Serious post. If you have any extra money at all, please read.

[Lyric]

(cross-posted to GD)

Right now, food prices are going up and food bank donations are down. As a member of the "poor class" (with some education, thank goodness) please let me humble myself to ask.

If you have any extra money, PLEASE donate to your local food bank. Poor Americans are in a dire situation. You know the annoyingly high electricity and gas bill you're paying? Poorer Americans are dealing with the same thing, with less resources. I personally know of a woman just a couple of mobile homes down who's eating canned cat food and rice. There's an elderly woman down the street who's living on canned green beans and white rice.

People are desperate. Please god, if you have anything you can spare...help. If you need help finding a resource, I will PERSONALLY assist you. Consider this a request on my knees. I will GLADLY volunteer my time, but I'm just as poor as they are. I have no money to give. This request to those who are better off than me is the best I can do.

Please, please. Even if it's just cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie mix from your cupboard. Anything helps.

On my knees for the hungry of America,
Brandy

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. And please make sure to donate money, not food.

Unless you have a few extra jars or boxes sitting around, then go ahead - but don't go buy food. Give that money to the food bank, who can buy about 12 times as much with your dollar as you can.

This PSA brought to you by me.

:thumbsup:

[Lyric]

2. Absolutely, if you have it,

A lot of folks are short on money right now, but if you have it...yes.

But anything helps. Anything.

:hug:

[Orsino]

15. How is it that their food dollar goes so much farther than mine?

I think the answer would be good for us all to hear. Your post certainly got my attention.

[opiate69]

18. Generally...

by having contracts with local stores to buy discontinued, return-to-vendor and near-end date items for pennies on the dollar.. and in many cases, getting the items donated for free, only having to pay for the transportation to their facilities.

Oh, and on edit: Kick, Kick, Kick. (From someone who has worked for, donated to and utilized the services of food banks and soup kitchens. )

[Rabrrrrrr]

26. What opiate69 said - food banks can buy food cheaply

Either cans leftover from too much production, or mislabeling; day old breads and pastries (though they often get those for free); stuff left over, and so forth.

[Runcible Spoon]

3. KnR for your compassion!

I'm out of the country but I figure I would give this a kick for you! And, well, there are impoverished people here too so it's not just an American problem.

May I also implore people to include pet food/litter in their donations? Many poor people look to their pets as a sole source of comfort and companionship, and having a creature to care for gives them a reason to not give up hope and keep trying.

Many hugs and wishes of happiness to you and your big heart Brandy! :hug:

[u4ic]

4. Every time I shop, I buy something for the food bank

I'm on a very tight budget, but even if it's a can of tuna or beans or soup, I always try to buy something. One can also donate money to the food bank here at the till - I think it's in $2 demoninations.

I don't buy the pre-packaged food bank bags, because most of it is just crackers and white pasta. I'd rather get something with some nutrition in it.


Thanks for reminding people. :hi:

[lost-in-nj]

5. I ALWAYS donate to food banks

I have needed help in the past
pay it forward.....



:hug:



lost

[Robb]

6. Done

On a related note, I saw a posting on Craiglist from a family asking for food. :(

[Rhythm]

7. Can you post the link?

I know there are DU'ers who care. Maybe if we post the link, we can do something.

:hug:

[stuntcat]

8. ty for this thread!

I'm gonna do it. I just looked online for where to give and the Arlington Food Assistance Center is just a mile from me, I've walked right by without noticing it. They have a link where I can give right now!

Groceries are our big expense, we scrimp and save all we can, but the price of food is going up so much that our saving has pretty much stalled :(

[Lyric]

9. You're welcome

It's all I can do, but I'm willing to do it.

Shameless kick.

:kick:

[siligut]

10. Good reminder.

I admit, I just don't think about it when I am shopping, or I see the barrel as I am leaving and think "next time".

[fight4my3sons]

11. thank you

from a family who uses the food bank from time to time

[Lyric]

12. You're very welcome

From a family who also uses the food bank from time to time.

:kick:

[mloutre]

13. NO matter how much you have, or how little you have, you can do this thing.

This is where the rubber meets the road, y'all.

This is where it gets real.

If you have only two cans of baked beans in your cupboard, give one to the person who doesn't have any.

If you have two only dollars in your wallet, give one to the person who doesn't have any.

If you have only two hours to spare tomorrow, give one of them to those who need your help.

If you have the time & wherewithal to sit there where you are and read this message online right now, then you have the ability to make a very real difference to those who need it most tomorrow.

Don't just sit there and be a mouse potato. Get up off your asterisk and do something to help those who need it most.

Trust me, you'll go to sleep tomorrow night feeling a whole lot better about yourself.

And for all the right reasons, too.

And if that ain't worth it, then I don't know what is.

[Gormy Cuss]

14. Glad to recommend your x-post

Food banks will take just about any fresh garden produce, canned and boxed food goods, and money. Even $5.00 is a big help for them.

[Lyric]

16. I will not let this die.

It means more to me than just *me*.

To donate to the most worthy organization I can think of:

The Connecting Link
235 High Street, Rm 211
Morgantown, WV 26505

If you'd rather donate to an individual Democratic family, PM me for an address.

:grouphug:

We are only as strong as our weakest members. Does it make me a bad person that I pay attention to such things? Poor people voting Democratic draw me like a lodestone. There are people who (sometimes) are voting against their own best interests to do what's right. That MATTERS to me. I collect their names. PM me for a list, if you want to donate.

[stuntcat]

17. time for a K

again, thanks for this reminder today.

[DarkTirade]

19. K&R so that more people can see it.

[Lyric]

20. Reply, because it touches more than just me....

:kick: Hello! Give me your address and phone # before I lose my nerve.

[S n o w b a l l]

21. You got it...

Thanks for the PSA...we forget sometimes. Thanks!

[mnhtnbb]

22. Kick

[Flaxbee]

23. Westerm North Carolina: MANNA Food Bank

In Asheville and Franklin: http://www.mannafoodbank.org/

Also, Ingles Markets is a big supporter of MANNA, so if you happen to have an Ingles nearby, try to shop there every once in a while.

I tend to give more to animal welfare organizations, but hungry people aren't going to be able to care for their animals as well as they might otherwise -- it is all so interconnected. I'll make sure to go by the food bank this week.

Thank you for posting this, oktoberain.

[SammyWinstonJack]

24. K&R

[Pale Blue Dot]

25. I volunteered at a food bank last week.

I will continue to do so.

[Midlodemocrat]

27. Always do.

:hug:

[tigereye]

28. I owe them a check anyway - thanks for the reminder....

[opiate69]

29. Time for another kick...

[ncliberal]

30. Meals on Wheels is also a good place to donate time or money.

Please keep them in mind also. Unfortunately, there are some people that can't get to a food bank.

This program is losing volunteers due to high gas prices. They are also having a hard time feeding people due to rising food costs. Some locations are no longer delivering daily meals. I saw a story about a Meals on Wheels program in California that had to switch from daily deliveries to deliveries every 14 days. The results were catastrophic. For many people that meal is the only thing they eat all day.

Our local program is run by the Council on Aging. I'm not sure if it's the same everywhere.