Food Pantries Struggling with Shortages

Yahoooooo! ^ | November 19, 2007 | Staff Writer @ AP

[hinckley buzzard]

Boy, this is getting old. Every November, like clockwork.

It never occurs to these self-appointed saints that if you give away free food, the word will get around. It is probably insensitive to expect them to realize, there are plenty of comfortable but rather degraded people out there who will take whatever they can get, whether they 'need' it or not. In Cleveland today there are multiple churches and restaurants serving thousands of free Thanksgiving meals to "the Poor." I think this is a fine thing. But hosts of people will drive in from the surrounding neighborhoods for a free meal and then drive back home. Been there and seen it.

[hinckley buzzard]

And each year the govt does nothing to control our borders. Get used to it, all charities are being stretched due to the influx of illegals.

Excellent point. Ten million alien moochers living off the fat of the land does make a difference doesn't it.

[rb22982]

350 a month for gas? For one vehicle? Unless you are a traveling salesman, I highly doubt that (and it's a business expense deduction). If you live 100 miles from where you work--drive an SUV that gets 10 mpg. Sorry I don't feel for you. Try living closer and driving a more fuel effecient vehicle.

It costs me $40-$50 a month for gas per vehicle. I live about 15 minutes from work. Even if you tripled the length to work and cut my mpg by half to around 16, that around $100 less than the $350 listed there--and that is not very optimal conditions.

[mtbopfuyn]

There is an immigrant workforce that works cheaper than the rest of the workforce.

According to articles where they're whining about their low wages, I've noted most of them are making more per hour than I do.

[Just A Nobody]

more than 35.5 million people in the United States were hungry in 2006

The last figure I saw for our illegal alien invader population was 38 million. Any correlation? /s

In my "home" state/county, Bill Gates could go to any food pantry or church and load up his car. There is no proof of need required...no accountability.

A local church would regularly bring in a tractor trailer full of food for the "needy". Word spread around the county about "welfare day" at the church and you couldn't get anywhere near the place. Unfortunately, there was ample parking available on Sunday mornings.

I have had the pantry raiders offer me peanut butter, cereal, cheese, butter, pasta, rice, frozen juice, and cases of canned vegetables because they could not fit any more in their cupboards.

I could go on and on with stories of this nature, some taking place in Oakland! The waste I saw there is unparalleled.

[mylife]

“It costs me $40-$50 a month for gas per vehicle.”

You are an exception then, because most folks drive about 50-60 mi ea way.

And my vehicle gets 20 mph

[patton]

Do they make donations for the meal?

[patton]

What I am getting at, is that I take a van load of teenagers to a fundraiser breakfast every month.

I donate $5 for my breakfast, but the kids eat free.

They do the dishes. Literally.

[Woodman]

My local BSA Troop does an annual food drive and collection to donate for Thanksgiving Meals (Turkeys Included). We are having difficulty finding food banks that WILL TAKE the donations. Even when we get numbers from them and everything else, they don’t always show up to collect. Last year we had so much food left over, I had to beg another Parrish to take it for their pantry (because the one we work with refused), and we had about 80 left over frozen turkeys. We drove to the poorest neighborhood in the area, opened up the truck and handed out turkeys to whoever would take them. Maybe it’s because I don’t live in Ohio, but here there not any increase in demand.

[steadfastconservative]

The St. Vincent de Paul group in my parish had a very successful food drive for Thanksgiving. When the pastor told parishioners that SVdP still needed 20 turkeys, parishioners donated 46. Also, the local news broadcast a story last week about a local corporation that donated 500 turkeys to a local food bank.

Every year at this time we hear about how food banks are struggling, about how donations are down, and demand is up. Of course, if the people who run these food banks don’t make sure that the people receiving the donations are really in need, they will get people who aren’t really in need showing up for free food.

Finally, the St. Vincent de Paul Society does not indiscriminately give away food or money. It always makes sure that the people receiving the donations have exhausted other avenues of help and really do need help. Also, assistance is temporary not permanent.

[Woodman]

Sounds familiar, see my previous post.

[mtbopfuyn]

What are you driving? a moped? Lots of folks are paying close to $350 a mo per vehicle just to get to work and back. Then there is food costs, and they ARE up. And the cost of fuel oil IS up.

We're paying more than double that for gas, and we combine errands and don't make any unneccessary trips (simply can't afford it). A couple years ago when gas reached $2/gal, the family budget was hit hard and we gave up a lot. Now that gas is $3 it's... well, beyond bad especially since neither of us have gotten a pay raise in years. No, suggesting a another job isn't in the cards with retirement around the corner. Things are getting tight for more than just the lowlifes.

[mylife]

Thats my experience as well.

[OCCASparky]

What are you driving? a moped?

Actually, a Ford Expedition. My math was a bit off. I'm paying around $8 a fillup more...30 cents/gallon increase since July times 26 gallon tank.

I don't know how far you're driving, but even with my guzzler I'm getting nearly two weeks of driving out of each tank, so my gas bill is less than half yours.

That being said, food isn't up THAT much, sorry. I've been looking at my checks to the local grocery and they haven't really gone up all that much, if any at all.

And as far as fuel oil goes, Texas doesn't have much of a heating issue as we do up here in NH. That being said, a little planning goes a long way. Sorry, but I don't have a whole lot of sympathy for people who don't plan for winter around here. I, like most folks, pre-pay my oil during summer when you can lock in a lower price. The only folks who might have a problem are those who are buying homes this time of year who couldn't lock in when it was $2.40 and are now paying close to $3.00 a gallon.

[OCCASparky]

Well, I got stuck with an entire truckload of beer, once...

Damn, I wish I had your problem.

[JoeSixPack1]

This is worse then every November. These drama queens in the press sat on this story until Thanksgiving morning that they probably or could have published weeks or months ago, giving it maximum exposure to people about to stuff themselves silly with food, but a little too late to really help anyone.

You are not allowed to be happy.
EVER!
The MSM will ensure that.

[mylife]

How do you “plan” for fuel costs increasing 30% in a year?

[gracesdad]

Our church runs a food pantry for area folks. You can make fun of this all you want, but we’re experiencing exactly what this story says. More working people needing help and nearly empty shelves.

[OCCASparky]

You are an exception then, because most folks drive about 50-60 mi ea way.

Most folks where? Texas? Goody gum-drops!

I live 21 miles away, and plan my trips to store, etc., on my way home from work. When I lived in CA, I lived 8 miles away from work. I'd say YOU'RE the exception, not us.

[mylife]

BTW, those aren’t my costs. I live 5 mi from work.
I have never had that luxury before.

I can get by for close to a month on a fillup if all I do is go to work and back and local errands