sucky food pantry customer

[Indigo]

My mom used to make regular trips to the food pantry several years ago. Single mom, raising 4 kids, in a very expensive area. We had food stamps, section 8 housing, and us kids had medicaid. I can't ever recall a time that we said anything other than thank you so much when we got food from the food bank. Mom told us that we'd better be thankful that there were people willing to be generous. We also made some pretty interesting dinners too.

Fast forward to now and we own our house and have enough income to take care of our needs. My mom is now a regular contributor to our local food bank and will take several full bags up every couple of weeks. While it's not the same food bank as before (we moved), she sees it as her way of paying back all the help she got before.

[Kristev]

I like your mom. She sounds like a classy lady.

[Exaspera]

Fast forward to now and we own our house and have enough income to take care of our needs. My mom is now a regular contributor to our local food bank and will take several full bags up every couple of weeks. While it's not the same food bank as before (we moved), she sees it as her way of paying back all the help she got before.

That's the best thing to do. When you get back on your feet, pass it on. Doesn't really matter where.

[KellyHabersham]

What I don't understand is why George doesn't have some sort of assistance. If he was looking for several weeks worth of food, this leads me to believe he has no source of help, such as welfare or food stamps. If someone is that dire of a need, there should be some sort of governmental help for them.

That I'm not sure of - all I know is that he (as of last month, anyhow) is unemployed, and he'd mentioned something about trying to make do with no money for several weeks. Which I think was why he seemed upset that the food pantry was low, but I don't know what else I could've told him - he was the second person to come into the office for assistance that day, and we'd had several people come in last week.

[chainedbarista]

indigo, your mom has a super high karma factor, in the good sense, which is a great thing to see here.

[XCashier]

Mr Jedi dropped it off and came back looking pissed. I asked him what was wrong and he told me the guy said the food we brought him wasn't stuff he liked to eat.

There is an old saying, "beggars cannot be choosers". While I hate to refer to anyone as a beggar, it is true that if you're in dire circumstances, you shouldn't be picky about what assistance you receive. If you're drowning and someone throws you a rope, you grab it and say thanks, you don't complain that you're not getting a yacht.

I mean, if the food had been expired, I could understand him being upset. But basic staples like bread and pasta?! Sorry, take what you get. Maybe you could trade with a neighbor for something you'd prefer.

My mom is now a regular contributor to our local food bank and will take several full bags up every couple of weeks. While it's not the same food bank as before (we moved), she sees it as her way of paying back all the help she got before.

Exactly. Pay it forward. Perhaps someone else who needs the assistance will someday get back on their feet and do the same thing.

[Magpie]

There is stuff which most people consider fairly basic that has given me trouble when I eat it. However, if someone brought me white bread, or sugary peanut butter, intending it as staples, I'd give it another try. If I honestly was completely unwilling to try and eat it, for starters I'd question how badly I needed the aid, but I'd just quietly drop it in a food bank collection basket.

[Seshat]

I'm fortunate enough to be in a multi-person household. The others would eat the white bread and sugary peanut butter, and we'd get multigrain and non-sugary pb for me.

Much like XCashier said: trade with someone else.


Edit to add: yes, I agree with the others' comments about it being classy to 'pay it forward'.

[RootedPhoenix]

I've received church-sponsored food before. It was... interesting to figure out how to make it work (had to learn to cook lots of new stuff), but they made sure I had the things that were necessary.

A few years later, I finally got to pay back some of that in the form of service to the cannery, helping my church pack tomatoes. These same tomatoes went back to assist others. I almost cried 'cause I could finally give something back...even if I still really had no money.

Being unthankful puzzles me. Unless it will make you sick, it's food.

[Whiskey]

What I don't understand is why George doesn't have some sort of assistance. If he was looking for several weeks worth of food, this leads me to believe he has no source of help, such as welfare or food stamps. If someone is that dire of a need, there should be some sort of governmental help for them.

Can't get welfare or food stamps (in CA at least) if you've been convicted of a felony at all, ever in your life.

[Mytical]

I've never had much, grew up poor. What little we had, one time went up in flames. With the house we were in, and pretty much everything we had. If not for the community and the church, it would have been much much worse. Even if my parents hated taking any form of charity.

Now, when my health allows, I volunteer my time at a food/clothing pantry nearby. Which is not as near often as I like. I don't give money. I give time, and if somebody needs something I will buy it for them. Learned the hard way about giving cash.

So anybody that makes demands I feel no pity for. You don't have to degrade yourself, but asking is nice.

I have a SC story about when I was helping out in the pantry even...I'll post it soon In 'sightings' I guess..still not sure which stories go where lol.

[Seshat]

I almost cried 'cause I could finally give something back...even if I still really had no money.

As someone who lives on welfare and is likely to for the rest of my life: THANK YOU.

I honestly don't give a damn if you offer money, goods, or time&effort&skill. Giving ANY of those is worthy of gratitude.

So thank you. A lot.