You won't believe what I saw at the food bank!

[lauradis]

Cash assistance was removed in our area last year too. I have a mom I barter service with, cleaning in exchange for rides. One of the trips is to the food bank. I was concerned how many items were past their expiration dates. It is one thing to have day old bakery goods, but the cans some were from 2009, or earlier.

what food panty is that at?
all food that is close to exp date is given out first, plus any thing in surplus is giving to the homeless shelter that makes dinner with soon to exp can foods.

yes barter service is a great way to make ends meet or just help out nebor , we still trade child care services for child care services in my circle. plus take nebors to pick up fixed cars and then nebor mows your grass. take old lady down street on her shopping trips, and get yummy bread, oh the bread... two male nebor always try to snow blow my drive because they want cookies

 

[Granny square]

I'd offer to help get it organized. They may just need more volunteers.

 

[lauradis]

I'd offer to help get it organized. They may just need more volunteers.

they need more help come jan thru oct. not just nov and dec.

You want to see sadness volunteer in jan and feb, when people have to choose between rent and heat bill or food, all because of xmas.

 

[Granny square]

they need more help come jan thru oct. not just nov and dec. You want to see sadness volunteer in jan and feb, when people have to choose between rent and heat bill or food, all because of xmas.

I agree. I was just thinking about the expired food needing sorted. :/

 

[Tigger1]

At the food bank today you wont believe what I saw:

- I saw a family with too many kids (6!) roll up in a new mini-van, obvious deadbeats!

(Of course the mini-van was mine, this family are my neighbors and I was giving them a ride. The 6 kids? 4 are adopted from an abusive familial situation. Only two of the kids were planned. The dad hasn't worked since I've met them, you know, since he was shot in the Iraq war. The wife works but it is only part time. She had to sell a successful business when they took on the other kids so she could get them to their special appointments etc. Now that they are settled, she is having trouble finding anything else permanent and full-time. In the summer, she puts together multiple part time positions, but once the summer is over here the opportunities here dry up. Sometimes when she gets sick, or the kids need things for school, things get too tight. She wouldn't take my help directly, but did let me drive her down to the food bank, and helped out as a volunteer with me.)

- I saw no Audi, BMWs or Mercedes in the parking lot, in fact I saw no cars that looked less than 5 years old, and Im no car expert but most looked considerably older.
- I saw neighbors bring neighbors who had no car to drive
- I saw an old lady on Oxygen, actually a couple of them
- I saw an elderly couple who made a point of saying "God bless You" to everyone helping.
- I saw lots of older people who never thought they would be there.
- I saw kids, lots and lots of them
- I saw empty shelves, lots of those too.
- I saw people getting turned away

If you can consider donating, this time of year need is high. Its true you may help out some irresponsible deadbeat, but chances are much greater that box of mac n cheese you donate might fill the belly of a child with nothing else.

This is one of the best post I have seen on the boards in the 16 years I have been here. After reading the first post I wanted to reply and thank pocomom.

I heard that many took a lost in food stamps starting this month (right before thanksgiving), $30 cut may not seem like much to those of us that do not depend on food stamps but I would agree that it hurt those who get them. I will be sure to donate to the food banks.