For those of us having issues buying food:

[JanMichael]

particularly those of us who have used food banks:

I am interested in suggestions re: what would make a food bank easier to use? What process needs to be eliminated to make getting food more accessible?

I have noticed a crap load of red tape associated with using food bank services. Please tell me in this thread what would make life easier for folks who just need some help with getting some groceries?

[bbinacan]

1. I know this will sound cold

and I apologize in advance. How can one so cash strapped that they can't buy food, find a way to pay for internet service and a computer?

[JuniperLea]

2. Public library, perhaps?

There are ways.

[JanMichael]

3. yep. You do sound cold

if you have to apologize for something in advance, perhaps you shouldn't post it.

People can get on DU from the Library, or from free internet.

[bbinacan]

7. Then I apologize if

you are using a computer at the library. Is that the case?

[noamnety]

10. It is not your damn business.

You are not America's Poor Person Budget Inspector. Treat people with dignity and stop acting like being poor in public obligates a person to open their budget up for your personal scrutiny.

If you feel that strongly that everyone's finances should be open source, go start your own thread letting us know how much you have in your bank account, why you don't have more, and what your weekly expenses are. And then we can decide as a community if you have saved your money in ways that we feel are appropriate, whether you've been donating enough to charities and so forth.

[bbinacan]

11. Friggin' relax

I asked a legitimate question. The OP responded and I apologized. I would think that if I had a choice between buying a computer, etc. and food, my hunch is that I would go for the food. That's just me though.

[bobbolink]

20. No, it was NOT a "legitimate question". It's tantamount to stalking.

YOUR choice is YOUR choice.

Liberals live and let live.

[bbinacan]

22. Stalking?

How so? :wtf:

[bobbolink]

27. Thinking you have some right to PRY into the private life of someone you don't even know.

Yes, you're on the road to stalking.

Cease and desist.

[bbinacan]

37. The OP just PM'd me

and I assure you that you haven't a fucking clue of what you're talking about.

[bbinacan]

55. Did you get my PM?

Do you have the guts to respond? You were duped and I wasn't.:rofl: :rofl:

I hope you didn't break a jaw with that knee jerk reaction.

[Slagathor]

88. Actually it is a perfectly justifiable concern

food comes first and those who want charity get their priorities placed under scrutiny. Period. That's just how it works. Liberals do NOT just "live and let live". We demand a certain responsibility from people and we are highly judgmental when it comes to choices and attitudes we do not appreciate. Or do you take a live and let live approach to homophobes, racists or misogynists or republicans? Well, people who take state or private aid have a responsibility to those who provide it, and if they don't like the idea that their finances and choices will be subject to close inspection, then that's just too damn bad.

[uppityperson]

69. How about those who bought computer back when had a job, or were given one?

It is condescending to write what you do. "I would think that if I had a choice between buying a computer, etc. and food, my hunch is that I would go for the food. That's just me though."

You seriously think that someone who is having difficulty buying food would just say "aw fuck it, I'll go buy a computer instead"?

[Contrary1]

74. Similar to buying a car when one could still afford the gas to put in it. n/t

[Slagathor]

89. Sell the car, sell the computer (nt)

[elehhhhna]

103. Sell the car, sell the computer, never work again, starve... (nt)

[sammythecat]

84. My broadband service costs $40/month,

dial-up is less than half that. You should consider that pittance may provide the only source of entertainment for some. Giving up $16.94 dial-up service isn't going to feed anyone, let alone a family, for long.

In my case, I bought my computer in 2003. Circumstances can change. They might have a computer bought a long time ago, but if anything happened to it they might not be able to replace it, and selling a 5 year old computer doesn't buy much food.

You're being unrealistic. Having a computer hardly counts as a luxury. You make it sound like one needs to be naked and living in the woods before they can qualify for assistance.

[Slagathor]

91. sixteen ninety four buys a lot of food when you are legitimately poor

that's milk for a month
that's a couple of case lots of macaroni and cheese
that's enough cans of tuna for a month
that's a lot of potatoes, onions and carrots

forty dollars could just about feed a single person. Not pleasantly, but if forty dollars on DSL/month stands between accepting welfare and being self-sufficient, I know which one I'd choose.

