1 Out of 6 Families....

[minkydog]

I have been volunteering at a food bank packing boxes for families in need. I remember all too well growing up poor, not having the kind of food kids like to eat, and not having enough food sometimes. I mean, we had biscuits, big ole dry limas with ketchup(yuck!), and pancakes. Lots of that stuff, but not much fruit, meat and almost no fresh veggies.

The food bank anticipates that the numbers of people applying for food assistance between mid-Nov and late-Dec will be the highest on record due to the economy. After seeing the many basic things they are in desperate need of (sugar, flour, beans, veggies, canned meats, spaghetti, peanut butter) I went to my Sunday School class last week with a challenge: How many pounds of food can we gather in 4 weeks?

 

[Forevryoung]

Our large local "food bank," Long Island Cares, is doing a huge push for monetary donations instead of food because they can purchase so much more food, at cost than most people typically can (unless you are a coupon queen/king of course).

I know it doesn't feel "as good" giving money as it does giving food...

 

[disney1990]

The unfortunate thing is, people always think to give around the holidays. But, people need to remember to give year round.

 

[minniebeth]

I am a Brownie leader for Girl Scouts and a mom of one of my Brownies just told me her DD just had a birthday party and in lieu of gifts, asked for donations for the food pantry. She told me her DD requested to do it that way.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Our large local "food bank," Long Island Cares, is doing a huge push for monetary donations instead of food because they can purchase so much more food, at cost than most people typically can (unless you are a coupon queen/king of course).

I know it doesn't feel "as good" giving money as it does giving food...

If people feel the need to give something that they can hold in their hands, find out from the charity where they do their shopping and buy a gift card from that store and give that.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Here is another one that I read after the news report this morning.

http://business.theatlantic.com/2009/11/146_of_americans_experienced_food_shortage_in_2008.php

http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/04/editorials/hungry_us_children.htm

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010284970_hunger17.html

Sadly, I think we're going to see more and more of this for the next year or so. Those figures were for 2008. 2009 will be worse. It's going to take that long for the job market to catch up to the rebound that's happening now.

But there IS light at the end of the tunnel! All we have to do is hold on!

 

[eliza61]

Here is another one that I read after the news report this morning.

http://business.theatlantic.com/2009/11/146_of_americans_experienced_food_shortage_in_2008.php

http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/04/editorials/hungry_us_children.htm

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010284970_hunger17.html

Volunteer at your local bank and believe me you would believe those numbers. It's very, very sad.

Thanks to all you guys who are pitching in, no matter where or how.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Sadly, I think we're going to see more and more of this for the next year or so. Those figures were for 2008. 2009 will be worse. It's going to take that long for the job market to catch up to the rebound that's happening now.

But there IS light at the end of the tunnel! All we have to do is hold on!

I agree....& our food bank has never been this low this time of year.

 

[acejka]

I am giving to our local food bank, plus really spreading the word about the food drive we are doing at work to help make Thanksgiving baskets for the local food bank. I've been all over craigslist and other message boards spreading the word about the food drive and also we are a family owned business, so we are offering a coupon to anyone donating food for the drive.

 

[MrsPete]

Our church is very involved with a local food bank, and the need is greater than in past years. Our pastor has asked everyone who's able to bring something every week for the baskets. They specifically ask for peanut butter and boxed mac-and-cheese. Apparently these are high-demand items because they're shelf-stable. Donations are down right now, and it's no secret why: We have more and more people in the church who in past years were givers, but now they themselves are in need.

I think that PART of the problem, however, is that many people today don't know how to economize on groceries. For example, a $1 bag of dried beans and a pan of cornbread will feed my family -- with leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Omlets are a healthy, protein-filled meal, and they're less than $1 per person. Baked potatoes topped with last night's leftovers crumbled on top are filling. The list could go on. BUT so many people today have grown up cooking convenience foods or eating out, and as a result they JUST DON'T KNOW how to cook. Or, if they do know how to cook, they only consider "nice recipes" that call for meat and fresh vegetables or other expensive ingredients. The point is that many people who need food would ALSO BENEFIT from lessons or handouts on how to stretch their food dollar. Various people in the family have pointed out ways to cook inexpensively, but the suggestions are always rebuffed with answers like, "I just don't like that kind of food" or "I'm not good at that kind of thing." This particular family -- and I'm not saying that they're representative of everyone in need -- would rather have no dinner than to sit down to a meal of pinto beans and cornbread. I can't fathom it.

