Free Food

[Work2hard]

Well when you are struggling youvtry to get more it all gets eaten. I didn't know we a usa citizen needed to be a part of sharing our resourses and be happy about it.

[Tresbn00]

I have volunteered at a great many places and distributing boxes of food was one quarter's volunteer day. Yes, there are people who gripe but I took it in stride. Many of these people have had a rough life. It is not easy to ask for assistance, be bankrupt, have no home, explain to your children why you need to reach out to others for food/clothing/housing, not being able to find a job. They may not have clothes that allow them to get higher paying jobs. Low paying jobs do not allow the luxury of day care expenses and finding people to watch your children is not the easiest thing in the world to do. They may feel trapped, lost their pride, might be sick...there are any number of reasons why they may be needing assistance. When volunteering, it is not our job to judge but to give them what they need with a warm, love filled smile and hope that their luck changes.

[santa7]

I volunteered to work at one of these food banks once.  Yes, it was only one bag per family.  I believe it is still around.  There are a lot of homeless, hungry people around here in Orlando, FL.

[countrygirl12]

I have volunteered at a great many places and distributing boxes of food was one quarter's volunteer day. Yes, there are people who gripe but I took it in stride. Many of these people have had a rough life. It is not easy to ask for assistance, be bankrupt, have no home, explain to your children why you need to reach out to others for food/clothing/housing, not being able to find a job. They may not have clothes that allow them to get higher paying jobs. Low paying jobs do not allow the luxury of day care expenses and finding people to watch your children is not the easiest thing in the world to do. They may feel trapped, lost their pride, might be sick...there are any number of reasons why they may be needing assistance. When volunteering, it is not our job to judge but to give them what they need with a warm, love filled smile and hope that their luck changes.

I am not judging anybody.  I am familiar with the people in my area.  There are more lazy bums just looking for a hand out than people who really need help.  The point is if you are asking for a hand out then you don't need to snarl about what you are given.  Most of these people are not looking for jobs.  I guess it depends on where you live.

And not having a job doesn't have anything to do with their clothes.  These people stand there talking on the latest model smart phone while griping about the free food they are getting.  If you can afford a $800 phone and the plan that goes with it then I don't figure you are too needy.

[countrygirl12]

I volunteered to work at one of these food banks once.  Yes, it was only one bag per family.  I believe it is still around.  There are a lot of homeless, hungry people around here in Orlando, FL.

How are homeless people suppose to cook dry beans and heat canned food?  Just curious.  I remember a while back somebody was talking about fixing like grab bags to hand out to the homeless and one of the items she said she always puts in there is a pack of ramen noodle soup.  What are they suppose to do with that?  How are they going to cook ramen noodles when they are homeless?

I am sure there are food banks in about every county in the country.  The thing that upsets me is a lot of the people who go are not really in need.  The ones who are really in need will not ask for help.  They work and they get by the best they can.

[bshee58]

I am apart of our Food Pantry ministry, I am in charge of the paperwork, I sign them in and out, they go get their bags and leave, we have never had anyone complain, but I have had some come in who are in the same household, I tell them only one bag per household, and they are okay with it, don't really have a choice, it's the rules. but at times we give more than one bag, depending on the amount of people that come in that morning, give or take. We have one coming up this Saturday.

[bremer51]

We have a food pantry in our town, but I've never volunteered. I have an acquaintance who gets free food there.  One time she gave me a pound of hamburger because she didn't eat beef.  I was thrilled to get a free pound of hamburger.  Then I felt guilty about taking something I could afford to pay for. 

[darkxtsuna]

During High School I did it once for volunteer work all I did was just hand it out and check on the tables to see if anyone wanted seconds and such.

[sak4kat]

When I was on food stamps I registered with an organization that was 45 minutes away.  They receive donations from grocery stores and some coffee shops.  I had to prove  (ie: ebt card) I could spend as much as I wanted and they accepted the link card.  They had a warehouse set up like a grocery store.  Everything there is hodge podge.  The grocery carts, refrigeration, freezers... and there is no air conditioning in there.  So it was best to show up early.  I do know people that want more and more.  And they don't want to pay for it.  It makes me sick when I see them driving better cars, having the latest phones etc... knowing I worked my tail off to get off of government assistance.

[countrygirl12]

During High School I did it once for volunteer work all I did was just hand it out and check on the tables to see if anyone wanted seconds and such.

I am not talking about a come and eat cooked food like a food kitchen.  I am talking about where you go and get 40 plus pounds of free canned food and stuff like that to take home and put in your kitchen and cook it yourself.

[countrygirl12]

When I was on food stamps I registered with an organization that was 45 minutes away.  They receive donations from grocery stores and some coffee shops.  I had to prove  (ie: ebt card) I could spend as much as I wanted and they accepted the link card.  They had a warehouse set up like a grocery store.  Everything there is hodge podge.  The grocery carts, refrigeration, freezers... and there is no air conditioning in there.  So it was best to show up early.  I do know people that want more and more.  And they don't want to pay for it.  It makes me sick when I see them driving better cars, having the latest phones etc... knowing I worked my tail off to get off of government assistance.

I don't understand.  You show them your EBT card then you can spend as much as you want?  Meaning you get all the food you want for free?  Maybe I am not understanding.  In my county you are suppose to prove income. Most people show an EBT card but everyone gets the same thing.  1 bag/box of the same stuff.  Nobody gets more or less than any one else.

When you apply for food stamps it does not go by what kind of car you drive (you are allowed to have a car) not the kind of phone you have (you are allowed to count so much for a phone).  Although if your car payment is 3x somebody else's or your phone bill is way more (because you are paying on the latest iPhone) you do qualify for more food stamps because you have less income.  They take your income and then take off for house payment/rent, phone bill, electric, and on and on.  So if in the summer you keep your house 65 degrees and wear a hoodie in side you get more food stamps than the person who struggles to pay electric bill and keeps it 75 in their house because they cannot afford to keep it really cool

It's messed up that is for sure.

[vickysue]

I volunteer here  in our Ministry, Not only do we give away  food but clothing.  I am in charge of the food dept. and the receiving area where we  receive  donations of clothing, household goods and other goods like bedding.  Everyone's allotted  5 items a month and in the grocery area  we let them pick out what they want, but their is an allotment on  how many  items  they can get.  With everything it runs around 35-40 lbs. depending on what we have, We are not dependent on on the government. But on donations.  A lot of the clothing is boxed up and sent to a receiving house and they pay  us for it and then we in turn  buy groceries with it  from an outlet that buys out  grocery stores.  all in allit works out great and since we are  small city we  only have about 600 cards  to fill. If we need to  we will  sign up more. We have had as many as 900. A job  folks and is all volunteer.

[jenniferhoder]

I have never had to get free food. I agree that when you give someone something, they will always want more. We live in a very greedy society. Sad, but true.

[countrygirl12]

I have never had to get free food. I agree that when you give someone something, they will always want more. We live in a very greedy society. Sad, but true.

Some people are actually grateful for what they get. But it amazes me that the majority always want more.

We had a Bible School for our preschool Sunday School class and we gave one of the kids a prize for something and he looked at it and said "I don't want that. Can I have something else".  smh  I gave him a talking to.  I told him if someone gives you something you need to say thank you.  Not I don't want this.  I want something else.

It's no wonder people are to the point they do not want to help others any longer.

[bretay]

wow..unfortunately is happens a lot...not sure what qualifies in them..but my son in laws mother has told me to go to a church and get food..told her we were fine...and she talks about everything they give..which is a lot...i would be grateful if it was me...