[datasuspect]

100. it was a moronic, loaded question designed to minimize another person by calling into

question their claim to poverty.

computers are fairly ubiquitous now.

they even have them at homeless shelters. you are proposing a false dichotomy, that either a person cannot afford a computer if they cannot afford food or if they are using a computer, then they should have enough money for food.

your question does not take into account all of the free access to the internet the average person in this country enjoys.

you want someone to qualify their poverty credentials within the skewed parameters of your sophistry and flawed understanding of the world.

[bobbolink]

19. Beautifully said!! All the judgementalism, befitting a conservative, gets very old!

:applause:

Well done post!

[guitar man]

41. right on

:applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:
:applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:
:applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:
:applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:

[bbinacan]

59. Right on?

People still use that term?

[Breeze54]

63. Isn't that far out? I think it's right on too!

[notadmblnd]

81. some people depend on the kindness of others

not that it's any of your business, but I have taken family members in. They can't afford housing or food on their own. While they live in my house, I provide the internet access, extra mouths to feed means obtaining extra food. Hence one might use a food bank or other assistance.

[noamnety]

8. I know several people who don't have computers

who post from libraries or from a friend's computer.

This attitude that poor people are poor because they are mismanaging their money - and the quickness of people to make all kinds of assumptions to validate that assumption - was something I learned when I was on WIC coupons.

When people have less money, they are more dependent on communities. That shouldn't come as a big surprise. They pool resources. When I had those coupons I had to deal with the glares of people who were obviously standing in judgment over me for buying cigarettes while using coupons to feed my kid.

I don't smoke. Nobody in my family smokes. The neighbor did - and she had two small children and no drivers license. I would check with her before going to the store, and use her money to buy the things on her list. When I got recalled from the IRR, she watched my kid for me for free, as a friend, so I wouldn't be AWOL on drill days.

We share resources. We barter. We run errands that are someone else's errands. We might be driving the neighbor's car, and in return doing daycare for her, so we don't have to deal with lugging groceries home by foot.

Please don't assume somebody is irresponsible or stupid because they are poor. It's hurtful to have to stand in line at the store with everyone standing in judgment over you. I imagine it's hurtful online as well.

This is a post about making food banks more efficient, not a post inviting strangers to make assumptions about the OP's life, and then make negative judgments based on those made-up assumptions.

[bbinacan]

14. You make a valid point. n/t

[bobbolink]

23. "This attitude that poor people are poor because they are mismanaging their money "

is a conservative paradigm.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2959812

"In this belief system, the burden falls solely on the individual. If the person fails to succeed, it is due totally to their own failings. They were lazy, they made the wrong choices, or they just plain aren't too bright. Therefore, they pretty much got what they deserved."

It's time to do away with this judgmental, conservative and destructive meme!

[Tippy]

9. I really hate to say this but you sound just like my repubican neighbor....

It's non of your business but my son and daughter in-law pay for my internet service..we bought our computer before my husband lost his job.

[qanda]

12. Wow! Why apologize in advance?

You probably already knew you were going to sound like an ignorant jerk.

[bbinacan]

15. Now there's an intelligent reply. n/t

[bobbolink]

25. Yes, it is. Much more intelligent than your judgementalism.

[bobbolink]

17. Oh, for crying in a bucket! Yes, you SHOULD apologize!

Just think first, before posting judgement like this!

THINK...it only hurts for a little while.....

[Breeze54]

18. Yeah, all poor people squander their money on bonbons and hookers!

Three years ago, I didn't have internet service, so I used the library computers and printer.

Now I'm phasing out my high cost ISP and switching to NetZero for FREE for 30 days, which is

a whopping $9.95 a month when the free month is up!!! I know that $9.95 a month is a lot of "bread"! :P

It's a cheap way to keep your sanity and saves $$ instead of going out to the movies or to meet

friend's in coffee shops, taverns and pubs, not to mention the gas you save driving your computer

instead of your car. I'm sure you can understand that, right? :shrug: How much do you pay for

entertainment and the internet monthly? How much do you spend on food? Clothes? Gas? Hookers?

[KamaAina]

21. Or just maybe he once used food banks, and now has a better-paying job?

...those of us who have used food banks...

Remember, when you assume, you make an ASS out of U and ME.

