Am I annoyed or sympathetic?

[Camelot Farms]

Quote:
I assume because NOONE who is TRULY hungry and needy asks for SPECIFIC brand coffee and soda... noone.
If you're hungry , you ask for ANY food and help.... not Dr. Pepper and Frosted Flakes....

Just my opinion, as usual..

I hear ya Red and even I think the ad was a little 'weird'. I just got started on the whole restriction concept. In my past professions, I worked with many many wonderful deserving families who often did not apply for FS because of the stigma surrounding them. Restrictions on their actual use would only turn off more families who truly need the service.

Stepping off of my soapbox, cleaning my rose colored specs and going to bed.

 

[Laurajean]

Quote:
I assume because NOONE who is TRULY hungry and needy asks for SPECIFIC brand coffee and soda... noone.
If you're hungry , you ask for ANY food and help.... not Dr. Pepper and Frosted Flakes....

Just my opinion, as usual..

You're right, I would not be choosy for brands, but no one said she isn't an idiot. But during a hunger period isn't really the time to try and convert her kids to Bran Flakes either, you know? I wouldn't feed my kids that junk to begin with, but the sad fact is that people do. I still say she deserves food.

 

[Equus5O]

Quote:
I assume because NOONE who is TRULY hungry and needy asks for SPECIFIC brand coffee and soda... noone.
If you're hungry , you ask for ANY food and help.... not Dr. Pepper and Frosted Flakes....

Just my opinion, as usual..

We make a pretty good living and I buy store brand instant coffee,etc.

 

[maple]

I was also thinking about if they did have children and we all know how picky they can be sometimes and if they have a favorite cereal...I know how my 5 year old refuses food if she doesn't like it....heck, my 9 year old too. So I found a cereal they like...each is different from the other...and that's what I feed them.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
I assume because NOONE who is TRULY hungry and needy asks for SPECIFIC brand coffee and soda... noone.
If you're hungry , you ask for ANY food and help.... not Dr. Pepper and Frosted Flakes....

Just my opinion, as usual..

I hear ya Red and even I think the ad was a little 'weird'. I just got started on the whole restriction concept. In my past professions, I worked with many many wonderful deserving families who often did not apply for FS because of the stigma surrounding them. Restrictions on their actual use would only turn off more families who truly need the service.

Stepping off of my soapbox, cleaning my rose colored specs and going to bed.

No..i understand what you mean..
I dont think we should dictate what people spend their stamps on...just as long as its food.
I dont hold with the ,"we all have to eat veggies and brown rice, to be eating healthy" theory.

But when your ASKING for food from strangers on the internet... and you only want certain brand soda and coffee..etc...
Well.. that just irks the heck outta me, Cause you are NOT TRULY needy then. Just a mooch...

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

As unpopular as this will be

I wish we would go back to the system of gov't food. It makes so much more sense to me. Instead of individuals buying individual items, things could be bought and distributed in bulk. In addition, some of the money spent to see that farmers don't produce certain foods could be spent to see that they DO produce certain foods. Imagine a food bank stocked with healthy, locally produced fruits and veggies. The farmers win. Those needing food win by getting to eat fresh and healthy food. Less money is spent on junk food. Theoretically there would be a cost savings as well. Passing out a debit card is just a bad idea. Not that all people on food stamps buy irresponsibly, but there is definite evidence that the system is being consistently abused. If we are passing out fruit, bread, milk and cheese it makes it harder to misuse the money (although I understand there used to be a thriving gov't cheese black market). More children actually get fed nutritious foods and less is spent on frivolous items.

I also disagree that those on food stamps should get to buy whatever they want. If I am begging money from someone else, I don't really get to be choosy. I like the WIC program because it is very specific about what is covered and what is not. It all seems to be mostly healthy food. I don't buy sodas and ho-hos and ding dongs when my budget is tight. And I work my butt off for my money. Why should someone taking a handout get to buy these items when they have zero nutritional value? The point of food stamps is to make sure you are fed. Treats are special items for special times when you have the money to buy them.

 

[ChooksinChoppers]

Quote:
I don't think that diet pepsi or coffee is food...

I do..

BUT its NOT a necessary food item if your struggling to feed yourself...
I DONT think it should be on your food list if your soooo hungry you need to place an ad on CL, begging for food,... (which, by the way, they have enough money for internet service though..

..)
Just people playing others and looking for suckers...

Good point there!

 

[Break an Egg]

Wow, that's crazy, to beg is one thing, to be picky about what someone is willing to give is just

 

[ChooksinChoppers]

If we are passing out fruit, bread, milk and cheese it makes it harder to misuse the money

Oh I wish they would! I have been in that postition before (having FS) especially the fruit and veg is very unafordable when you are on FS. I tended to buy only the cheapest (and unfortunatly the most fattening) foods I could find. and the Wic program? dont get me started!
DIL was on that while preggers and the restrictions were rediculous! Bread...could only be whole wheat, certain brand stuff,smallest loaf available and the most expensive on the shelf! Milk was no fat, (blah) plus the coupons were set up so you had to buy everything on the coupon..didnt matter you already had a 1/2 dozen eggs or a gallon of milk in the fridge if you wanted cheese you buy the lot or waste that coupon

Food banks here.....Hmmm ramon noodles, cans of pasta sauce and pasta, rice, maybe 1 can of fruit and 1 of veg ....nothing fresh and no meat or bread, eggs or milk. If I had all the staples ( flour, sugar, milk, eggs, etc) I could have made so much more.......Its harder than you think! No I wasnt or am a drug addict....just in a bad situation with no job and no food and getting evicted every 6 months cause you cant pay the rent. Not a nice feeling..nor was it having to apply in the first place and not being of any other race but white and having them real close to calling you a lier...and then taking them away because you actually complied with the rules and notified them of address changes and part time jobs etc...one worker actually said to me " so how are you affording the rent you stated?" I told her I was getting evicted within the month and hadnt paid the landlord in 2 months...she still took them away because in her reasoning...if you can afford rent you can afford food.

So please guys ...dont be too hard on people wanting help with food...even when I was getting food stamps I would still made breakfast/lunch for 3 homeless guys next door at the handy mart. I too have offered food and bottles of water to people standing in the heat with signs at highway exits...accepted gratefully. only once was it rejected..guy with "will work for food" sign....I told him to meet me at the dairy queen 1 block down and he said no LOL (I was working at the time as a taxi driver) ....fine..go hungry then ....but yeah...some coffee would have been a nice change ..anything to break the monotiny (sp) of the stuff you have to buy to stretch out $100 a month for food​

 

[schellie69]

I do think it is strange to ask for soda and specific brands or name brand food. I buy store brands as much as I can. I have used food stamps in the past, I went to the store very early in the morning and bought all the marked down meat, bread, can goods. Yes even steak but I paid very little I used to buy turkey legs for 48 cents for 2 when they where on mark down. I made every penny count. I still buy marked down meats, ect. I know our food bank gives flour, powdered milk, can veggies ect. I have also had to use the salvation army this winter due to DH not getting his unemployment. We made the hamburger helper without the hamburger because we didn't have the money for it. I can under stand being in a hard spot. I would be great ful for any food that someone would offer. What upsets me is to see people who have food stamps and are driving brand new cars, makes me wonder how they get away with it. My DD has wic for her 2 girls and it helps so much. they now offer fresh veggies and fruits which is great.