Using a food pantry

[Attila the Honey]

I am conflicted. I found out we qualify to use a local food pantry, and we don't just barely qualify, either. We are hundreds under the monthly income cut off.

The thing is, we aren't going hungry. I am good at stretching our grocery budget. We really aren't in any danger of going hungry. Would it be wrong of us to use the food pantry?

The break it would give us would probably make our lives more comfortable, but I don't want to take food from a hungry person's mouth just to be more comfortable, kwim?

And by comfortable I do NOT mean that we'd be eating out more, getting cable, going clothes shopping. We are quite frugal, shop at good will, give ourselves $25 entertainment money every 2 weeks when we can afford it, we don't have cable, we conserve electricity, keep our heating bills low, only use the car when necessary and otherwise bike or walk or take the bus, use the library to rent movies, eat lots of beans and rice and apples, order from angelfood, etc.

What I do mean by "comfortable" is perhaps we could have a small savings so when our car breaks down or we have an emergency we could, you know, PAY FOR IT OURSELVES. Maybe we wouldn't have to scrimp for co-pays and prescription med. costs anymore, and get back to paying our utilities on time so we don't live under the threat of shut off as much as we currently do. It would mean more wiggle room.

Thoughts? Give it to me straight. I really don't know what to do. Like I said, I hate for hungry people to go without for me to have "wiggle room".

Also, if anyone has food pantry experience and can tell me what to expect I'd appreciate it, I am a little anxious about going.

[polyhymnia]

I would use it especially if it allows you to build up your savings.

Otherwise, when a crisis hits, you are going to need a lot more help to recover after the fact.

Take a little help now while you can, before it reaches a crisis point (As Smokey the bear says, prevention is half the battle).

I know around here our food pantries do not want for food, we are a very generous community (either that or people are too shy to take advantage of it ). You will probably get a lot more canned/boxed/chemical laden stuff than you would prefer but you can always politely decline these items.

[stephaloo]

ITA with the pp.

[miss_sonja]

If using it willl give you enough of a cushion so that you can build up an emergency fund, USE IT. The lack of emergency funds is what pushes people who are OK, but on the edge over into true poverty/bankuptcy.

It's not taking food from those who need it, you need it. It's ok to use that resource. I donate to our local food bank every other month, and I want you to use it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Mom2Wilmo]

I agree. If you qualify, then it is totally ok to use it. You will be in a much more desperate situation requiring much more aid if something *really* went wrong. Build up your savings.

[SugarAndSun]

You should take it. People donate because they want to help people with less. I doubt you will be taking from someone else; they will just ask for more donations if they are running low.

[sandygirl]

subbing - I'm in the same boat mama:

what I'd like to know is how does a food pantry work from the receiving end?????

DD has severe food allergies, so we've never used it, even though there is one within walking distance.

[sarah_bella1050]

Around here we are having shortages in the food banks (saw this on the news last night). They are having to turn hungry people away. So, my answer would be no.

[1growingsprout]

TO answer the question: how do food banks recieve items

Our FB's recieve food items from grocery stores, direct from produce deliveries, direct from manufactuers and from public donations. Most items that people donate are canned/boxed mainstream items, lots of cereal, canned food etc.... produce is generally whats in season and low cost... diary is hard to find... most items are non-perishable...

Honestly its not a shopping experience, some places have the boxes made up and them out, some load the boxes when you come and give them the # of people in your family. Rarely do they ask if you want cheerios or fruit loops etc..

We are fortunate enough not to need the services of a FB but if we did i definately wouldnt be picky. hungry tummies are not a good thing.

hope that helps

[pollyanna]

I go to my local FB. They allow you to go once a month. I only get enough for a couple of meals to help me at the end of the month. The food bank here also helps sign families up for heating assistance and the Santa foundation. I haven't used the heating yet but I might need too before long.

[root*children]

I have used a FB before, and found it was quite nice, especially for people who eat nutritious food. This is because *most* people who use food banks, really want the kool-aid and instant pudding mix. So, when they get tofu and fresh veggies and good supplements, noone wanted them! I was more than happy to take them before they ended up in the dumpster

I've done one kind of foodbank where you just go and pick up boxes once a week. So, they would add some things they knew my family would use, but I'd also be given total junk food. I would just discreetly re-donate it (or maybe donate it another food bank - I don't want to seem ungrateful, KWIM?). It was once a week, and you could also eat lunch there that day.

Another foodbank I've gone to was more like actually going around and shopping. They would do lunch and then start bringing out food, so everyone could get what they needed. It was then very easy to see that I was the only one interested in the healthy food. The natural food stores also donated to that one, so there was organic products up the wazoo, and mostly all for me (since the mainstream grocey store also stocked it well with baked goods that everyone else jumped on!) To each his own!

[ewp11100]

I don't want to high jack your thread but would you mind telling me how much it was to quilfy? I've never looked into it but our income fluckuates so much that on the hard times it would be good to know our resources. I'm sure it's different in different areas but if you wouldn't mind telling I could get an idea.

[CarrieMF]

I would go check it out & see what they have first. If there is something you would use then I'd do it, if it is stuff you normally would not eat then I probably wouldn't.

Here some food banks are boxes of food, others are shelves of food & you take what you want.

[Sharlla]

Food pantries are pretty hit or miss. Some months you got a lot and good stuff too and some months not a whole lot. As a low income person I go when I have a need to go. Like I am broke with no food in the house, but I don't go every month.

If I remember correctly the max income limit for a family of 4 was $2100/month. If you got foodstamps they added that to your income amount.

[CaliMommie]

'

[wonderwahine]

Originally Posted by Sharlla

Food pantries are pretty hit or miss. Some months you got a lot and good stuff too and some months not a whole lot. As a low income person I go when I have a need to go. Like I am broke with no food in the house, but I don't go every month.

If I remember correctly the max income limit for a family of 4 was $2100/month. If you got foodstamps they added that to your income amount.

the income limits differ depending on the pantrys policys and area you live in. Me and dh can earn up to $2500 for our family of 4 at one pantry, and $3000 at another.

[Mama Dragon]

If you are late on your utilities that much, you aren't doing so well and should use the food bank so you can pay your bills on time. Ouch, that sounded kinda mean, it wasn't meant that way. But take the help!

[wonderwahine]

Originally Posted by Synthea™

If you are late on your utilities that much, you aren't doing so well and should use the food bank so you can pay your bills on time. Ouch, that sounded kinda mean, it wasn't meant that way. But take the help!

it did sounda little harsh, but ITA with you. being so close to having your power/heat shut off is NOT comfortable, you are on the brink. Use the food pantrys if you qualify, just like if you qualifly for foodstamps, get them! There is no use or merit in living on the brink of having no heat or power just so you can go "but i pay for all my own grocheries!".

[sunanthem]

I used to go to one, it was open every week. They gave you a bag and you could shop the room until your bag was full. It was mostly canned and boxed stuff, TP, soaps, dipes, and sometimes special items, like once I got a new frying pan. For that one you didn't have to sign up for anything, just show up at the right time and wait your turn.

For the other one I used, they kept a card for you on file and they would let you come once a month, then they would make up a box of stuff for you that was supposed to be enough for 3 days. It was always different because they just got donations from everywhere.

[Natsuki]

ITA that you should use it. A lot of people feel like they shouldn't ask for or receive help until they're in really dire straights - but that's backwards. If you had a crisis hit and had no savings you would need a LOT more financial help to pay utilities/car/medical than you do now when you're doing ok.

Use the food pantry, build up your savings, stay current on your utilities. And then pay it forward whenver possible .