Went to the Food Pantry

[kcghost]

My wife went to the Food Pantry the other day. These people will give you quite a bit of groceries and all you have to is bring a valid utility receipt. She went to two of those things in one day. First, she went to the one sponsored by Harvesters situated near a local hospital and specialized in fresh vegetables and other edibles. She then got more lettuce, carrots, zucchini, tomatoes, etc., than you could shake a stick at.
Then she went about two miles from there an went to another pantry at a Baptist Church. She couldn't tell which food agency brought the food. Anyway, she got a bunch of cleaning supplies at this.
Who knew that these places were open to anybody and all you had to bring was a utility receipt?? We figured that she saved over a $150 by going to these places.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

I've gone to a local church for this before - was picking up for two families. They would tell you to pop your trunk and they would fill it up with all sorts of goodies.

 

[woodsroad]

In college I had a roomate who frequented the government food handouts. She’d come home with 5# blocks of cheese, #10 cans of peanut butter, etc. It never sat well with me. Her parents paid her rent, and she grew up in an affluent suburb. I never ate the free food.

No matter how difficult things have been for me at various times in my life, I always knew there were folk far worse off than me. They needed the helping hand more than I did.

 

[verporchting]

Our local symphony regularly hosts free events but asks for food donations to supply the food pantry. The 4th of July event (Symphony Under the Stars) regularly brings in many TONS of donations. It’s the coolest community event ever! Just love the entire idea and the community support is amazing!

 

[username]

Never been but we have a place called market on the move were for a small donation I thinka it's like 10 bucks you can take home something like up to 60 pounds of vegetables and other items.

 

[mawnansmiff]

When the Covid lockdown was in full swing I got a letter from the Government telling me I was on a priority help list due to my health issues.

I thought nothing of it until I got a call from my local council telling me that as I was on that list I was entitled to a food parcel delivered free once a week.

I felt really humbled but declined the offer as I wasn't really eating much at the time but it was a lovely thought.

Regards,

Jay.

 

[Lumbridge]

I figure that if I can afford to buy pipes and tobacco, then I can afford to buy my own food. Someone out there who is barely scraping by needs the free food more than I do.

 

[ashdigger]

If needed I want and hope everyone can have access to these resources.

I’m extremely fortunate I haven’t needed them but I never take that situation for granted.

I have an aunt, who lives with me now, that fell on hard times and was using these resources and she constantly tells me how high the food quality was.

I also have a handicapped son who lives with me and the State asks me monthly if I need assistance with entertainment money (movies, etc.), work clothing, free phone and transportation assistance. I politely decline, but am stoked these things are available.

 

[trudger]

Vegetables and cleaning supplies are luxury items for some.

 

[warren]

Safety nets are good, even some government ones in the US.

 

[anotherbob]

I had to use a pantry between jobs a few years ago. And the food in a large part I found out was donated by companies that saved money donating and writing off the stuff they couldn't sell or off load. But the high light was the produce from the student farms. Though the one stew proved to me how the best seasoning in the world is hunger. Ate half of it and the stuff was great, and then mid way through most inedible garbage I ever ate.
Though if you do ever find yourself in that situation give back when you get on your feet.

 

[UB 40]

Pantries are all over the place here, more and more people can’t afford a living on their own and prices still go up.

 

[puff_not_snuff]

I about to try and get my Mom a food assistance debit card or whatever they are called. Considering she makes a whopping 20k in social security you'd think it would be easy but I guess I'll see...

 

[anotherbob]

I about to try and get my Mom a food assistance debit card or whatever they are called. Considering she makes a whopping 20k in social security you'd think it would be easy but I guess I'll see...

You never know. I still feel salty about applying for some smaller type of assistance and being rejected because my rent was too high. Which just felt like salt in the wound. I remember thinking I wish I could find a place for less then I am paying in rent, but I just couldn't resist the high luxury of a small studio apartment.

 

[AJL67]

I tend to think of those places are for people in actual need, not for people with expensive hobbies or have other ways to get money when needed, usually by selling things you have a lot of. But hey if you got some veggies and didn't have to sell your tobacco screw that lady with no job and 4 kids.

My mom worked 2 crappy jobs to put food on the table when when i was little, she hated being on food stamps because she said there were people out there that couldn't even get a crappy job. I've given to food banks, i would never take from them, i'll sell something to put food on my table and not take it off someone else's table that doesn't have that same opportunity.

 

[puff_not_snuff]

You never know. I still feel salty about applying for some smaller type of assistance and being rejected because my rent was too high. Which just felt like salt in the wound. I remember thinking I wish I could find a place for less then I am paying in rent, but I just couldn't resist the high luxury of a small studio apartment.

That's so ridiculous Bob I couldn't help but to laugh!

 

[WhiteCrown]

I think food pantries are absolutely necessary and a great resource. My family has both donated to and volunteered in food pantries. That being said, I see a lot of people with nicer things than my family has (cars, cell phones, clothes, etc) utilizing these resources. I struggled with the idea of continuing to contribute to helping these people survive while they continue to mismanage their own financial resources. In the end I decided to keep doing it because there are some who do actually need these free things, not just needing these free things so they can keep paying their cable bill and still get the newest IPhone when it comes out.

And yes, I understand that someone may buy these nice things and then lose their job. In that case you should have been working on your savings instead of getting new rims. Be more of a responsible adult once you get back on your feet, especially if you have a family.

If you need it, there is no shame in using it, but if you don't, don't.

 

[captainsousie]

I've had to use the food banks but I gave far more than I took after I got on my feet. There was a time in my life (over 20 years ago) when I found a $10 bill in the gutter and it doubled the food budget for the next 3 weeks. I don't look down on anyone who needs it but I have also known people who have plenty of income using it. It's the curse of innocence and charity.

@kcghost I don't know your circumstances so none of this is directed at you.

 

[anotherbob]

That's so ridiculous Bob I couldn't help but to laugh!

worst part of this town is the rent, too many parents paying the students rent. Oh and the drunks.

 

[pappymac]

I will admit going to food "pantries" a couple of times in the early days of hurricane recovery but I was mostly looking for bottled water & ice. I did take the sandwiches and occasional plate lunch.

Mostly though when I go to a food pantry or food bank, I do it to drop off food. When I can, I make it a point to visits nursing homes and deliver bread, water and other perishable food items.