Megan Flynn
Tucked away in Safety Harbor, Florida, sits a center that provides support services for families, children, and communities. The Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center finds itself in a vital role in the Florida community, addressing ways to nurture and strengthen individuals through education, one-on-one family support assistance, a food pantry, clothing closets, and more. John Fay, candidate for US Congress in the 13th District of Florida, paid the Center a visit recently, in the hopes of finding out what Mattie Williams does, and what they may need from the Congressional office.
How times have changed
“‘If you could wave a magic wand,’” John recounted. “‘And get anything you wanted from your government, what would you get?”’ In response, the Center relayed to him the experiences of those who they offer support to: individuals working full-time, often working more than one job, and being unable to afford life’s expenses due to the ever increasing cost of living. Comparatively, having one full-time job seventy-five years ago, would have meant meeting basic needs and beyond, and would have easily possessed the capability to pay for food and rent. While that may have been the case then, for individuals working full-time now– much like the ones who need support from centers such as Mattie Williams– paying for food and rent is not always feasible even with a full time job.
The problem with our government
In John Fay’s perspective, the current administration harbors a mindset about individuals who receive food stamps and food pantries. It’s that these individuals are lazy and shouldn’t get handouts, despite most working full-time jobs. “As the population grows, and there are more people in this situation,” John stated. “There’s also people who need assistance, because as gas prices rise, food prices increase automatically due to costing more to transport food.” John believes policy and the federal government need to listen to society, and not be quick to judge. John also believes there needs to be a philosophical shift. “I believe if you are in a position where you are comfortable in life, then you’re capable of helping others you’re morally obligated to.” John added: “If you ignore those who need help, that’s a moral failure. This isn’t about policy. This is about philosophy. Should we be helping others or not?”
John Fay’s beliefs
John Fay views himself to be in the group that not only wishes to help others, but feels morally obligated to– especially when it comes to helping individuals that are hard-working but struggling, due to the misaligned prices for food and rent. To John, it is not a situation of Republican versus Democrat, but the ‘haves versus the have-less.’ John continued, “I think it’s a matter of, you either help the haves to have more, or you help the have-less to have more… Those who have less, they have to be concerned with their situation, but those who have more should be concerned with helping others.” This is something that, through his campaign, John wishes to take ownership of as a moral issue. This means those in charge are the ones who are changing morality in the country, to reframe what’s right and wrong.
John Fay’s mission for a better way
To John Fay, his mission is to bring about a better way of doing things. Not only to support those struggling to pay for food and rent, but by restoring decency to our political discourse, unburdening seniors from unnecessary taxes, building mental, physical, and emotional skills in children through education, and more.
To donate, volunteer, or learn more, visit John Fay’s website at votejtf.org.
