Really heartbreaking

So I just had to post this, because I am really heartbroken about it.

My mother and I grew up really poor and depended on food banks and food boxes for most of my childhood..I volunteered at St Vincet De Paul for the longest time to "give back"

Well a friend of mine with 2 children has fallen on really hard times, and went to a local community food bank, and all they could give her was 3 cans of food (tomatos, cream of corn, chicken noodle soup) and a box of cereal that expried in november.

She called me crying, and I gave her what I could that I had on hand (Soup, rice, noodles, milk, basic things), but now basically I am in tears.

I just find it so sad to see that this is how bad the economy is; and when people need it the most, food banks are barley getting by.

I know I will be donating when I get the money; but I urge all of you to donate some yourself to your local food bank.

it is so sad, when my chickens start to lay eggs, and at peak egg laying i will have more eggs then i know what to do with , i am going to my local food pantry to see if they would take fresh farm eggs!!!!

Thats great Fran!

I see a lot of people have read this topic but haven't replied..

Well I hope you all can still find it to donate at least a couple cans. You know $10 can buy 10 cans; which can feed a family.

I know cheaper markets (Food city) have canned food for realy cheap too.

I think also people always get the super wrong impression of who goes to food banks..

My friend Melissa worked for 8 years at the same clothing company, until she was let off. Now she can't find work at all. As a single mother she always had it hard but she never before depended on anyone else! Now her car has been repossesed and she filed a debt settlement. She had to move back in with her parents at the age of 31. It really is so sad...these people are hard working people..

And work really is hard to find (I really do know)

Aw that's so sad, Myia I donate regularly to children's organizations and we've brought food to the food bank several times. We should do it again. Maybe even just go to Costco and buy some things. Sorry if this sounds really dumb, but would things like a 25 pound bag of rice be bad to bring? That's how we buy our rice. It lasts a long time!

I am not sure, you would have to call your local food bank and ask

I think it would be great if you could but some places are can only; or have other restrictions.

This might sound stupid but what are food banks? I think I know what you're talking about but in Nz we might call it something else.

I wish everyone would donate what they could! Not sure if people do this everywhere but every Dec. in the freezing cold hundreds of us stand on busy intersection corners and collect money for kids (Old Newsboys) to get presents at Christmas. One year we stood outside in the freezing rain for 8 hours! It makes for a long day but it's worth it in the end.

I've never volunteered at a soup kitchen but I wish I had the time to do so. :[

Living in MI our economy/unemployment rate is unbelieveable, especially working in real estate it's sad to see how many people are hurting right now.

You might check the area she's in for different church organizations--when we lived in CA our town had Inter-Faith Ministry's that helped out with way more than just food. Thirty two of the different churches got together and founded the organization. They have helped a lot of people and all you need to demonstrate is a need, you don't have to be a member of any. Hate to hear of it happening to anyone, but, these times are getting harder and harder.

We are so lucky in Ireland to get so much help from the goverment. If you lose you job in Ireland, they will pay almost all of your rent for you and give you tons of different benefits. Like they will pay for your kids school books and uniforms, give you money to buy food and pay your bills and if your pregnant they give you money to buy decent cribs, strollers and all that. Some people here don't even bother working because they get more off the government if they don't! Whether you are poor or not, everyone gets a Children's Allowance to help pay for their kids too. If your homeless here it is because you are a drug addict or alcoholic usually.

It would be lovely if it could be like here everywhere and it is so sad to hear of your friend Myia Awful that the government will spend money fighting wars and not feeding their people.

MyLOVEABLES!! wrote:

This might sound stupid but what are food banks? I think I know what you're talking about but in Nz we might call it something else.

Click to expand...

A food bank is where people can go to get groceries and food for free; sometimes you have to have a minimum income (or no income) and some food banks give to everyone.

I told her to go to churches, and I don't know if she will. She is a ex-mormon and was thrown out for having a child out of wedlock and not marrying the man. She can still go to other churches, but I think she is nervous.

Grace; that does sound nice, but I am too much of a conservative to ever want that much goverment. Plus, with our debt, and poverty rate there is no way goverment assistance can get better. I think ours is really great, but sometimes it is hard. Too many bums live off unemployment check anyways (Not that all poeple who get it are bums..but I know my fair share of lazy people who just odnt'w ant to get a job)

With our new "free health care" we are already seeing the side effects..as a goverment worker my wages have been cut by $2.50, hours cut, health plans no longer available (hah! we had goverment health care but now we don't!)

Medicare is being cut dramatically, and so is the funding for mentally and physically disabled children and adults (I know.. I work in that field)

With our already tanking economy..I say keep your free stuff and just start revenuing jobs.

We give to our church and whenever I've seen a need - I will buy extra at the grocery store and just drop it off on their front porch or back door or whatever and then take off (if I can get away with it).

The first time we did this - was for a young family and I prayed before I went that things they needed would be on sale. Think I spent like $40 and got 6 or 7 bags of groceries (back in the 80's) and we found out when we delivered it that EVERY item in there - was the brand that they used already. SO COOL.