I'm thinking of my cousin's family -- not that they've ever shown much sense when it comes to money. When he's working and bringing home a paycheck, they eat out at the beginning of the week: Ryan's or Golden Corral buffet, buckets of chicken from KFC, always sodas . . . and then they "don't get" why they run out of food money by the end of the week. They call relatives and ask if they can come eat because they're out of food. His girlfriend doesn't like to cook, and they barely keep food in the house -- maybe some cereal and cookies -- but the two of them "don't get" why these chocies affect them financially. And they have two children who are going without meals because they're choosing to eat this way.

 

[Took]

Our church is very involved with a local food bank, and the need is greater than in past years. Our pastor has asked everyone who's able to bring something every week for the baskets. They specifically ask for peanut butter and boxed mac-and-cheese. Apparently these are high-demand items because they're shelf-stable. Donations are down right now, and it's no secret why: We have more and more people in the church who in past years were givers, but now they themselves are in need.

I think that PART of the problem, however, is that many people today don't know how to economize on groceries. For example, a $1 bag of dried beans and a pan of cornbread will feed my family -- with leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Omlets are a healthy, protein-filled meal, and they're less than $1 per person. Baked potatoes topped with last night's leftovers crumbled on top are filling. The list could go on. BUT so many people today have grown up cooking convenience foods or eating out, and as a result they JUST DON'T KNOW how to cook. Or, if they do know how to cook, they only consider "nice recipes" that call for meat and fresh vegetables or other expensive ingredients. The point is that many people who need food would ALSO BENEFIT from lessons or handouts on how to stretch their food dollar. Various people in the family have pointed out ways to cook inexpensively, but the suggestions are always rebuffed with answers like, "I just don't like that kind of food" or "I'm not good at that kind of thing." This particular family -- and I'm not saying that they're representative of everyone in need -- would rather have no dinner than to sit down to a meal of pinto beans and cornbread. I can't fathom it.

I'm thinking of my cousin's family -- not that they've ever shown much sense when it comes to money. When he's working and bringing home a paycheck, they eat out at the beginning of the week: Ryan's or Golden Corral buffet, buckets of chicken from KFC, always sodas . . . and then they "don't get" why they run out of food money by the end of the week. They call relatives and ask if they can come eat because they're out of food. His girlfriend doesn't like to cook, and they barely keep food in the house -- maybe some cereal and cookies -- but the two of them "don't get" why these chocies affect them financially. And they have two children who are going without meals because they're choosing to eat this way.

I have to agree with this statement, much as I'm sympathetic to those in need. I'm amazed at how few of my students know how to cook or to economize on food. Eating out--that's all they seem to do. Few ever bring a sandwich to school or bring their own sodas and then they never have any money. Good grief! I always did those things as a student and did not work much at all in college. Some of these students already have kids and they feed them via McDonald's and so forth because "that's what the kids want." Frustrating.

 

[wdwfan16]

Our church is very involved with a local food bank, and the need is greater than in past years. Our pastor has asked everyone who's able to bring something every week for the baskets. They specifically ask for peanut butter and boxed mac-and-cheese. Apparently these are high-demand items because they're shelf-stable. Donations are down right now, and it's no secret why: We have more and more people in the church who in past years were givers, but now they themselves are in need.

I think that PART of the problem, however, is that many people today don't know how to economize on groceries. For example, a $1 bag of dried beans and a pan of cornbread will feed my family -- with leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Omlets are a healthy, protein-filled meal, and they're less than $1 per person. Baked potatoes topped with last night's leftovers crumbled on top are filling. The list could go on. BUT so many people today have grown up cooking convenience foods or eating out, and as a result they JUST DON'T KNOW how to cook. Or, if they do know how to cook, they only consider "nice recipes" that call for meat and fresh vegetables or other expensive ingredients. The point is that many people who need food would ALSO BENEFIT from lessons or handouts on how to stretch their food dollar. Various people in the family have pointed out ways to cook inexpensively, but the suggestions are always rebuffed with answers like, "I just don't like that kind of food" or "I'm not good at that kind of thing." This particular family -- and I'm not saying that they're representative of everyone in need -- would rather have no dinner than to sit down to a meal of pinto beans and cornbread. I can't fathom it.

I'm thinking of my cousin's family -- not that they've ever shown much sense when it comes to money. When he's working and bringing home a paycheck, they eat out at the beginning of the week: Ryan's or Golden Corral buffet, buckets of chicken from KFC, always sodas . . . and then they "don't get" why they run out of food money by the end of the week. They call relatives and ask if they can come eat because they're out of food. His girlfriend doesn't like to cook, and they barely keep food in the house -- maybe some cereal and cookies -- but the two of them "don't get" why these chocies affect them financially. And they have two children who are going without meals because they're choosing to eat this way.

