Community Chat

[Bird mama]

Gleaners Food Bank here in Michigan distributes food to children year 'round because they understand that 2 out of 3 meals a child eats is in school.

Before I retired I worked for a VP that had an annual meeting and at each meeting he would have speakers from a charity that our division would support that year with either food or money donations.  I will give it up to Brian because whatever the division donated money wise he matched so it was doubled.  Understanding that a VP made more than the people who worked for him, he also knew as did we that we would really rally as a group so he would get stung a high personal amount

Please don't rain on my parade here and tell me he could afford it or it was tax deductible - just enjoy the spirit of the thing, thanks.

One year Gleaners came in to talk to us and ran a video about their backpack program where they send food home on the weekends with kids so they kids won't go hungry then.

There was a little girl who mentioned her sister wasn't school age yet and she asked if her (little girl) portion could go to her sister at home who wasn't old enough to go to school and get food.

That wrecked me so bad I was bent over in my chair sobbing.  You could hear me through the entire auditorium - I couldn't stifle myself.

Suffice it to say I've been a Gleaners supporter for years.

[LTT1]

@feline groovy 

Hopefully this process will work.

If even one sincerely needy child is helped, it will be worth the effort.

I was only consulted once maybe twice if I thought a student might be in need and unidentified.

[qualitygal]

I'm glad someone is trying to help!!!  These are growing children among those who need good food to grow.  Their brains and bodies are developing.  The parents, if getting those meals too can be an example to the children.  They can all set down, if lucky enough, to enjoy a meal together.  (Providing work schedules agree).  

[cherry]

@Bird mama  we also have  Food Gathers, that do the same thing ,and supply many churches with  food ,to be handed out to the needy. WE have a lot of good people in this country, and each are helping  someone. If we all do a little, it adds up to a lot

[Sooner]

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@millieshops wrote:

@SoonerOn a guess, these foods are going to kids who are already on free or reduced priced lunches.  Where I taught, the teachers were not involved in making those decisions.  Various agencies in and out of the schools were.

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@millieshops That's what I am talking about.  I think there should be some avenue for making sure that people who are in need get help.  And that those who don't qualify for help aren't stealing from them.  I think that is the responsibility of people to see that those who really need help get it. 

[cherry]

You can live in a big home ,and still not be well fed. Many people are head over heels in debt. I know of a family ,with a Dad with a wonderful job, that used food banks, because they were in such bad shape financially

We never turn anyone down, that asks for food. Hunger is hunger, no matter where you live, or work.

[Bird mama]

That's how I see it too @cherry . 

[Cakers3]

Our food bank has 4 farms encompassing 75 acres total.

Fruit, greens, veggies, herbs. etc. are grown.  All fresh food; nothing already prepared.

The markets are then spread throughout the county; 14 markets in all on designated days and times.

[Pook]

It is a great idea but the sad reality is that those families who are really  struggling are the ones that won't apply for SNAP and other help and will not go to food banks, etc. The ones that get it all are the ones that get SNAP and other benefits which would adequately provide for their children.  They qualify for free coats, boots, etc as well as school clothing supplies so they should be able to at least feed their kids properly.  With SNAP there is enough to go around food wise if the parents don't sell their benefits for their own pleasures - cigarettes, alcohol and drugs!  Many don't know how to shop even semi wisely and prepare food.  Other parents also take the food meant for the children and the kids get very little if any of it.   I know my mother would have starved rather than send us to school without breakfast and a lunch.

[hckynut]

Let us not forget that millions of United States born children are: Over Fed and UNDERNOURISHED!  This is very seldom mentioned and child obesity is a BIG thing in our country.

hckynut