My friend is a dumpster diver!!!

[kymom99]

So if a poor person isn't religious and doesn't attend church, then what?

Believe me, I volunteer for a religious based organization and the majority of my clients do not attend a church. It doesn't have to be their church, just a church. Many churches are dedicated to outreach and many charitable organizations are faith based.

 

[Pixiedustaway]

I'm pretty sure that the dumpster it is coming out of it is not sanitary. There is probably other food and produce in there that has gone bad and rotted. I would never do it, it may be all fine but its too gross for me to even consider.

Totally with you on this. Who knows what or who has been in that dumpster?? There are easier ways to get food

 

[Pixiedustaway]

I never knew anyone personally who would do it, in fact I never really knew about it until I watched a show called Extreme Cheapskates. I don't judge so if it works out for someone and they manage to not get sick, then more power to them. I personally could never do it with my OCD/germaphobia.

I stopped watching that show after a pregnant woman dumpster dove (dived, not sure of the grammar here) and found a jar of vitamins and took them!!!! There was no label on it. She had no idea what she was taking. Pre natal vitamins are cheap. It's probably better to take nothing then take something you found in a dumpster

 

[QueenIsabella]

I stopped watching that show after a pregnant woman dumpster dove (dived, not sure of the grammar here) and found a jar of vitamins and took them!!!! There was no label on it. She had no idea what she was taking. Pre natal vitamins are cheap. It's probably better to take nothing then take something you found in a dumpster

I agree with you that this is something I wouldn't do--I'm as cheap as they come, but wouldn't risk the health of my child. Unknown vitamins probably wouldn't hurt, but they likely don't have as much folic acid as a pregnant woman should get. And you're right--prenatal vitamins are cheap enough that I'd find other ways to save money (like buying used baby clothes).

 

[manning]

Believe me, I volunteer for a religious based organization and the majority of my clients do not attend a church. It doesn't have to be their church, just a church. Many churches are dedicated to outreach and many charitable organizations are faith based.

At least in my small, rural community, church attendance wasn't a requirement for providing help. The help came through the churches mostly because they were places of a gathering of a lot of charitable-minded people. There aren't a ton of rural organizations--churches are one type, and most people who attend think the community benefits from treating all its members nicely. Our community held a charity drive every Christmas, collecting food and donations. The church organized it, put together all the boxes, and then volunteers from the fire department delivered them. No compulsory church attendance required.

Well said

 

[halfpintpeggy]

I have never dumpster dove for food, but just this last week I pulled a brand new mirror from the homegoods dumpster. You'd be amazed at what stores throw away. It's disgusting and makes me question our throw away society mentality.

Really? Interesting! I think I *might* know someone who would like this information passed on to her lol!

 

[halfpintpeggy]

Our church is involved with the local homeless shelter, and food bank. But we also have a private food pantry for church members and families, including the school families. Every week in the newsletter or bulletin, they put out request on what they are running low on, so you know what is needed. So I check on line what is needed and grab couple of extra's for the pantry. We are lucky a have several members than have huge gardens, and two families that have groves, so lots of fresh seasonal produce. We just put out a table next to the kitchen and by the end of all the services it's full. We are going to start cooking classes on how to stretch the budget and pantry, coupons, shopping tips, stocking the pantry, lots of 2 for one meals, Freezer meals, and basic staple meals. I have been asked to teach a couple of classes, so.... I am excited but nervous.

You're a rock star, so cool you've been asked to teach some of the classes!!!

 

[Happyinwonerland]

For everyone grossed out by this, you do know where food comes from, right? While growing in the field, your fruits and veggies were crawled on by slugs, pooped on by birds and flies, touched by roaches. At the processing plant, your peanut butter and pasta sauces were contaminated with rat poop and roach legs( the FDA allows a certain percentage). Your milk products? started in a cow's breast. And your meat and fish? animal carcasses. I've never dumpster dove, because I'm not even sure it is legal here, but it doesn't skeeve me out too much.The things that happen at the farm it was grown on are far grosser.

 

[QueenIsabella]

For everyone grossed out by this, you do know where food comes from, right? While growing in the field, your fruits and veggies were crawled on by slugs, pooped on by birds and flies, touched by roaches. At the processing plant, your peanut butter and pasta sauces were contaminated with rat poop and roach legs( the FDA allows a certain percentage). Your milk products? started in a cow's breast. And your meat and fish? animal carcasses. I've never dumpster dove, because I'm not even sure it is legal here, but it doesn't skeeve me out too much.The things that happen at the farm it was grown on are far grosser.

Totally right, and I guess this is why it doesn't bother me at all. As I mentioned, I used to live rural. We didn't grow much of our own food, but we knew many who did. Hunting was also very popular. We would get farm-fresh (and I mean FRESH!) eggs, some with poop still on them. My DH helped our friend butcher hogs in exchange for meat. The firefighters would race to the scene if someone hit a deer, because the first one to the scene claimed the carcass (the deer carcass, not any people, just to be clear!). We knew families that, if they didn't have a successful hunting season, they wouldn't eat that winter.

Now, I'm not suggesting that everyone should start raising all their own food--I personally am a lousy gardener, I'd be the first one to starve. But I do think a lot of people don't realize how their food started out. Or they do, but they'd rather not think about it.

 

[Eastern]

I wish I had a friend who dumpster dives. The stories must be good.

 

[halfpintpeggy]

I wish I had a friend who dumpster dives. The stories must be good.

Yeah now that I know that she does this, she is sharing more stories with me! Last night she went to just 1 dumpster right after the store closed. Of course she loaded up on enough produce for the week as well as eggs. But...she also found 4 unopened cases of organic chicken (all packaged individually inside of the cases) & the sell by date was 2 days away - needless to say her freezer is full of organic chicken. Also found cases of packaged organic kale (she just took a couple of packages) & cases of nutty buddies (still frozen of course.) Who doesn't want a case of nutty buddy's in their freezer lol!

 

[MudQueen22]

How wonderful of Whole Foods to donate their items rather than chucking them in a dumpster!!!

Some cities have ordinances against donating food about to be tossed.