[catnhatnh]

30. It does but I get your point....

but a computer can be a piece of shit not worth $25 at resale and access can be had for under $10 a month....now take in the computer is already there and realize that what is choking off the food is not access but rather increased prices for food, gasoline, and heat....now your deficit is WAY above anything like internet cost....in fact just one 100 gal fuel oil drop exceeeds your internet costs for two years....I'm betting those showing up at food banks are seeing catastrophic costs increases...When your world has crashed a $15 dollar a month saving just isn't going to get it....

[pnwmom]

31. The OP could just as easily have been posted by a VOLUNTEER at a food bank,

who had noticed the obstacles and wanted input on how to make things better. Or a student doing research. Or someone who had used a food bank in the past, talking to people who had used them in the past.

Or, as many people here noted, by someone who might have had friends or relatives to rely on for help.

In any case, basic computer service isn't a luxury anymore, it's almost a necessity. That's why they're working on getting cheap computers to children in underdeveloped countries.

[hyphenate]

34. I live alone, on a fixed income

and if I were to live without the internet, I would certainly not live very much longer.

I eat very little sometimes. When I first get my disability early in the month, I splurge and take a friend out to eat. I pay all my bills then, and what I have left needs to last to the end of the month.

Because I am handicapped, I rarely go out. It's difficult for me to get anywhere without my car, which hasn't worked for awhile. And the internet offers me the only escape I have from my home--a link to friends past, present and future.

I've been on the 'net for almost 20 years. In the best of times, I ran four websites, had several mailing lists going, and kept up with at least three or four web boards.

In light of this all, I hold on to my link to other people. If I didn't, I would certainly go nuts more so than I already am.

The internet, then, is not a luxury to me--it's a necessity. I would rather eat ramen soup for two weeks solid if it meant I could continue to have my internet link.

When you are truly poverty-stricken, you make choices. I don't travel, smoke, drink or go night-clubbing. I just stay at home, don't spend money except for a budget of about $50 a month to pay for books or DVDs. Because of fuel assistance, I've got heat. But the oil is almost gone, and I might end up without hot water for the spring and summer because oil is too damned expensive for me to buy. Without those few pleasures of books and DVDs, and the necessity to maintain an internet link to the rest of the world, I can tell you life would be unbearable and I don't think I would be able to survive.

I hope that answers your question.

[gollygee]

35. You don't know any poor people, do you?

Ah, the voice of privilege.

Think about it a minute.

You can get an older computer off Freecycle. Or maybe you bought a computer and then got laid off work. And internet access is free in some communities. Also, I've known people who have let a neighbor use their wireless connection. And I've known people who have lived very close to a WiFi place and have used that.

You can use friends' computers.

You can use the library.

Old computers are worth about nothing. In fact, you have to pay people to dispose of them.

It isn't the 1990s anymore. Computers and internet access can be cheaply had these days.

[Politicub]

36. Why is it your business?

You're not the arbiter of financial position.

[fed-up]

39. the internet is a lifeline to communication for many of us-also beats TV

Yes, it is a CHOICE to pay for internet services.

and yes, that was a very judgemental question. I am deeply offended.

Especially for those with chronic health conditions. They can look up info on treatments, medications, symptoms etc.
For me, it allowed me to immediately look up a potentially deadly reaction that I was having to a med and to quickly communicate with family members where I found out that they were also hypersensitive to that type of med. Too bad the doc that prescribed it didn't notify me of that in advance...

It is a cheaper method of communicating with family and friends when most are out of the state and one is out of the country. It is my lifeline when I am not up to dealing with people face to face.

I don't have to pay for the local rag-paper as it is available online. I also have access to a brazillion other papers online.

It is cheaper than using gas or the bus to get to the library where one is only allowed 1 hour a day. Also the chairs at the library suck. I can lean back in my rocking office chair and take weight off my neck and back.

It is a resource that pays for itself 100 times over.

[eShirl]

40. some people make part or all of their living, such as it is, on the internet

you might as well ask how people who can't afford enough food can pay for a car, car insurance, and gas

[bonito]

49. Apologies accepted

In my case I'm a caregiver 24/7 no pay, no benefits caring for my wife for some ten years now putting life above everything and it sucks having to depend on family for the necessities but I will not give up on life. Its what We are...

