lost both of his hands in a farming accident in mid-November. To help offset his medical expenses, his family and friends are hosting a benefit.
Benefit for: Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx was recently diagnosed with pancreatic and liver cancer.
What do these benefit events have in common? People who can't afford medical care. I have no idea if they have health insurance. I'm betting some, if not all, of them do.
Four benefit events in one week. That's over 200 a year in a community of 20,000. How many families face less severe medical expenses or don't have family, friends, or community members to organize fundraising?
My late brother-in-law was the beneficiary of such an event. He had a genetic heart condition and was on the losing end of the odds for every medical intervention including a new heart valve and ventricle assist device. John was a poster boy for doing it all right. He worked non-stop, owned his own business, active in community, church, and family, and he had insurance. He did everything he was supposed to do, but the bills quickly outpaced the insurance.
What kind of civilized society tolerates this?