Watching Hunger Hits Home

[Beekissed]

The answer is to love your fellow man more than you love the material things of this world and share those things you have with those who do not have. It's called agape, I believe.

"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land." Deuteronomy 15:11

"He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy." Proverbs 14:21

"A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor." Proverbs 22:9

"'He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD." Jeremiah 22:16

"But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind." Luke 14:13

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18

 

[redhen]

Yes, it IS about helping others less fortunate than ourselves..
But there is a bigger picture here also...
Like i mentioned earlier, MANY people cant utilize the food banks.. or even the govt given food stamps.
There are so many people that DO work and yet they STILL cant make ends meet...yet, because they do work they CANT get any help from these services...
Our country is set up to fail... if you DONT work... you can collect and get some pretty fair help...
Its the ones that ARE trying but are still behind that cant get any help... until its too late and they hit rock bottom and end up on welfare...
Which costs the govt. more money in the long run....


ETA: Its the ones in the "middle" that get forgotten... IMO...

 

[Beekissed]

Our church gives out 150-200 boxes of food per month. There is a simple application process and it is very open to those in need....but i think you can't qualify if you receive public assistance already. It is more for those who are struggling, can't qualify for assistance but still are much in need...the elderly, the low paid, etc.

It used to be the responsibility of the church to provide for the poor but the world has gotten far away from that.

I visited a church a few weeks ago that was huge and very lovely, well-appointed with a soaring cathedral ceiling with huge arching beams to a humongous sky-light. I noticed in the bulletin that they were raising money to "keep our church beautiful" and the goal was over $22,000. Just how beautiful does the church really have to be(it was already so gorgeous) and how much food would that 22K buy for those who are hungry?

 

[redhen]

I know, Bee... the church has gotten away from that..
Actually here in my town... i havent heard of ANYONE being able to go to the church for help... (they use the local food pantry...)
Maybe the "members" can get help though... not sure.
Yet the pastor lives in a HUGE mansion type house paid for by "someone", (not him)...
I dont begrudge him that though.. I'm sure hes a nice guy...

 

[Beekissed]

That's a cryin' shame...the very place that should be helping. I wonder how they try to justify it all...

I went to a church like that..not so grand a house for the preacher but he was very well cared for yet he had no compassion for the poor and needy in the community. And the community always notices these things while the church is blind to the impression they make there...in their own communities. Then they wanna cry about no growth in the church.

No matter how poor I think I am in this world, there is always someone who has less, needs more, needs someone to care and to lift them up when they think no one cares at all.

 

[debilorrah]

I have not read anything but the past few posts. I have to say that there really are some churches out there that do not take advantage of the gifts that are given. In our church, which is non-denominational, they have a fully open policy about finances. Their audited financial statements are on the web, we can all see what they get and what they spend on what, and yes some is on housing for staff, but it is not extravagant housing. It is bare bones.

 

[debilorrah]

That's a cryin' shame...the very place that should be helping. I wonder how they try to justify it all...

I went to a church like that..not so grand a house for the preacher but he was very well cared for yet he had no compassion for the poor and needy in the community. And the community always notices these things while the church is blind to the impression they make there...in their own communities. Then they wanna cry about no growth in the church.

No matter how poor I think I am in this world, there is always someone who has less, needs more, needs someone to care and to lift them up when they think no one cares at all.

That is soo true!!! With our recent struggles, I can still see how others need more than us. Our church is a "helper" type of congregation. If someone is in the hospital, they cook. If someone is hungry, they feed.

 

[chickened]

I think there are several reasons, the ones in the middle have the hardest time. Some people just will not ask for or accept charity. Some prefer to sit around and complain. Some just do not know what is available because they do not ask. Some just do not care. Some just say "well I made it so the kids will".

We have areas in Portland that they do not allow foodbanks or pantries in because of the social status of the area. They feel it attracts the wrong people.

I think there are resources available but for some getting them is a challenge.

In 2010 there were 9.5 million kid in California under 18, 2.47 million under the age of 5 now for every 5 years of age there would be about a little less than 3 million kids. Now figure a child say 12 years old and younger would be incapable of feeding them selves which comes to about 6.6 million kids roughly now someone tell me how 2.5 million which is about 40% of those kids are hungry. The poverty level in California per person is less than 14%. 14% of the kids in America are said to be obese also.

I am sorry but the numbers put forth by that documentary just do not add up.

Yes, it IS about helping others less fortunate than ourselves..

But there is a bigger picture here also...
Like i mentioned earlier, MANY people cant utilize the food banks.. or even the govt given food stamps.
There are so many people that DO work and yet they STILL cant make ends meet...yet, because they do work they CANT get any help from these services...
Our country is set up to fail... if you DONT work... you can collect and get some pretty fair help...
Its the ones that ARE trying but are still behind that cant get any help... until its too late and they hit rock bottom and end up on welfare...
Which costs the govt. more money in the long run....
ETA: Its the ones in the "middle" that get forgotten... IMO...

 

[herfrds]

A friend told me that a person can work here in Montana and still get food stamps. Saw a lady I know that works use food stamps the other day so it is true. He said each state has different rules. Some where people can work and get assistance and some where if they work there is no assistance.

There is a group called FISH in our area, they are a church sponsored group that works with different churches and if a member is having trouble or even a non member they will be sent there and given what food they need. They are next to the food bank and Meals On Wheels. What is nice is they all share what comes in together.

there are so many different groups out there that give assistance a lot of them are through word of mouth.

 

[hemet dennis]

A friend told me that a person can work here in Montana and still get food stamps. Saw a lady I know that works use food stamps the other day so it is true. He said each state has different rules. Some where people can work and get assistance and some where if they work there is no assistance.

There is a group called FISH in our area, they are a church sponsored group that works with different churches and if a member is having trouble or even a non member they will be sent there and given what food they need. They are next to the food bank and Meals On Wheels. What is nice is they all share what comes in together.

there are so many different groups out there that give assistance a lot of them are through word of mouth.

It's not if you work or not it's how much you earn and how many people you support. The woman that won 1 million dollar lottery was still unemployed so kept collecting food stamps. She said she was still unemployed so she should get food stamps. So if Obama was to lose then he should get food stamps because he will be unemployed.