[Bluebear]

64. If you "know something will sound cold" you should probably take it as a clue to STFU

Just a suggestion.

[Richard Steele]

70. Very well put.

I'll take your good advice, and NOT respond to that post.

Thank you. :hug:

[Ghost in the Machine]

65. I bought *my* computer 9 years ago... yes, it's a dinosaur now, but it does what I need it to do

My internet costs $4.95/mo bundled with my phone bill, which the phone is a necessity (especially with kids in the house). I live wayyyyyy out in the sticks, 12 miles from town in 3 directions, 20 miles in the 4th direction. It's 5 miles to the nearest "corner store"...

I *was* paying over $60/mo for high speed access, but had to cut back to my dialup when money started becoming a problem after I had to close my business. The high speed was the very first thing to go, since it was a luxury instead of a necessity...

Any more questions?

[uppityperson]

68. I was given my computer many yrs ago, and the minimal monthly charge

I pay for internet won't buy much food. If I end up having to drop it, I'll go find wifi zones or go use public library computer.

[2Design]

71. internet is a necessity along with food - they have even given

homeless internet and access in some cities - it is necessary to make contacts and network and the skills are absolutely necessary in most jobs including mcDonalds

being poor doesn't happen over night either - some expect poor people to have no car too - sounds like you need to do some research, and possibly try walking in someone's else's shoes for awhile to gain some compassion and understanding of others 'bumps in the road of life"

[conflictgirl]

79. Internet = $20 a month or less, you may have already had the computer

Canceling the $20 a month internet service is still only going to buy $20 worth of food. (To say nothing of the public library option.)

Some people say, oh if things are that bad, sell your computer - a lot of people, me included, didn't have expensive computers in the first place. Where do you think a person could sell an older computer that didn't cost much to begin with and get a significant amount of money for it to buy groceries? Seriously, if I pawned my computer, I MIGHT get $50.

[elehhhhna]

102. SOUNDS cold, furthermore,

there is at least one DUer I know of who lives in her car and posts from the library. Think about it. DU is very diverse -- you'll even meet poor people.

[Gormy Cuss]

4. The crap load of red tape is part of the reason that the food bank can provide services.

No one likes it but keeping track of the number and eligibility of clients is how they qualify for reimbursements and surplus food aid. Some groups have sponsored "no questions asked" food pantries but they tend to offer less food and less variety of food stuffs than the ones who qualify clients. It's a tradeoff, because being able to quantify who uses the service and to assure donors that they are in need translates into more available food.

I think both types of food pantries have a place.

[JanMichael]

5. I agree with you

Completely.

I am just thinking of the "new economy" (Thank you Republicans!) where someone might be meeting their bills---barely---and what we can do to help them out with food during this horrible time.

I totally understand your post; but I think we need to be more creative in 2008. Seriously. I think we are heading for a depression.

[Gormy Cuss]

42. Creative means grass roots.

We are lucky to live in a four season garden area and we always plant more than we need. We also have citrus and stone fruit trees. Our excess goes on a table at the curb so that neighbors and the regular workers ( post office, garbage pickup) can take it as they please. We also supply our friends who can't garden. Anything beyond that goes to the food bank.

[juajen]

61. I think so, too. I say it and my family laughs and no one seems to

see the really stark things I am looking at. We sorta live in a bubble here in Lafayette, LA because we haven't the problems the rest of the country is facing. Real estate here is stable, as are jobs and construction is up. Much of this is because we are in oil country; but, also, we had an influx of comfortably placed as well as poor Katrina victims, and we have a good university and a pretty good bit of diversity. Lots and lots of millionaires live here, also some billionaires and they spend a lot. However, I feel it coming and there is no way we won't be affected as the rest of the country disintegrates. We are not an island.

[ConcernedCanuk]

6. Give out food stamps instead?

.
.
.

I know those get abused, I lived in the States in '79 - 80

People would trade their food stamps for 50 cents on the dollar to buy cigarettes, booze, whatever.

But they always bought SOME food.

Up here, there's not too much red tape in using food banks.

Unfortunately I know first hand

I visit our Food Bank twice a month, sign a piece of paper, and get 2 grocery bags of food.

But to answer your question - neighborhood groups could help in larger communities.