I really feel bad for people who are stuggling but at the same time when they make bad choice, like above, and want help I find it harder to do.

We need better education in cooking in the schools. Creative cooking is a must.

It is sad how many think that Mac & Cheese comes from a box. I know kids who will not eat the homemade stuff. They only want the box.

 

[MrsPete]

We need better education in cooking in the schools. Creative cooking is a must.

I disagree. This has to come from the home. If a child grows up eating mac-and-cheese from a box and McDonald's hamburgers, a few lessons in school won't matter a bit. A few lessons in school won't create a habit -- not a habit that has any hope of overcoming years of meals at home. On the other hand, a child who grows up helping cook "from scratch" at home, a child who makes this a habit, will be able to make healthy, economical meals without packages or drive-throughs.

 

[shrubber]

I really feel bad for people who are stuggling but at the same time when they make bad choice, like above, and want help I find it harder to do.

We need better education in cooking in the schools. Creative cooking is a must.

It is sad how many think that Mac & Cheese comes from a box. I know kids who will not eat the homemade stuff. They only want the box.

Choices do make a difference

from the report
Among households with children, married-couple families had the lowest rate of food insecurity

 

[eliza61]

I disagree. This has to come from the home. If a child grows up eating mac-and-cheese from a box and McDonald's hamburgers, a few lessons in school won't matter a bit. A few lessons in school won't create a habit -- not a habit that has any hope of overcoming years of meals at home. On the other hand, a child who grows up helping cook "from scratch" at home, a child who makes this a habit, will be able to make healthy, economical meals without packages or drive-throughs.

Choices do make a difference

from the report
Among households with children, married-couple families had the lowest rate of food insecurity

Which leads to the real problem. There are so many variables that simply saying "cook food at home" isn't that easy.

I know my up bringing (lower middle class) we didn't even have supermarkets in our area. Getting fresh fruits and vegatables were unheard of, they just weren't available in the ghetto and my parents didn't have the luxury of traveling 15 miles to go shopping. Now as their income rose and we moved to a better neighborhood we had more access.

And while married couples may have the lowest rate of food issues, what do we do until then? Now a large % of kids come from single parent households where the parent works. 84% of single parent households are headed by single women, many are already financially strapped. home cooking, in a lot of cases may have to come from a box.

 

[Feralpeg]

It isn't always about bad choices. Recently, my cousin's wife started having terrible abdominal pains. She went to the doctor and found out she had a large ovarian cyst. She needed surgery. She called her insurance company to okay the surgery only to find out that her employer had stopped making payments to the insurance company several months prior. Of course, she needed the surgery and went ahead with it.

Sadly, it turned out that the cyst was actually cancer. At age 34, she had a complete hysterectomy and faced chemo. All this without health insurance that she had been paying for through her employer (or so she thought).

Now, she and my cousin face huge medical bills. They are struggling to get by, but will most likely lose their home. They have a four year old daughter who will have a Christmas this year thanks to her grandparents, but it will be a meager year next year.

I saw a similar situation on Nightline this past week. A family was losing their home to foreclosure. There was nothing they could have done to prevent it. They had no credit card debit or any debt at all other than their mortgage. Then, the husband's company cut his pay drastically. The wife has a severe case of Chrone's Disease and is in and out of the hospital on a regular basis. She cannot work.

The husband's employer also eliminated their health insurance. They did get private insurance, but due to her condition, it was $1300 a month. They tried to juggle things as long as they could. They ended up with $80k in medical bills and their home in foreclosure.

This type of things is happening all to often. People who work hard and try to do the right thing are thrust into financial ruin through no fault of their own. Is is very sad. There but for the grace of God, it could be any of us.

Back to the OP's original question. I am also giving to the food bank. I am purchasing Christmas gifts for organizations that distribute them to the poor. I wish there was more I could do.

 

[minkydog]

I disagree. This has to come from the home. If a child grows up eating mac-and-cheese from a box and McDonald's hamburgers, a few lessons in school won't matter a bit. A few lessons in school won't create a habit -- not a habit that has any hope of overcoming years of meals at home. On the other hand, a child who grows up helping cook "from scratch" at home, a child who makes this a habit, will be able to make healthy, economical meals without packages or drive-throughs.

I agree. In the middle school that I worked in the "cooking" portion of Home Ec consisted of learning to read a cookie recipe and bake the cookies. They also made monkey bread. They did make posters about the food pyramid, but then they go to lunch and have Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper, chicken nuggets and french fries. Veggies like collard greens and squash casserole are also available, but most kids don't like that stuff. They can ask for a salad but the salads are not on the food line--you have to ask for it and then the lunch lady has to track one down. At home it's no better. They're eating at Taco Bell and McDs night after night. They have a Pop Tart for breakfast, if they eat breakfast at all. How could anybody know their way around a whole grain, vegetable or fruit if they don't get much exposure?

