Greedy vs Needy -

[Bekeart]

WWII C-Rations - Early 60s

SNIPPED
I was in 8th Grade in 1963, one day in the lunchroom someone said to me:
"Hey, Blackhawk, is this food World War Two surplus ?"
"World War Two ? World War ONE !"

Early 60s bought several can of different varieties of WWII C-Rations.
The cans were clearly dated with 1940s dates.
Many veterans did not hold C-Rations in high regard.

To me those C-Rations were decent and edible.
Mostly used for camping trips.

Bekeart

 

[30-30remchester]

Early 60s bought several can of different varieties of WWII C-Rations.
The cans were clearly dated with 1940s dates.
Many veterans did not hold C-Rations in high regard.

To me those C-Rations were decent and edible.
Mostly used for camping trips.

Bekeart

Going to school in a small Colorado town in the 1960's, one of the favorite detention punishments was to help the lunchroom staff. Starting in the morning before class, I would often have to help a game warden unload and skin either an elk or deer and hang it in the school locker, to be used to feed the ankle biters. How times have changed.

 

[ladder13]

Local Soup Kitchen often gets UNSOLD products from Panera.

Here is Panera's information

Day-End Dough-Nation® Program

At Panera, we embrace the opportunity to spread generosity to our communities. Generosity is at the forefront of everything we do. We care for our communities by donating to charities dedicated to feeding our neighbors in need. That’s why our bakery-cafes donate their unsold bread, bagels, and baked goods to local non-profits at the end of the night through our Day-End Dough-Nation program.

Day-End Dough-Nation | Panera Bread

Three Cheers for Panera.

Bekeart

Not many know who donates bulk food to these food pantries.

We, some of my lunch bunch and I, volunteer at a food pantry. A brand new refrigerated truck was donated by Walmart to a local church at the beginning of this year. We pick up frozen food and about to expire cakes, cookies, breads, etc from Wegmans and Walmart.
We do the first Monday and Friday every month. Last tally was 2,000 lbs of food.That slightly over the average per pickup.
1300 from Wegmans, 700 from Walmart.
One pickup, one day.
We separate and weigh every box to like product, all donations need to be recorded and signed off on.
That’s just us, there are others doing the same each week, every month, from other Walmarts, Wegmans and others like Target.
We bring it all back to a warehouse built with $ donations and free labor and materials, they divvy it out twice a week.
And yeah, people que up with luxury vehicles. Not my business, not my money, the pantry just gives it out. We are there to help.

 

[ladder13]

I've been approached by people begging for money for gas or for something to eat. I don't want to be a skinflint but I don't want to be an enabler for bad behavior either. If somebody says they need money for gas, I tell them to pull up to the pump and I fill their tank. If they said they need money for food, I buy them food for immediate consumption. Nobody ever turned me down and I didn't have to worry about where the money might have gone.

That’s a great way to weed out the scammers.

 

[zeke]

Trying to remember the last time anyone approached me in parking lot (or anywhere) looking for money. Give to the red kettles (Salvation Army) every time am going to grocery store this time of year.

 

[Ματθιας]

I used to work next door to a homeless charity center. I had my car broken into numerous times and it was costing me a LOT money just to show up to work - door glass, busted steering columns - human waste in our parking lot that we had to clean up...

There's this busy intersection where the homeless have their signs asking for money to buy food - there's a McDs near by. I'd seen a bunch of McDs food bags and cups, trash on the side of where they'd stand. What they were doing was, if they got food instead of money, they'd toss the food after driver drove off without even looking in the bag!

Because of my experiences, I don't/won't help homeless people anymore. I care about them as much as they care about me.

 

[45Smashemflat]

When asked for money for food, gas, etc, I just offer to buy the same and bring it back, “what do you need?” Most often the offer of tangible goods is refused.

Is does jade you from helping others in real need. It is sort of sad that we find ourselves helping the local animal shelter more than other charities.

 

[Bekeart]

When asked for money for food, gas, etc, I just offer to buy the same and bring it back, “what do you need?” Most often the offer of tangible goods is refused.

Is does jade you from helping others in real need. It is sort of sad that we find ourselves helping the local animal shelter more than other charities.

At animal shelter you know the animals are truly in need.

Bekeart

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

My church has an Angel Tree with requests from the local "Social Services" or whatever department. A few years ago one woman took the request for a Peppa Pig Playset-she found it costs $90.00 !! We put a $25 limit on toy requests. One year I took a request for a tricycle for a 4-5 year old. Found a perfectly good one at the Trenton Bike Exchange-$15. We have a Warmth Tree-hats, gloves, mittens. One year I donated 12 watch caps-found them while out walking or cycling. Take them home, put them in the laundry....I suggested we should take these "needy" families on shopping trips-in the local thrift stores.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I completed about 3 paragraphs detailing several of the scams and frauds I have seen over the years, then decided not to finish my thoughts on this subject. Just too depressing to dwell on the depths of human behavior.

Suffice it to say that way too many folks have found out that a little begging is easier than working for their daily upkeep, and those willing to give with a pure heart will find plenty of others willing to take for personal gain.