But although I qualified, and had need, it took me years to use the existing support system.

There is some denial in us poor,

that we are really poor.

[Breeze54]

24. Food Stamps are on ATM cards now. They don't use those paper

booklets anymore, so it would be hard to abuse them or sell them, I think.

[Gormy Cuss]

56. Technically, they're on EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) cards.

and fraud still happens, but most of the usage is legit.

[Breeze54]

60. They LOOK like ATM cards.

;)

[Breeze54]

13. I'm a single, divorced Mom and I've used my local food bank

when my son was younger. I think the last time I was there was 3 years ago. It is located in the basement of a church but is supported by all the churches in my town and by the town. They have a town emergency fund available also to all residents who
have utility or rent emergencies. To use the food pantry is very easy. You go there on the 2 days they are open and you fill out a registration form. Just basic stuff; name, address, how many in family, how many kids, reason you need assistance and proof of residency. An electric bill, or any letter with your name & address on it will do. They use that info, during the holidays and send out forms for T-Day and Xmas dinners baskets and gifts, if you need them. They monitor how much of what item you can get, as the supplies are low a lot but you can pick out what you want yourself but they set limits, for example: A family of two can get one jar of peanut butter but a family of five can get three or one large size. They also have fresh vegetables and fruit sometimes and lots of frozen bread and juice. Meat and dairy are in very limited quantities. You can take as much bread and cakes, cookies, pies as you can carry usually. People volunteer to work the shifts. I've volunteered before, on a Saturday. That's their busiest day. They are nice people and they don't ever mention religion.

[bbinacan]

16. I read your profile and

noticed you mentioned Myers Park and NC. I'm from Raleigh. Are you in Charlotte? Last I remember, Myers park is a neat area.

[JanMichael]

26. Myers Park is a rich area

that's where my wife grew up, in a very different era. We aren't there anymore--sent you a PM.

[htuttle]

28. It's been two decades since I lived out of a food bank, but here's an idea

If you give out some kind of staple food, it's super helpful to give out some copies of recipes to use it in.

In the lean times of the Bush-1980's, the food bank I relied upon in Missoula, Montana had nothing but corn meal, salt pork, Great Northern White Beans and eggs for months. At first, I was stumped. I could figure out what to do with the eggs, but the rest? :shrug:

Luckily, I had a friend who was a Real Cook and after loaning me some baking powder (he had a job), suggested corn bread with simmered pork and beans. He was a lifesaver! If the food bank had just handed me a recipe with the corn meal, salt pork and beans, not to mention a little bit of baking powder, it would have been VERY helpful.

I know a zillion recipes now, but back then in my (pre-internet) mid-twenties? Not so much...

[JanMichael]

29. That's an awesome idea

seriously.

Thanks for responding.

[Gormy Cuss]

32. You know, back in the old surplus food days pre-food stamps/EBT

the biggest issue was that recipients didn't alway know how to use the surplus food available because it either required a knowledge of cooking (the flour,cornmeal, shortening) or required adaptation to suit the form that a known product was surplussed - powdered milk and eggs, for example.

I still have the surplus food cookbook put out by our county extension service. It was tailored to make the best use of the surplus food allotments. Even my late mother who a good cook got ideas from it. It's really a great simple cookbook.

When my mother was volunteering at the local food bank she tried to share her knowledge of cooking with the clients because she hated to see people turn down good nutritious food like Swiss Chard just because they had no idea how to use it.

[halobeam]

78. I've been searching

under surplus food cookbook, but I'm not coming up with anything. I could really use one of those. Any suggestions?

[Breeze54]

44. Do you have a copier? Get busy!

:)

[htuttle]

54. LOL! Been there, done that, got the T-Shirt!

Seriously though, I think if the food banks just took the step of thinking, "What the hell would someone make out of this stuff?" and then hand out some suggestions with the food, it would help a lot.

And today, it's got to be even easier than in the 1980's, since I think American palettes have broadened a lot since then. For example, in the midwest, we barely even knew there WAS such a thing as Indian food in the 1980's...I mean, back then, who knew you could make a dinner out of potatoes, onions, tomatoes and a few spices!

[Breeze54]

58. "back then, who knew you could make a dinner out of potatoes, onions...."