Anyway - your friend should go to a church....our church doesn't preach at you or judge you - they simply help if they can.

This is very sad.
I actually stopped donating to the largest food bank in my city, because of their attitude. I heard their main person on the radio saying that they don't want ANY generic brand items, because genetics make people feel bad. At the time, I was working full-time days AND part-time evenings, about 13 to 14 hours a day, and after the rent and bills were paid, most of the groceries I could afford were generic. I'm a little better off now, but still get a lot of generic items.
I should try to find an alternate organization to donate to.

Eta: When I was a kid, my family got a lot of assistance from the local food bank, and a lot of items were generic brands. We didn't mind, because it was food on the table.

Beth: I can't believe the food bank would say that about generic brands! I'm sure your not the only one that quit donating because of that, and just like you said if people are in need...they don't care what brand name their food is. I also buy some generic brands because to be honest....most (not all) are just as good as the name brand!

We've made boxes in the past for family's in need of food.
I remember one Christmas we were doing a big dinner for my family, and my mom came home with double everything. I tried explaining to her "Ma..they may not know how to make that pie'... she put the recipe in the box, too. lol.
Anyways, just to say we have amazing food banks here, I remeber when my moms friend needed help, and it was her sons birthday coming up so they gave her all the things to do a cake, and dinner and suck, then sent her to another division that gave her something like 150$ to buy him a gift.
Although i'm almost certain they wouldn't be giving the money if they didn't have the food (although it was obvious they did).
This Christmas i'll be 16 (well before, but you get my drift..i'll be 16 for christmas) and it's the minimum legal age to help out at a soup kitchen. Well I could have gone if I were younger, but they would've stuck me in the back so -as my homeschooling teacher says- 'I wouldn't be scarred for life if something happens- . I'm trying to persuade my mom to come with me and volunteer.

I want to say that this story was told to me back in 1982 or something (pre-kids - while I was still at college).

My business professor had worked in business for many years as a consultant. At one point in time he was working with a factory that canned vegetables - he didn't name which one. But he was up in their offices in a meeting with someone when a loud buzzer went off throughout the whole building. At first he thought it was a fire alarm or something until the person he was with walked him to a window that looked out onto the floor with the machinery, etc.

He watched as employees went from station to station of the machines and switched out labels - from the name-brand to the generic. Then the machines started up again.

If I remember right - the employee explained to him that every shift or day or whatever they made X amount of their own brand...did this switch and did X amount of the generic brand...then went back and forth like this between a couple of store brands maybe.

That was 27 years ago....I remember him saying that after that - he bought generic much of the time.

There's a national campaign called "Plant A Row for the Hungry" where people who garden grow extra food and donate it- http://www.gardenwriters.org/gwa.php?p=par/donate.html.

Last Nov the team was looking for a charity to support..we called the Christian Care Center in town, and they were extremely rude. "Why would we want to associate with your kind."

Really.. my kind.. college educated witty and articulate rollergirl who just happens to have body mods.

So we ended up supporting the local animal shelter instead.

But I hear that alot..that the older ladies who work there always treat people like they are doing them this huge favor..I think it makes them feel better about themselves to donate time, doesn't mean they need to be doing it though..

I do think there are alot of misconceptions about the type of people who use food banks..

So I just donate to my churchs food program instead..

Regardless.. donate somewhere..

TinysMom wrote:

He watched as employees went from station to station of the machines and switched out labels - from the name-brand to the generic. Then the machines started up again.

If I remember right - the employee explained to him that every shift or day or whatever they made X amount of their own brand...did this switch and did X amount of the generic brand...then went back and forth like this between a couple of store brands maybe.

Click to expand...

There are a few things that I prefer the name brand over the generic, but a lot of the time I tend to get the generic. (Sometimes I get the generic even when I prefer the name brand, every penny counts these days.) I wouldn't buy the name brand for myself and then donate an inferior generic to the food bank.

But, I used to do things like,....When the store brand canned veggies were on sale 5 cans for $2, I'd buy 10 cans and leave half of them in the food bank collection on the way out of the store. But since I heard they don't want generics, I can't see buying the generic for myself and then spending 3x as much to get the name brand to donate. I also try to get more whole foods instead of packaged things, but this particular food bank prefers to receive a pack of Oreo's instead of, for example, bags of rice and dried beans. *shrug*

BethM wrote:  I also try to get more whole foods instead of packaged things, but this particular food bank prefers to receive a pack of Oreo's instead of, for example, bags of rice and dried beans.  *shrug* 
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and THATS why people struggle with obesity. When people have little to nothing of food left in their cupboard and you give them oreos, they'll pack down those oreros.
Thats sort of.. pathetic, really. :rollseyes

The food bank in home town refuses both fresh produce from local farms and gardens, as well as generic goods. This makes it very difficult for my family to contribute... I can't afford to feed myself top quality food, let alone bolster someone's self esteem with snazzy labels .

My mom has been turned away holding armloads of perfectly good tomatoes, cucumbers, and strawberries. I recognize that some centres are worried about food inspectors, but when folks are hungry...:?