Food Banks

[Clio]

Hmmmmm.... As long as I'm on my I'd like to say a few words about food banks.

Last year, before my children were old enough to get jobs and contribute to the family earnings.... yes, that's how bad it's been. My children work and pay as much as $300 a month into the family budget.

We were fortunate enough to be able to get food boxes from the food bank through LOVE, Inc. What a horrible experience.

Every time we received a box, the first order of business was to throw away all the rotten food in an attempt to save that which had not yet rotted. All the boxes and bags of food had to be inspected for bugs, and the breads had to be carefully inspected for mold. All the vegetables, if one was fortunate enough to get something fresh, were in early rotting stages.

It was very disheartening to see a green pepper in the box only to lift it out and have mushy mold on the entire side you couldn't see.

It was so sad to see my kids get excited about a gallon of milk only to open it and have to pour it out.

Please, if you do decide to help someone, it's not help if they have to throw it out. That's just a tease.

Clio

[Clio]

Getting off my soap box now... Sorry... touched a nerve.

[Dr. Shane]

Sounds like your local food bank doesn't have their act together. If it wasn't for food banks when I was in college, I would have went hungry many of times. As a child, my mother often fed us kids from food banks. I have never had any experience like what is described here - as an adult or a child.

Food banks often get food after its expiration date. They get this food for free. The food is normally good for 3 to 10 days after its expiration date, depending on what it is. It can be consumed with no problems but cannot legally be sold for human consumption. Thus the food banks need to distribute it quickly and instruct those recieving it to consume it within whatever period of time it remains safe.

Now I regularrly donate money to our food bank through a program at our local grocery stores. Many food banks also need volunteers. Our Pathfinder group has went collecting can goods and given them to food banks. Dry beans, rice, oatmeal, sugar, brown sugar, honey, dry milk, peanut butter, pancake syrup, canned meat, beef and chicken bullion are also excellent donations.

[Clio]

Well, I did call and ask about it.

They told me it was free and I should take it and be grateful.

I do understand that food banks are run on donations, but it seems to me that it's not very nice to get someone's hopes up, and then when they really look at the food, they have to throw it away.

It's pretty sad, especially when there's real excitement over something that looks good at first glance and would have been a real treat.

It's comforting to hear that others have had better luck.

Clio

[Gail]

You have touched on a point that has been in my thoughts for many years

When someone donates clothing or whatever, don't they think that the recipients KNOW when you are giving only your remains and discards and not something that is worth something?

It might be a picky philosophy, and we didn't refuse anything that was given to us, but when it came my turn to give, I thought about that

There was a time when my family was fed through food banks and donations from our local church. People were very kind to us and I will never forget it

[Dr. Shane]

I will tell that I never got any new clothing until I was out of the house and on my own. I had a friend that went to the Adventist school with me that would always give me his old shoes when he got new ones. And I was glad to have them. I actually got excited about it and can never remember ever being envious of his new shoes.

[Clio]

Hi Gail.

Yes, I'm with you. It seems to me, if someone is going to "give a gift" it only makes sense that it should be gift worth getting.

I have never refused anything, for that would also be ungracious, but... well...

'nuff said.

Clio

[Amelia]

I want to say that here in Oregon, Portland Adventist Community Services has a food bank and thrift shop and medical center. You will never find rotton, moldy, buggy or any other kind of icky food. Clothing will not be stained, ripped, stinky, stretched out of shape or otherwise unwearable. And even though you may get the doc's visit for little to no cost, the doc's and the medicines are the best. <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

[cricket]

Anybody up for socialism?

[Clio]

Wow... Kewl. I'm sure that there are many good stories, I'm certain of it. But this has been my only experience, and it's not been one with lots of mountaintops....

I have fond memories of Portland. We used to go to the Organ Grinder all the way from Walla Walla for some great Pizza and an AWESOME time.

Several friends and a sister-in-law have done the nursing program down there too.

Although way too many years ago! (70's)

Yikes!

Clio

[Amelia]

The Organ Grinder was the favorite hang out of my group back then too! The building still exists but the organ is gone. It's sad though, not really any place cool and wholesome like that for kids to hang out at these days.

[Clio]

Oh man... now that is really sad. I loved going there... it was amazing. My favorite was when they played the organ to sound like drums and bells and the little white lights went crazy.

Cool stuff.

Clio