I did. :(

I never was interested in getting recipes from my food bank, no offense.
But if they were giving out what you described (cornmeal, beans and salt pork?) :crazy:
Then I would definitely need a recipe and an iron stomach. :P I used to eat a
TON of oatmeal though. I was so cholesterol free, I wore a size 5!! ;) N/J!

:hug:

[htuttle]

67. The worst part was the salt pork (conveniently shrink-wrapped in plastic bags)

OMG! It had little PIG HAIRS on it!!

:puke:

[juajen]

66. What a terrific idea. Also, mixed bean soup is great with cornbread.

So many do not really appreciate beans. I keep a great collection in my pantry to go with ham bones and such.

[lumberjack_jeff]

86. That is an outstanding idea.

Assemble mixes of a variety of recipes. Bean soup, cornbread, basic white bread, spanish rice, seasoned brown rice, casseroles.

Sounds good. It's about suppertime. :)

[grasswire]

33. I think this is the problem

If a food bank wants to use USDA surplus foods, they have to gather statistics. If a food bank wants to take $$ donations and be a non-profit organization, they have to keep records, too.

I am in favor of augmenting those kinds of structured food banks with community pantries that are more informal -- no registration required. No social security number, no utility bill, etc. Churches and/or schools are a good location for that kind of service.

Really, more money is spent trying to keep "unworthy" people from getting aid than would be lost to any so-called cheaters.

[Breeze54]

47. USDA surplus foods went Bye Bye a long time ago.

My area (MA) has a central food bank in Boston that distributes to other food banks
in their network. They supplement what the smaller food banks don't get in donations.

[grasswire]

62. in my area, surplus foods are still available

I volunteered at a food bank a couple of years ago, and know that they still can provide such USDA things as peanut butter, raisins, some canned fruits such as applesauce, etc. The old days of cheese, butter and other desirables are indeed long gone.

[Mojorabbit]

38. Here is something I learned about recently

http://angelfoodministries.com/about.asp
For thirty dollars they fill a box which looks to me to be a fine assortment of food.
Here is the menu for florida for march
March 2008

Only Applicable Dates Menu
All Dates Menu
1.5 lb.
Top Sirloin Roast
2 lb.
IQF Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
1.5 lb.
Boneless Pork Fillet
2 lb.
Breaded Chicken Breast Strips
1.5 lb.
Boxed Lean Beef Patties
4 lb.
IQF Chicken Leg Quarters
16 oz.
All Meat Bologna
16 oz.
Ground Turkey
24 oz.
Steak-Cut French Fries
16 oz.
Frozen Mixed Vegetables
16 oz.
Frozen Green Beans
10 ct.
Waffles
32 oz.
Borden Shelf-Stable Milk
16 oz.
Blue Bonnet Margarine
15 oz.
Pork and Beans
15 oz.
Marie Callender’s Soup
7.5 oz.
Macaroni and Cheese

Dessert Item


ALL THIS FOR THE LOW COST OF JUST $30


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

** One or more specials available only with the purchase of a regular unit. **
MARCH SPECIAL #1
8 lb. Family-Size Grill Combo - $20.00
(2 lb. Thick Cut Pork Chops (4 x 8 oz.), 2.5 lb. Meaty Beef Ribs, 2 lb. Lean Hamburger Beef Steaks (4 x 8 oz.), 1.5 lb. All Meat Bratwurst Sausage Links)


MARCH SPECIAL #2
5 lb. Rib Eye Steak Box - $20.00
(5 lb. Thick Cut Rib Eye Steaks (8 x 10 oz.))


MARCH SPECIAL #3
10 lb. Chicken Tenders Box - $18.00
(10 lb. Breaded Chicken Breast Tenders)

[RebelOne]

107. My neighbor buys from them and she has enough food for a month.

Plus she has enough to give some to another neighbor who is a single mother with 2 small children.

[bonito]

43. Check out this site

http://www.pathtofreedom.com/ I got from Carolyn http://carolynbaker.net/site/

[fed-up]

45. a warm place to wait til they open-wheat free selections for those of us with allergies

rice would be great

last time I ate some of the cheap white bread I broke out in blisters

a set day of the week/month for distribution

ours changes the day/week of the month food is given out and it is not always posted on the front page of the online paper

contact local farmers to get donations of fresh fruit and veggies

I went to our food bank once this winter and after waiting in the cold for 30 minutes, signing in I received two loaves of bread, one large can of tuna, a package a spaghetti noodles and a jar of peanut butter. I am not looking a gift horse in the mouth, but would like to see some additional choices.