Parents have to start at a young age offering a variety of foods to their children. And they don't have to be fresh veggies and fruit. Frozen foods are just as good and often they're cheaper. Canned fruit is much more nutritious than junk food.

No wonder we're raising a nation of obese kids. They have some book sense but they don't have any common sense about taking care of themselves.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I agree. In the middle school that I worked in the "cooking" portion of Home Ec consisted of learning to read a cookie recipe and bake the cookies. They also made monkey bread. They did make posters about the food pyramid, but then they go to lunch and have Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper, chicken nuggets and french fries. Veggies like collard greens and squash casserole are also available, but most kids don't like that stuff. They can ask for a salad but the salads are not on the food line--you have to ask for it and then the lunch lady has to track one down. At home it's no better. They're eating at Taco Bell and McDs night after night. They have a Pop Tart for breakfast, if they eat breakfast at all. How could anybody know their way around a whole grain, vegetable or fruit if they don't get much exposure?

Parents have to start at a young age offering a variety of foods to their children. And they don't have to be fresh veggies and fruit. Frozen foods are just as good and often they're cheaper. Canned fruit is much more nutritious than junk food.

No wonder we're raising a nation of obese kids. They have some book sense but they don't have any common sense about taking care of themselves.

As the OP this is really off topic but I need to comment.

Choosing the correct food is the responsibility of parents & schools IMHO. When we consider ketchup a vegetable in school meal programs there is a giant problem.
If you have very limited income or food stamps as we're seeing in our shelter the last thing a family will buy is fresh produce, it is very expensive & they will choice cheap filling meals such as pasta, rice, etc. so there is something on the table every night & not have their child go to bed hungry.

I think it's really easy to throw stones. I know people milk the system but we have an new face on poverty & people without enough food or food at all. There will always be a few bad apples but punishing all people is outrageous, inhumane & just cruel.

This post was started so people who help in their communities or would like to start helping can share ideas....it's not about obesity, parents not parenting or who's responsible for what is taught in home-economics.

Thank you for all the ideas & once again I see how many terrific people are out there.
Just an FYI, last night our local dollar store which I ran into had canned yams, stuffing mix & cranberry sauce, Cheerios & juice boxes so I stocked up & dropped it off at the pantry on the way home.......Going to make another run because this afternoon.

 

[Carly_Roach]

I know that Extension Services were numerous in the 20's, 30's and 40's, but they faded away. They're not gone, but there aren't as many of them around anymore. MSU is one of the few that are left: http://www.extension.org/pages/Prepare_and_Eat_More_Meals_at_Home

Extension Services helped educate rural homemakers with many different issues they were facing in their lives: preserving food, laundry issues, energy efficiency, even sewing machine repair. Monthly meetings not only presented an opportunity to educate, but homemakers could share advice and tips with each other on what worked best for them.

I wonder if this isn't what's needed in our communities where people don't know how to cook? Wouldn't it be nice if Home Extension made a comeback?

Various people in the family have pointed out ways to cook inexpensively, but the suggestions are always rebuffed with answers like, "I just don't like that kind of food" or "I'm not good at that kind of thing." This particular family -- and I'm not saying that they're representative of everyone in need -- would rather have no dinner than to sit down to a meal of pinto beans and cornbread. I can't fathom it.

They're not hungry enough. To a starving person, anything tastes good.

I hate beets. I hate 'em with a passion. I can't stand them and want to throw up if I eat one. They taste like dirt to me. But I've been down far enough to where I ate cold beets out of a can even though I hated them while I was eating them. My choice was to eat that can of beets or no food for another day after going hungry the day before.

So if/when they get hungry enough, they'll learn how to economize and eat what they can if someone's there to teach them how.

 

[wdwfan16]

I disagree. This has to come from the home. If a child grows up eating mac-and-cheese from a box and McDonald's hamburgers, a few lessons in school won't matter a bit. A few lessons in school won't create a habit -- not a habit that has any hope of overcoming years of meals at home. On the other hand, a child who grows up helping cook "from scratch" at home, a child who makes this a habit, will be able to make healthy, economical meals without packages or drive-throughs.

But is is not going to come from home. That are has been lost in many families. So what do you think we should do then?

I really wish the school lunches were more nutricious and the kids had longer to eat. They are taught to shovel their food and get to the playground.



FP - They are not the ones I was refering to. I hope they got all of her cancer.


OP - We bought a Thanksgiving Day table at our local mission.