Agnostic.com

7 3

The food bank.

My family and I just visited the food bank, because we have fallen on hard times.

It's much better than I remember, with fresh fruit and meat, and a shit ton of cakes.

Now I wonder to myself how it's supposed to be so easy to eat healthy when even the food bank can't give healthy food.

The struggle.

LadyAlyxandrea 8 May 1
Share

Enjoy being online again!

Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.

Create your free account

7 comments

Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.

1

I think most of us have been in that position before. I know I have. The food banks do their best. They can only give out what they get donated to them. Over all I think most of them do their best.

1

OK, I work at our local pantry/food bank and when setting up we just pull our hair out. OK, we give away donated bakery products, bread, doughnoughts and such, also give away bags of fruit and vegetables. But the non perishable food is mostly over processed, over packaged and not what one would call wholesome. Sad but true.

1

A very good friend of mine, with two children at home but no partner, works two jobs and is lower-level management in both, which prevents her claiming any sort of assistance or benefits. Every month in the week before payday she has to go to the foodbank, and very often she'll also need to take out a high-interest "payday" loan to see her through until more money goes into her account. This is very common in the UK, and single parents (the majority of whom are women) are especially hard hit - and with the government currently introducing the new Universal Benefit system in which claimants' previous payments are stopped and they have to wait between four and six weeks for the new payents to start, it's getting much worse.

I honestly don't understand why the public are content to allow this situation to continue. I wish you all the best in getting back on your feet financially.

Jnei Level 8 May 2, 2018
1

I am a dispatcher at a hospital my father is a captain of a prison and we can't afford food how fucked up is that

Mightily, and set to get worse until we change the system instituted by Reagan and Thatcher.

I'm not sure what a "captain of a prison" might be. And I'm not doubting you here. Is there more to the story though? It would seem like you folks should be able to make it.

@bigpawbullets he is a Captain at the state prison. He is the next highest from Warden.

And no. My parents, without mom working, are BARELY scraping by. My father is the most fiscally responsible person ever and the fact is he doesn't make enough

0

Not to mention you only get to go once a month and they only give you one of everything. I walked out with 6 eggs to last me one month, one packet of tea, one box of beef stroganoff Hamburger Helper knockoff, and one small half pound of hamburger. But at least I got 3 cans of creamed corn and tuna hot dog

What is a tuna hot dog? Never have heard of such a thing!

Now that I have my amazement out of the way, have you applied for food assistance through the state you live in? If you are unemployed, or your income is below a certain threshold, you may be able to get food stamps (or whatever they are called these days). Most food banks see their roles as providing food support to supplement other food sources, not to be a primary resource. They are trying to help as many people as possible, which means no one person gets a whole lot.
Perhaps you can find other food distribution sites in your area. Here in Michigan, churches often do giveaways of food. Sometimes, in bigger cities, there are food co-ops, and members who volunteer a certain number of hours per week may get reduced price food. If you are in the U.S., call your local United Way and they may be able to point you toward other food sources. Good luck!

@citronella I tried to say hot damn but my phone does not like me.

I make too much gross income for any assistance. I'm technically middle class. (Though even in poverty I never had to go to the food bank before as an adult) I have some friends in the United way so I might talk to them. It's unfortunate how everything goes off of gross income instead of net. Sure it LOOKS like I make bank but when you take out taxes, insurance, and the evil garnishment I'm making less than 500. And I have to pay rent and bills.

3

Yes. Attendance is waaaay up around here. My sons teacher goes and it makes me furious that this woman,who does so much for everyone,isnt being paid a living wage.

3

And I'm not joking. 3 entire cakes, 2 boxes of donuts, a giant thing of mini cinnamon rolls

Also I am diabetic.

@LadyAlyxandrea But if I were a mom with several kids, I might take all those sweets and use them to eke out meals or use as snacks.

Write Comment
You can include a link to this post in your posts and comments by including the text q:70990
Agnostic does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any content. Read full disclaimer.