Thanks to all those that help at their local food bank!

[JanMichael]

51. Excellent. Your post is exactly what I was looking for

along with a few others in this thread. Thank you so much for responding.

[eShirl]

46. have someone to greet new people and go with them through the initial intake process

a greeter/advocate type of position

[Breeze54]

48. It's usually a small staff of volunteers and they are far and few

between. It's usually elderly church ladies at my local pantry.
If there are enough people in line, you don't need a greeter.
You need the line to move! ;)

[eShirl]

50. I'm not talking about the line

I'm talking about when you have to go through tons of paperwork to prove how destitute you are, it can be pretty intimidating/discouraging.

Every food bank is different.

[JanMichael]

52. bingo

that is exactly what should be eliminated. The bullshit red tape at many places.

[Breeze54]

53. I gotcha but

what kind of food pantries are requiring tons of paper work
to get a couple of bags of groceries? It sounds like they
need a do over. That sounds abusive not helpful! :hug:

[eShirl]

72. I have run into that kind

and also the kind where anyone who shows up is welcome to participate, no questions asked

[Midlodemocrat]

57. Having run a Church food bank for many years.

one of the things I would like to see eliminated is the concept of 'double dipping'. In other words, there is a mindset among some well meaning folks that a person who needs help from the church should be relegated to ONE church and not go from church to church. Part of me understands this. I myself have been 'burned' by people who kept coming back over and over and over and lying about their circumstances. If that continues all the time without a check, people who truly need the service could be left out.

My thoughts are that if the person is desperate to contact the church for help, they need all the help they can get. It's not as if the church food bank is selling beer or wine or other things that could be resold. I think sometimes it's a fine line and those of us who run food banks need to be committed to knowing the patrons.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

73. When I volunteered in Mississippi after Katrina, the priest in charge of

the volunteer center said, "You can either judge people or serve them." He gave some examples of people who appeared to be cheating but actually did need the stuff they were taking.

That simple remark shed a whole new light on the way poor people are treated and changed my own behavior.

[bobbolink]

75. What a WONDERFUL quote!!! That priest is a wise man....

reminds me of the bishop in "Les Miserables"!

Remember the essay I wrote on the conservative paradigm of poverty? We "progressives" have included a lot of conservative attitudes to poverty that we need to haul out, examine, and exorcise!

thanks for this... it deserves a thread of it's own!

:hug:

[EFerrari]

76. Advertisng. When I tried to find the local pantry for some friends

I didn't even know where to start. It was like the pantry was hiding! Plus, it was a weekend.

Maybe the food bank or pantry could network with the big grocery stories so that you could call Safeway and ask who is local to their store or you could walk in and check a bulletin board. Those big chains do some community stuff. Maybe they'd be willing to do that.

[madokie]

77. The wife is at the store now and we were talking about the rise in prices while we were eating

breakfast. I'll see what her response is when she comes home. We don't have any issues with buying food as it is now we pay attention to what we spend money on anyway so I can't say this is opening our eyes any. We are fortunate so that when it comes time for stretching the dollar much more we have our son and his family as neighbors so as to share with. I'm home alone most week days and I love to cook and its easier to cook an all day meal for many as it is just the two of us.

[Slagathor]

80. How about a job?

Jobs generally make the purchase of food a whole lot easier.

[WillowTree]

82. Lovely response.

Just lovely.

sigh

[Slagathor]

87. I have been on food stamps

and I have been the recipient of charity from the Vincent de Pauls. I know what I'm talking about. What about you?

[ellie]

85. Yea, and if one minimum wage job

don't pay for food, get another one, and then another one! Like asshole said, working several jobs is uniquely american.

[Slagathor]

90. Charity should always be a last last last resort

and people should get off aid as soon as possible. And, yes, by working three jobs if need be.

[Breeze54]

93. Many with JOBS still don't earn enough to pay all their expenses.

Get your head out of the sand. :silly:

[GOPisEvil]

96. Ever hear the term "working poor"?

If not, try actually working at the Food Stamp eligibility office like I did. I don't know the numbers, but a large percentage of Food Stamp recipients work.