 

[llowry61]

I have volunteered at the Central Ohio Food Bank where we primarily sorted and inspected non-perishable food items to ensure they were properly sealed etc.

The volume of contributions was impressive as there were several corporate sponsors like Kroger company in addition to individual donations. There seems to be plenty of assistance and goodwill for those in need here in flyover country.

A buddy of mine made a good point that stuck with me a while back. His wife a schoolteacher in an area with a large Somalian population told him the kids were given breakfast, lunch an afternoon snack and in some instances a take home snack. The school runs summer programs for meals to ensure food is available year-round. Now, assuming these same folks are eligible for SNAP benefits and the school is feeding the kids for at least 2 of 3 meals a day, then why are they getting full SNAP benefits? I never thought about it that way, but he has a decent point. Another example of government inefficiency / lunacy?

BTW my wife and I give to the Licking County animal rescue. One thing about animals, they only take what they need if they need it.

If only society was that way.

The US is the only place where folks who have food, lodging, transportation and phones can be considered poor. Our poor and needy are living like kings compared to other countries. We just keep adjusting the definition of poor.

One other thought on this rant, being 501c3 Non-Profit doesn't hold a lot of water with me. If you want to know why look up the congressional report "Profiteering in a Non--Profit Industry".

 

[NYlakesider]

They have some sort of a church food bank thing going on in a small village a few miles away. About once a month in the colder months of the year!

They publish it in the paper and it sometimes gets some TV announcements as its a charity thing. They announce that its open to anyone.

We were driving by the drop off point and their had to be 70 vechicles sitting in line. Just a quick observation on my part but I sure saw a lot of nice newer vechicles, mostly SUVs waiting for food.

 

[smoothshooter]

The small local church near me has a food pantry. In a rich town. Average income is about double that of Miami. The food pantry doesn't require proof of need. You will see guys in new Range Rovers wearing $2,000 suits getting a box of food. Anytime you are giving stuff away, there will be someone with their hand out, whether they need it or not.

There is no way I would hand out free food at a charity event to someone driving a Range Rover and wearing a nice suit. I can take any flak they might give me.
God would be on my side, not theirs.

 

[yeti]

Range Rover driver at a food pantry pisses me off. We all see versions of this with well dressed people driving expensive vehicles using LINK and welfare assistance cards. Scammers!

Folks used to have a little pride and not steal food out of the mouths of the truly needy.

Now...not so much.

 

[Smoke]

My wife used to volunteer at a food bank. Volunteers were told we feed whoever shows up, no questions asked period.

There was one lady that showed up every week and everybody knew, I think she told somebody, that she was getting her groceries from the food bank so that she could take her grocery budget up to Cripple Creek and gamble it.
The volunteers were reminded, we feed whoever shows up, no questions asked period.

 

[yeti]

My wife used to volunteer at a food bank. Volunteers were told we feed whoever shows up, no questions asked period.

There was one lady that showed up every week and everybody knew, I think she told somebody, that she was getting her groceries from the food bank so that she could take her grocery budget up to Cripple Creek and gamble it.
The volunteers were reminded, we feed whoever shows up, no questions asked period.

Sorry, but I just don't think this is right. Stealing food from the mouths of actual needy folks is immoral IMHO. Food banks should be for the needy, not the greedy.
Oh well. Guess I'm just too judgmental to run a food bank huh

Merry Christmas everybody!

 

[raljr1]

I remember years ago I walked into a local community center in a small town to ask direction. The state was giving out 5 lb blocks of cheese and they asked me if I wanted one. When I declined, they tried to insist, I told them that It wasnt for folks like me, but for folks who were in need......never take what I'm not entitled to. i eat dinner before a gun club meeting each month with three Viet vets. When we check out, they get the vets discount. Been offered to me once or twice,.but I always remind the cashier that In didn't earn that

 

[Bekeart]

Those who have less give more.

Why do people who have less give more?

Part of the reason lies in the fact that they are more compassionate and more sensitive to the need of others.

 

[Smoke]

Sorry, but I just don't think this is right. Stealing food from the mouths of actual needy folks is immoral IMHO. Food banks should be for the needy, not the greedy.
Oh well. Guess I'm just too judgmental to run a food bank huh

Merry Christmas everybody!

Not my food bank, not my decision.

Why do people who have less give more?

Part of the reason lies in the fact that they are more compassionate and more sensitive to the need of others.

You would be amazed at the number of homeless people who offered me food when I was working.

I was at work at FedEx one night and homeless guy was walking down the street with a box of cookies that I'm certain he got out of a dumpster somewhere. He saw me standing by my car probably feeding my cats and he held up the box of cookies and said I've had as much as I want I'm leaving them here at the front gate for you.

I thanked him profusely and as soon as he was out of sight I threw them in the dumpster

 

[Muss Muggins]

I have noticed throughout my career that the "luxury" vehicles driven by SNAP and TANF recipients generally have an assortment of the following issues: salvage titles, flood sale vehicles, bank repos, auction vehicles, assembled from two or more similar vehicles after crashes, various fluid leaks, every light on the dash is on, and a large clunk or sound of grinding metal when stopping or turning. Nobody on this forum would own or buy one. But the exterior is kept squeaky clean . . .