Freegans & Food Not Bombs

[carolaa]

Has anyone heard of these groups? I was getting interested in learning more about Freegans, but then I noticed they are associated with Food Not Bombs, which is more extreme and borders on the illegal and bizarre. I'm having trouble figuring how how closely the two groups are related. Any feedback and opinions would be appreciated.

[Guest gem]

Here's a little explanation about "freegans".

Freeganism is an anti-consumerism lifestyle whereby people employ alternative living strategies based on "limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources. Freegans embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed." The lifestyle involves salvaging discarded, unspoiled food from supermarket dumpsters that have passed their expiration date, but are still edible and nutritious. They salvage the food not because they are poor or homeless, but as a political statement.

The word "freegan", is a portmanteau of "free" and "vegan". Freeganism started in the mid 1990s, out of the antiglobalization and environmentalist movements. Groups such as Food Not Bombs served free vegetarian and vegan food that was salvaged from food market trash by dumpster diving. The movement also has elements of Diggers, an anarchist street theater group based in Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco in the 1960’s, that gave away rescued food.

Foraging

Many freegans get free food by pulling it out of the trash, a practice commonly nicknamed dumpster diving in North America or skipping in the UK. Freegans find food in the garbage of restaurants, grocery stores, and other food-related industries, and this allows them to avoid spending money on products that they claim exploit the world's resources, contribute to urban sprawl, treat workers unfairly, or disregard animal rights. By foraging, they believe that they are preventing edible food from adding to landfills and sometimes feed people and animals who might otherwise go hungry.

Sharing

Sharing is also a common freegan practice. Food Not Bombs recovers food that would otherwise go to waste to serve warm meals on the street to anyone who wants it. The group promotes an ethic of sharing and community while working to show what they consider to be the injustice of a society in which they claim fighting wars is considered a higher priority than feeding the hungry.

Really, Really Free Markets are free social events in which freegans can share goods instead of discarding them, share skills, give presents and eat food. A free store is a temporary market where people exchange goods and services outside of a money-based economy.

Freegans also advocate sharing travel resources. Internet-based ridesharing reduces, but does not eliminate use of cars and all the related resources needed to maintain and operate them.

[aldona]

I've been watching the activities of "Food Not Bombs" with interest since I was a student, and I have even thought of joining them at times if I wasn't already so busy. I think they are doing a great job.

There is a Melbourne chapter, and they are often mentioned in the independent media when they provide free vegan meals to the homeless or catering for public events such as protest rallies.

I am not aware of them having done anything illegal or bizarre. Unless you live in an area where feeding the homeless is illegal. (Then again, I'm a bit of a hippie at heart, so my definition of "bizarre" may vary from other people's.)

"Food Not Bombs" website

[Dr. Shane]

An Adventist youth group in Washington DC was feeding the homeless each week when I was in college until one of the homeless pulled a knife and stabbed one of the kids to get food because they didn't want to wait in line.

Many of the homeless are drug addicts and/or mentally ill. I don't know how this particular group goes about feeding them but the Salvation Army does a fine work in this area. Perhaps Food Not Bombs approaches them the same way. I don't know. But I certainly wouldn't want to encourage anyone to take it upon themselves to try and help the homeless. It is far better to support the organizations that are already established and working in that area.

[Clio]

An Adventist youth group in Washington DC was feeding the homeless each week when I was in college until one of the homeless pulled a knife and stabbed one of the kids to get food because they didn't want to wait in line.

Many of the homeless are drug addicts and/or mentally ill. I don't know how this particular group goes about feeding them but the Salvation Army does a fine work in this area. Perhaps Food Not Bombs approaches them the same way. I don't know. But I certainly wouldn't want to encourage anyone to take it upon themselves to try and help the homeless. It is far better to support the organizations that are already established and working in that area.

The following doesn't sound like "supporting the organizations that are alread established and working in that area". It sounds much more personal than that.

Matthew 25:41 - 46 41 "Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, `Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his demons! 42 For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn't give me anything to drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn't invite me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me no clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'

44 "Then they will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?' 45 And he will answer, `I assure you, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.' 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life."

[aldona]

I'm with Clio on this one...

Can you imagine some of the responses from those who refused to help those who needed help?

"I know they were hungry, but I didn't help because they looked like they were mentally ill and I was afraid they would be violent."

"But Lord, don't You know they are drug addicts, and they will use any money we give them to buy drugs?"

"I thought about helping, but my government said it was illegal, and You know what it says in Your word about respecting our authorities."

I think the fact that organizations like "Food Not Bombs" are growing and doing a huge work under the leadership of (mostly) non-religious people, and we Christians are sitting around arguing about whether or not they are a good thing, does us no credit.

Whenever I read Matthew 25:41-46, groups like this are the first thing that comes into my mind. The people in the parable were not professing to be believers - they did not recognize Jesus in the poor people they were serving, and did not realize at the time they were doing it for Him - but God knows their hearts, and they will receive their due reward.

aldona

[Dr. Shane]

That is mischaracterizing what I posted. One can support the Salvation Army by going and working in their kitchens, volunteering to work in their thrift centers and homeless shelters and bell ringing at Christmas time. I have done these things. The Salvation Army is a Christian organization and does an incredible job working with the homeless.

[carolaa]

I've been watching the activities of "Food Not Bombs" with interest since I was a student, and I have even thought of joining them at times if I wasn't already so busy. I think they are doing a great job.

There is a Melbourne chapter, and they are often mentioned in the independent media when they provide free vegan meals to the homeless or catering for public events such as protest rallies.

I am not aware of them having done anything illegal or bizarre. Unless you live in an area where feeding the homeless is illegal. (Then again, I'm a bit of a hippie at heart, so my definition of "bizarre" may vary from other people's.)

"Food Not Bombs" website

I looked up the group closest to me, www.fnbhouston.org, and was really shocked at some of the things they espouse. They say to let your conscience be your guide, of course, but they suggest shoplifting/stealing (kind of the robin hood mentality, it sounds like), eating people's leftover food in restaurants (wait till they leave, then dig in), wearing diapers so you don't have to waste water by using the toilet, and many other illegal and bizarre activities.

Every time I read the website, it sounds to me like they are more interested in making a statement than in helping people.

I'm all for living frugally, recycling, reusing, fixing, doing without. I'm all for helping people. I'm all for being self sufficient and living simply. I'm not ashamed to say my stepdad is a dumpster diver. But these people are very, very strange.

[Amelia]

In most parts of the USA scavenging from grocery store dumpsters is thieft. Although you wont see alot of arrests, I have seen it happen. This is the primary reason your large chain stores have secure disposal areas and non-accessable dumpsters.

In store markdowns take care of much of the close to date product. The majority of the stores then donate the rest to local food banks and senior centers. What it left over I wouldn't think anyone would eat unless you are really fond of mold.

Now that I am working in convienence stores, I give all the outdate markdowns to the employees to take home or in one case, take to an area known for homeless camping. If the store demands I toss it out, I toss it. But I hate seeing all that food go to waste. We are a country of excess. I have one store where the manager wants the pastry rack full all the time. He doesn't care how much I have to write off and throw away. It has to look good to the customer.