[and-justice-for-all]

83. Plant a garden, get your hands dirty...

Plant a garden with neighbors or friends.

[Vinca]

92. A good suggestion, but it does take a bit of money to get started -

plants, seeds, fertilizer, pest control. That said, from my $150 investment (I also buy mulch hay), I get thousands of dollars worth of veggies from May through October. Last year I picked up a dehydrator at the recycling shed at the local dump and put up several hundreds of dollars worth of dried tomatoes and herbs. It's well worth the effort if you have the space, but you do need a little money to get going.

[and-justice-for-all]

98. Yes, a little invest in needed...

but with a few friends or family the cost is distributed evenly and the burden is minimal. You also have to be a little craft and thrifty too, so you do not end up spending money you should not be spending on things you really do not need.

[Breeze54]

94. How do inner city people do that?

I know some have but open land for gardens is scarce.

[and-justice-for-all]

97. Hmm....

If you have a room, like a uility room with windows you could do Potted plants. Or you could just use UV lights if no window is availible. Like an indoor Green house...

You do not have to start massive, just do a little at a time.

Inner city plots for community garndening is a bit tricky, you might ask your neighbors and friends if they would be interested in starting an organic community garden. It does not take that much to start a garden, seeds are cheap...and sometime you do not even need a seed, like with Garlic, all you have to have is a clove of it to plant.

If you have enough people who are willing to do some work and are serious about it, then you will have to scout out some a plot. Like someones backyard that is not being used for anything. You do not need acres of land for a garden either..

Start asking questions and gathering info, then just go from there. You will save a tremendous amout of money with a little hard work and the produce is by far better for you.

[Breeze54]

104. I didn't mean for me.

:P

I just meant in general. ;)

[and-justice-for-all]

106. Oh, LOL...okay..nt

[mondo joe]

101. Don't know if other cities do this - in Seattle there are P-Patch Community Gardens

http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/ppatch/



The Department of Neighborhoods’ P-Patch Program, in conjunction with the not-for-profit P-Patch Trust, provides organic community garden space for residents of 70 Seattle neighborhoods. The community based program areas of the P-Patch Program are community gardening, market gardening, youth gardening, and food policy in the City of Seattle. These programs serve all citizens of Seattle with an emphasis on low-income and immigrant populations and youth. Our community gardens offer 2500 plots serve more than 6000 urban gardeners on 23 acres of land.

P-Patch community gardeners show their concern for the value of fresh organic vegetables by supplying 7 to 10 tons of produce to Seattle food banks each year. Supporting a strong environmental ethic, the P-Patch Program allows organic gardening only and since all our gardens are maintained by community members, we have an 8 hour annual volunteer requirement in our allotment gardens.

[eilen]

95. Here is a link to Better Times

Better Times


click on the Better Times Almanac and Cookbook link


"This web page is the original Better Times Almanac and Cookbook, published to the internet in 1998. Here is a link to the NEW Better Times 5th Edition, published in print and an internet edition, Thanksgiving Day 2004, completely revised and updated from the original texts. Check it out for new/revised recipes, more articles, even better access to simple, frugal, and sustainable living. Get your own free copy of the print edition! Click the link for details.

For more practical information about cooking from basic ingredients, gardening, and buying food from local farmers, visit Gettin' the Right Eats, Bob Waldrop's Oklahoma Food Blog."

This has shop lists and recipes to use with basic foods to get nutritious meals."

[Lydia Leftcoast]

99. When I was in grad school, I belonged to a food co-op that was located

on the edge of a poor neighborhood.

They not only held cooking classes, using cheap ingredients, but even had a contest once to see who could come up with the best recipes using a certain list of ingredients.

[roseBudd]

105. I have some recipes, I learned alot about nutrition from Diet For A Small Planet...

I was also a poor student, & had joined a food co-op. Some of the inexpensive ingredients will be best purchased from Natural foods stores, but since they are not prepared, they are very cheap.

Protein, cheapest best are eggs & milk. A pint of milk is relatively inexpensive for the nutritional value.

Grains & legumes

Wheat Berries

Rice

Barley

Any type of beans