FOOD BANKS - Page 3

Greeneyedlady21 · ‎01-06-2015

I live in a solidly middle class/partially upper middle class suburban town with it's own food pantry. The property taxes are very high for starters, so I think that alone can cause problems for people. Factor in a job loss or a health crisis etc. The town library accepts donations in the lobby, grocery stores do at doors, other drop off spots. My church accepts donations year round that go to a pantry in a neighboring city.

It's a vital lifeline for people that's easy for all of us to support year round.

"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

dex · ‎03-09-2010

I have heard that cans that have been expired for a short time are fine as long as they aren't damaged or bulging. At one time there was no expiration date on cans but since that has been done I read that a lot of food that is still good is being tossed.i also read that the date is more for the manufacturer and that it is a best by but not toss out date.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

ALL expired food that comes to our food bank is thrown away. We would not give food to someone that we would not eat ourselves.

vermint · ‎04-05-2010

My church has what we call a "benevolence ministry"...anyone can apply for help. Since the ministry is run by ladies in our Sunday School Class, the class project is for everyone to bring specific items each month to help keep it stocked, i.e. one month is toilet paper, one month is cereal, etc. Then on any month with a fifth Sunday, there is a church-wide Fifth Sunday Food Drive when everyone brings non-perishable food items. Also, of course, anyone can donate at any time! Thanksgiving is "Turkey Drop" month...everyone is asked to bring Thanksgiving food items. We donate money for turkeys and bread. Boxes are then packed with a Thanksgiving meal, and delivered to those in need. Because we are in a poorer county, a LOT of people are helped by this, year-round.

It's a wonderful ministry...and I'm very thankful that I can donate to it, instead of needing it's help! But you never know...things change and one day it might be me that does need it.

Daisy Sunflower · ‎10-26-2010

I'm sure there are a lot of people who take advantage of these kinds of places even if they really shouldn't be asking for handouts.

vermint · ‎04-05-2010

@Daisy wrote:
I'm sure there are a lot of people who take advantage of these kinds of places even if they really shouldn't be asking for handouts.

@Daisy Sunflower Sadly, that is true...when our church started the program many years ago, they got "burned" a few times. Now they check things out more carefully (I don't really know the process), but I'm sure someone occasionally slips through that doesn't really need the help. But we look at it as we'd rather help a few that don't really need it, than turn away someone who does.

SahmIam · ‎04-16-2010

@dex I've heard the same thing but sometimes, it's YEARS after the expiration. Would you eat that? I wouldn't. Also, it's not just cans...it's fruit cups, puddings, peanut butter, bread, snackfood....

My son tells me that they get more junk food than anything else.

Our county food bank is open 5 days a week. There is a fresh, frozen and pantry section to choose from. Individuals must be pre-qualified by the county, have a shopping list and are escorted by a volunteer because many will take far more than allowed. When I drop him off, there is always a line outside the door waiting for them to open (he arrives 30 minutes earlier. There have been issues when the police have had to be called. People become desperate over that which they need.....

There are strict guidelines as to who qualifies and often you see well dressed individuals among those who look as if they haven't bathed in a long time. Cars held together by duct tape are parked next to Mercedes SUV's. The very young (newborns) with their moms and grandmothers as well as the very old with a caretaker and everyoone in between.

True story: When our local Food Lion closed for a week (Wiess was taking over and had to do whatever it is stores do in this case), people were b*tching that the food was NOT on sale. I mean, I was there (had to pick up a few things) and the place was packed with people looking for deals; there wasn't any. So, the manager was being paged to groups wanting to know why the food was not on a deep discount. Finally, fed up, she went to the front of the store and made an announcement over the intercom:

"All food items: fresh and frozen, are being donated to the County Food Bank. Thank you for shopping with us".

OMG you should have heard the people angry about THAT! The comments, the glares, yeah....humanity at its finest. NOT.

And that IS what happened. The company provided the food bank with refrigerated trucks and ALL the frozen foods, all the meats, all the vegis, EVERYTHING that was marked Food Lion went to the food bank. How do I know? My son was there when the first wave of trucks hit; he assisted with the inventory, the unloading, etc. Not all stores do this, however. Can you imagine if they did?

Allegheny · ‎03-19-2010

@Daisy wrote:
I'm sure there are a lot of people who take advantage of these kinds of places even if they really shouldn't be asking for handouts.

@Daisy Sunflower I do appreciate that these programs exist and thrive for those that have the need. And the fact that people and businesses donate and volunteer makes me proud of humanity.

Unfortunately I do have to agree with you. I worked with a few people who actually gloated about taking advantage of these programs. I grew up in a working poor family, these people thoroughly disgusted me.

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

@dex wrote:
I have heard that cans that have been expired for a short time are fine as long as they aren't damaged or bulging. At one time there was no expiration date on cans but since that has been done I read that a lot of food that is still good is being tossed.i also read that the date is more for the manufacturer and that it is a best by but not toss out date.

This all is very true, but falls on many deaf ears here.

In my opinion and experience, we don't throw away food just because it is past the 'expiration date'. It depends on what the food is, how it is packaged (is it a dry good, is it canned, is it frozen), how it has been stored, how long ago it went out of date, and the appearance/smell/texture/color once opened.

That said, I never serve expired foods to a guest, and would never donate it to a food pantry, because what I am willing to do/risk personally isn't what I would expose others to.

Stray · ‎04-20-2013

@Noel7 wrote:
San Francisco is blessed to have GLIDE MEMORIAL CHURCH. It has been serving the poor and anyone who needs help for decades.

"GLIDE's program is the only one in San Francisco to provide 3 nutritious meals a day, 364 days a year, to the city's poor, homeless and hungry."

787,395 meals served in fiscal year 2014.

Daily Meals
We began serving meals in 1969 as a volunteer-run potluck for 50, and now serve on average 2,163 meals a day with the help of 30 kitchen and security staff and thousands of volunteers each year. In 2014, GLIDE served 108,511 meals to seniors, 93,481 Coffee House meals, and 2,481 meals to families with children.

Breakfast: 8am - 9am
Lunch: Noon - 1:30pm
Dinner: 4pm - 5:30pm (Monday - Friday) and bagged lunches served Noon - 1:30pm (Saturday & Sunday)

Senior Meals
The dining hall is reserved for seniors each morning from 7:30am - 8am.

Holiday Meals
GLIDE invites the community to special meal services during the Holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas.

We are so grateful to have Rev. Cecil Williams, age 87, who began this wonderful work and his wife Janice.

@Noel7- it's wonderful that people step up and help but it's a sad commentary that we need them....especially in cities where real estate prices are the highest in the Country with pockets of phenomenal affluence and two blocks over, extreme poverty, homelessness and hungry people. It makes me very sad....